Paul Carberry winning the Grand Annual on Bellvano for Nicky Henderson and JP McManus. Green and Gold hoops with the red cap, horse number 14. Poetry in motion.
For me, it will always be a Flat race, namely, the 1991 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp won by Priolo, ridden by Gérald Mossé. Priolo was produced at the very last second (after seemingly arriving from the clouds) to win by a head from the Willie Carson horse, I believe. An Incredible ride by Mossé. Unfortunately, I could not find a video replay, tried everywhere.
Mount Ida Kim Muir 2021. From RacingTV: "Mount Ida put up an amazing performance to come from last to first and claim the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival. Leading two out in the hands of Jack Kennedy, the 3-1 favourite gradually went clear to give Denise Foster a second Festival winner after taking over the licence at Gordon Elliott’s Cullentra House Stables. Touching 999-1 in-running on the exchanges, Mount Ida was almost detached from the rest of the field in the early stages of the three-and-a-quarter-mile stamina test, but she got going on the final circuit." https://www.racingtv.com/videos/wat...p-handicap-chase-sponsored-by-the-jrl-group-2
Carberry was something else alright, his riding style could always leave argument to if he could have done more to win or that he should be winning but when it did work it was sheer poetry in motion. To have that ability to know the horse you are on is going to get from A to B whilst sitting motionless takes an incredible amount of understanding and nerve and although he could frustrate the hell out of of you, when it worked it gave you those spine tingling moments of knowing you just watched something that very few in the game are really able to do and that is what often made him stand out among his peers. A true horseman.
I believe that Dick Turpin also had a few hold up rides in his 'career', if you believe the history books
Carberry's ride on Harchibald in the 2004 Christmas Hurdle was quite something. A track he would rarely have ridden before, he allowed the previous years Champion Hurdle winner to accumulate a 30 length lead before reeling him in incrementally from the home turn to lead after the last and win cosily. Worth a you tube view. Arazi as well.
Lester Piggott on Alleged in the 1978 Arc. Held him up in the lead all the way, and all the other jocks let him. As regards proper hold-up rides I'm sure Harry Wragg would have a thing or two to say. He wasn't known as the Head Waiter for nothing.
For me, Lester’s best ‘waiting in front’ ride was winning the John Porter Stakes in ‘64 at Newbury. He waited in front on Royal Avenue and shot clear to catch the previous 2000 Guineas winner, Only for Life napping. The latter’s rider’s face(Jimmy Lindley ) was a picture! So was Lester’s! Scobie Breasley’s ride on my namesake was quite something in the inaugural News of the World Stakes, later the Extel Stakes. He came from the back of about 30 runners as they started downhill at Goodwood- and surged to the front on the line.