Today’s Betfair Hurdle at Newbury evokes vivid personal memories of what was originally the Schweppes Gold Trophy, first run in 1963. For its first two runnings, ex commando Captain Ryan Price saddled the talented young hurdler, Rosyth, Having romped away with the inaugural fixture at Aintree (carrying 10st), Rosyth ran down the field five times before contesting the 1964 renewal at Newbury. Despite this, it’s hard to imagine how the handicapper allotted him only 10st 2lbs. Rosyth duly obliged again but incurred the wrath of the stewards who took away Price’s licence for the remainder of the jumps season. Ironically, Price also saddled the favourite for the race, Catapult . It’s worth noting that the placed horses for that race were two future Champion Hurdlers in Magic Court and Salmon Spray- and top class Sempervivum who split the latter and Flyingbolt for Cheltenham’s 1966 hurdling crown. Friends in high places undoubtedly influenced Price’s licence being restored for the 1965 season but Rosyth had changed stables (Tom Masson)- in an attempt to secure a magical hat-trick. Valiantly though he tried, Rosyth was mastered on the run-in by John Sutcliffe’s well touted Elan. For Price, normal service was resumed in 1966 when high class French import, Le Vermontois, scooted home. Looking back to the following year, 1967, it’s hard to envisage the events that transpired. Prior to the Schweppes, Price had saddled Hill House -a hot favourite for a valuable handicap and ante-post favourite for Newbury. He was never seen with a chance. At Newbury, however, Hill House’s performance was incredible. I remember being glued to my mother’s old black and white Murphy TV as Hill House bolted clear in the straight. His jockey, Josh Gifford, had little say in the matter. Some fifteen lengths clear over the last, he turned the season’s hardest to win hurdle into a procession. Incredibly, the stewards inflicted no ban on Price, but referred the matter to Newmarket’s Equine Establishment- who concurred with Price that the horse manufactured its own cortisone! Probably the most incredible and laughable decision ever reached by racing stewards! Many of racing’s oldies like me will recall that the winters of 1968-70 were particularly cold- and the Schweppes was abandoned in 1969 and 1970. In 1968 however, the race produced arguably the best finish ever in this prestigious handicap. Top weight under 11st 13lbs was aspiring Champion Hurdler, Persian War, but Ryan Price was determined to win the race with his redoubtable flat race stayer, Major Rose (carrying 11st 8 lbs), who would win The Cesarewitch later that year. Fulke Walwyn’s high class Sempervivum went to post again. In a hotly contested 32 runner field, the race produced a finish to inspire those only mildly interested in racing. As they jumped the last, Persian War, Major Rose, and Sempervivum were virtually in line. It seemed that Major Rose’s power-packed surge would prevail, but Persian War’s all-out galloping style would not be denied- and he hung on to win. The following month he would win the first of his three Champion Hurdles- defeating the Thomson-Jones’ talented favourite, Chorus. There’s an irony somewhere that the first running of the Schweppes Gold trophy in 1963 carried more prize money than the following month’s Champion Hurdle. Today’s contest carries total prize money of £155, 000, but quality hurdlers shy away from the challenge of trying to give weight away. Top weight Cheltenian would have been lucky to get in the handicap in the sixties, let alone have much chance of winning. Personally, I feel it’s very sad that trainers tend to keep their top horses ‘in cotton wool’ and that Cheltenham has become the be all and end all . What do other members think?
Nice article Tam and I agree very much that too many top horses are protected from giving weight in handicaps. There are a few exceptions I can think of in recent years - famously Denman's heroics in the Hennessy, My Tent Or Yours bid to win the Scottish Champion Hurdle, Djakadam taking the Thyestes Chase under top weight before coming 2nd in Coneygree's Gold Cup and of course recent Betfair Hurdle victories of MTOY and Zarkandar. Too few and far between though.
Hi Oddy. Yes, Denman's the best example in recent years. And Paul Nicholls isn't afraid of putting a top weight in a handicap- often with a claiming rider recently.
I always remember that '68 race. Sempervivum was a huge favourite of mine but so was Persian War. That race confirmed he was the best around at a time of very good hurdlers and as hard as Sempervivum tried at Cheltenham PW was king..
I can understand why they try keep them in cotton wool as you say, but, a horse's career can be relatively short and if you have one good enough then I wish they would allow it to take a chance in the race. If it loses, you can always churn out the "weight was too much" excuse before then hacking up at a bigger price in a condition race at HQ Good read as usual.
Cheers Tam. Persian War was one of my favourites. It seems as though I had more favourites in those days but it could be a sign of old age with decades of horses being remembered as all coming together over a few years. Now I'll have to check
