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'Bugger the cows!' The greatest Festival quotes

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Hunt Ball

Hunt Ball’s 2012 Festival success brought about a famous reaction

  PICTURE: Mark Cranham  

 By Mark Scully 4:39PM 6 MAR 2016 

THE Cheltenham Festival has provided some of racing’s most memorable moments and down the years, the sport’s protagonists have found their own unique ways to describe them.

From historic performances to victories against all the odds, we take a look at some of the best quotes racing’s most magical week has mustered.

Denman (checked cap): gallops his rivals, including stablemate Kauto Star (right), into the ground in the 2008 Gold Cup

Richard Hoiles provided a thrilling soundtrack to Denman’s victory

  PICTURE: Getty Images  

Quote: “Denman, driven out, relentless, remorseless, has pounded Kauto Star into submission. The answer is Denman! Denman has won the Gold Cup.”
Who said it?: Richard Hoiles
When?: During Denman’s Gold Cup victory in 2008

The clash between two of the great staying chasers of the modern era, Kauto Star and Denman, captivated racing fans in 2008 and Richard Hoiles was tasked with describing a race for the ages.

He certainly did justice to the occassion, perfectly summing up Denman’s remarkable display of power with a commentary that still makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand up. This was the Festival at its brilliant best.

Quote: “Bugger the cows!”
Who said it?: Anthony Knott
When?: Following Hunt Ball’s victory in the 2012 Listed Pulteney Land Investments Novices’ Handicap Chase

Hunt Ball’s meteoric rise through the grades was one of the most memorable storylines of the 2011-12 season and his charismatic owner Anthony Knott enjoyed it more than anyone.

A dairy farmer by trade, Knott revelled in every second of Hunt Ball’s eight-length romp and when asked if he would be able to get up early the next morning to milk the cows, his reply suggested his mind was firmly on other things.

Quote: “There was a power cut in my area and the alarm clock didn’t go off – fate has given me this win. I thought I’d missed a Champion Hurdle winner but I haven’t!”
Who said it?:
Graham Bradley
When?: After winning the 1996 Champion Hurdle on Collier Bay

Getting up late one morning had looked like proving extremely costly for jockey Graham Bradley, who was jocked off hot favourite Alderbrook after missing a crucial pre-race gallop.

Bradley’s name was clearly on the trophy already though, as he ultimately picked up the ride on Collier Bay and won the race anyway.

Dawn Run - 1986 Cheltenham Gold Cup

Sir Peter O’Sullevan captured the excitement of Dawn Run’s Gold Cup win

  PICTURE: Mark Cranham  

Quote: “The mare’s beginning to get up!”
Who said it?:
Sir Peter O’Sullevan
When?: During Dawn Run’s 1986 Gold Cup victory

Sir Peter O’Sullevan simply must feature in any list of racing’s greatest quotes and his description of Dawn Run’s famous success of 1986 perfectly complemented the pandemonium that greeted her win.

As Wayward Lad began to tire, Dawn Run delivered a late surge for the line under Jonjo O’Niell to enter the history books as the first mare to win the Champion Hurdle and the Gold Cup.

Quote: “Pat Taaffe is one of the few horsemen in the world who can look Arkle in the eye without feeling inferior.”
Who said it?:
Hugh McIlvanney
When?: Before the great Arkle’s third Gold Cup win

It was said of Pat Taaffe that he was unique in being both a good enough jockey and a nice enough man to deserve the ride on Arkle. In 1966, McIlvanney wrote in tribute of Taaffe as the greatest horse of a generation stood on the brink of history.

Quote: “You know how to ride ‘im.”
Who said it: Peter Easterby
When?: Prior to Sea Pigeon’s 1981 Champion Hurdle victory

Sea Pigeon returned to Cheltenham in 1981 seeking to defend his Champion Hurdle crown and if the above quote is any indication, his trainer Peter Easterby was confident about his chances of doing so.

He wasted little time handing out pre-race instructions to his jockey John Francome before the pair headed out onto the track to make history.

Quote: “Balls of steel, Charlie.”
Who said it?: Edward O’Grady
When: Prior to the running of the 1994 Coral Cup

The Coral Cup is a notoriously tough race to win but trainer Edward O’Grady was able to distill his winning planning into three simple words to Charlie Swan before he got the leg up on Time For A Run.

Swan was to get the horse as much cover as possible in the 30-runner contest before producing him as late as he dared to claim the win. O’Grady’s plan worked to perfection.

Riverside Theatre - Cheltenham 15.03.2012

Riverside Theatre’s 2012 win landed a life-changing bet for one punter

  PICTURE: Mark Cranham  

Quote: “I tell you, it was some cure for a hangover.”
Who said it?: Conor Murphy
When?: After Riverside Theatre won the 2011 Ryanair Chase

Conor Murphy landed the bet of a lifetime during the 2011 Festival, after placing a £50 ante-post accumulator featuring a host of his boss Nicky Henderson’s horses running throughout the week.

Murphy spent the Wednesday evening celebrating the victory of Finian’s Rainbow in the Champion Chase and perked up considerably when Riverside Theatre posted a dramatic win in the Ryanair Chase the following afternoon. The win earned Murphy a bumper £1 million pay-out.

Quote: “I can remember everything. I milked the cows in the morning as usual.”
Who said it?: Sirrel Griffiths
When?: In 2007, reflecting on the famous 1990 Gold Cup win of 100-1 shot Norton’s Coin

Surely the greatest upset in the history of the Cheltenham Festival came in 1990 when 100-1 outsider Norton’s Coin bagged the biggest prize in National Hunt racing.

The horse was one of three among a herd of cows belonging to trainer and Welsh farmer Griffiths, who started the biggest day of his racing life in the most modest of manners.

Annie Power

Annie Power famously came down at the final hurdle at the 2015 Festival

  PICTURE: John Grossick  

Quote: “I don’t know why she did it but that’s racing and it happens.”
Who said it?: Ruby Walsh
When?: After Annie Power fell at the final hurdle of the Mares’ Hurdle in 2015

Arguably the single most dramatic moment in Cheltenham’s modern history came when Annie Power loomed up at the final hurdle in the 2015 OLBG Mares’ Hurdle, looking certain to cap a remarkable opening day four-timer for trainer Willie Mullins.

Bookmakers faced a monstrous pay-out, with punters having sought to take full advantage of the Mullins juggernaut but they could hardly believe their eyes as Annie Power crumpled on landing and parted company with Walsh. Mullins won anyway, as it was Glens Melody who profited from the fall to win but this certainly was not in the script.

Quote: “It doesn’t get any better than this.”
Who said it?: Alan King
When?: After Katchit completed an excellent week for the trainer in 2007 with victory in the Triumph Hurdle

When you’re winning, Cheltenham is a wonderful place to be and Alan King was enjoying everything the Cotswolds has to offer in 2007, having taken the Arkle with My Way De Solzen, the Champion Chase with Voy Por Ustedes and the Triumph Hurdle with Katchit.

Any owner, trainer, jockey or even punter will be able to identify with King’s joy. Does it get any better than finding winners at the Festival? It most certainly does not.

 

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