GREY POWER
IT IS almost 30 years since Desert Orchid produced one of his most amazing triumphs. DAVID ELSWORTH reflects on his memories of the occasion to CHRIS GOULDING
IT might have been 30 years since Desert Orchid put in a herculean weight-carrying performance to take the Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse.
But his trainer David Elsworth remembers the occasion like it was yesterday – along with asking for the wrong brand of whisky.
“They had been badgering me for a long time to run him in the race,” said Elsworth. “The Irish are great at welcoming you and love their horses. They were dying to get him to Ireland.
“Anyway, it was the right race for him – three miles six furlongs – the same sort of trip as the Whitbread which he’d won.
“It was right-handed, yes, we thought we’d give it a go, like one did with Desert Orchid.
“Make no mistake, wherever you went with him, you always had a good chance.
“They were very hospitable and helped with the travelling expenses, flying the old horse over on the day.”
But Elsworth had not bargained on the arrival he encountered in Ireland the day before the race.
“We were staying at the Burlington or some hotel. The restaurant was closed, there was no booze, it was Easter Sunday, everybody was at Mass, nothing was open,” he remarked. “We did find a bar that just sold Guinness.
“Anyway, we got out to Fairyhouse the next day and they gave us a box.”
The previous season Desert Orchid had won the Cheltenham Gold Cup and he had become box office, not just for racing fans, but even for politicians – one saying, “I’m grey like Desert Orchid but I’m not as famous.”
Elsworth said: “There were throngs of people there.
“I had never been to Fairyhouse on Grand National day but I should think all of Ireland were there. It was heaving and they were all trying to get a hair from his tail and pat him.
“Richard Dunwoody rode him. He made all the running carrying top weight, giving all his rivals bar one, over 2st.
“He jumped from fence to fence and was well clear coming to the last.
“Then he made one almighty blunder but found a fifth leg. I don’t know how but he stood up.
“Everybody was rapturous. It was big for the Irish. They were very gracious. They would have liked an Irish horse to win but they did love a good horse, they thoroughly appreciated him.
“We were all very proud that the old boy had done it for us – it was fantastic.”
The 80-year-old Elsworth is no doubt one of the greatest trainers of all time and has not lost his touch in preparing racehorses but he would not have made it in the diplomatic service.
“The race was sponsored by Jameson and after the race we went to their hospitality box,” he explained. “They asked what I wanted to drink. I said a whisky – Johnnie Walker.
“They said, sure you would not like a Jameson? I said yes, of course! They took it in good heart. It was a wonderful day and will live long in my memory.”
As for Dessie’s standout performance, Elsworth enjoyed so many with a horse that captured the nation’s hearts.
“He won a Gold Cup, with all honesty, it was a wonderful feat with the conditions (bottomless ground) but his form was somewhat 20lb below what he used to do going the other way around.
“Had the Gold Cup been on a righthand track, he would have won more.
“When you think of the number of races he ran in (70), he won half of them (34). He never ran a bad race in his life.
“He was a wonderful old boy, flamboyant, a celebrity, he had it all – he would die for you, a great, great horse.
“I do remember that Fairyhouse was one hell of a day and I’ve been lucky enough to have had a few good ones.
“It certainly was one of the best.”