THRILL OF THE CHASE
Promises to be a race for the ages. But there have been other thrilling Chase contests over the years. DAVID YATES picks out six of the best.
IT’S the clash fans of steeplechasing have all been waiting for as Energumene and Shishkin cross swords at Ascot today in what
DESERT ORCHID v PANTO PRINCE 1989 VC Chase
THE first running of the Clarence House Chase, then run under the Victor Chandler banner – and as a handicap – was a classic.
Desert Orchid (below) shouldered 12st, with Panto Prince next in the weights on 10st 6lb. The 22lb concession appeared to be taking its toll as Panto Prince gained the upper hand on the run to the line – only for Dessie, who won the Cheltenham Gold Cup two months later, to fight back and win by a head.
DENMAN v KAUTO STAR 2008 Gold Cup
HAVING captured the Gold Cup crown 12 months earlier, Kauto Star went off the 10-11 favourite.
With Paul
Nicholls’ yard at its peak, the chief threat came from stablemate Denman.
‘The Tank’ proved a brutal opponent, leading from halfway under Sam Thomas to beat his neighbour – Nicholls’ Neptune Collonges completed a Ditcheat clean sweep in third – by seven lengths.
MOSCOW FLYER v AZERTYUIOP
2004 Tingle Creek Chase
THERE was one rule when Moscow Flyer was at his best: if he stayed on all fours, he won.
Jessica Harrington’s star beat Azertyuiop in the previous year’s Tingle Creek, but came down four from home in the Queen Mother Champion Chase, which Azertyuiop won by nine lengths. Punters made
Azertyuiop the 5-6 favourite, but Moscow Flyer would not be denied in a thriller.
ARKLE v MILL HOUSE 1964 Gold Cup
ARKLE had finished third to 1963 Gold Cup victor Mill House in the Hennessy Gold Cup and was second choice in the betting at 7-4.
It was the last time Tom Dreaper’s icon would not start favourite. In a four-runner lineup, Pat Taaffe’s mount beat the defending champion by five lengths and he would go on to complete a hattrick in steeplechasing’s blue riband.
CUE CARD v VAUTOUR
2015 King George VI Chase
CUE Card’s record in the King George stood at 0-3. Fourth time lucky?
Vautour was cruising at the second-last fence, but Paddy Brennan and Cue Card closed in at the final obstacle and, as the pair fought tooth and nail on the run-in, the Colin Tizzard favourite gained the verdict by a head.
RED RUM v CRISP 1973 Grand National
THE race that launched a legend.
Crisp and Richard Pitman set off into a clear lead after Becher’s on the first circuit, and still had a 15-length advantage at the final fence. But the leader tired on the run-in, and Ginger Mccain’s star took his chance.
If Red Rum was the villain then, he became a hero with National triumphs in 1974 and 1977 that made him the most celebrated racehorse of all time.