The 70s were a fantastic era for NH racing. Sea Pigeon, Night Nurse, Comedy Of Errors, Lanzarote, Bula, Pendil, Captain Christy, Tingle Creek, Game Spirit, Red Rum, Monksfield, Bird's Nest, to name some of the best.
@@doinggreat9197 ... and here's two I'd like to throw in who would have been great had ill-fate not so cruelly got in the way ... Golden Cygnet and Killiney
Ryan Price's Major Rose was also versatile on the flat and over hurdles. He never won a Champion Hurdle but placed twice when up against Persian War and Bula. Won the Cesarawitch and Chester Cup.
Yes indeed. The other great dual purpose horse I can remember from that time was Alverton. Won an Ebor Handicap on the flat then won a Cheltenham Gold Cup and I'm convinced he'd have won the Grand National had he not tragically fallen at Becher's Brook second time around when going very easily.
My favourite horse of all time.Even placed in a Derby before he hit the heights under NH rules......I do believe he's buried next to the great Night Nurse at MH(Peter)Easterby's yard. R.I.P old fellah,you did us proud.
When he won the 1981 Champion , I stuck £100 on him when Francome was in the saddle. Lot of money then , my wages was about £150 a week . Francome nearly did me in but what a ride he gave him.
Yes I remember that race with francome bringing him through smooth as silk and as they crossed the line francs run his hand down the side of Sea pigeons neck inasmuch to say well done fella
Tim Overington Yes I remember it well too. I also remember that Francome later described Sea Pigeon as a Rolls Royce of a horse. John Francome's Champion Hurdle win aboard Sea Pigeon is one of the finest NH rides I've ever seen.
I remember all of these horses, but not Navigation. Today's hurdlers aren't as memorable as those of that era. To think that Sea pigeon's dad was even better than him is mind-boggling!
This race was formerly the Bula Hurdle. Rooster Booster remains the last horse to complete the International/Champion Hurdle double roughly twenty years old. But this winner went on to become one of the greats in the hurdling division, wearing down the leader.
Well, this is a terrific find, though I don't quite get the need for the hyperbole in the headline - they all lie back off a fast pace and only one of them was good enough to pick up Navigation on the day. The Bula Hurdle, or what it is now, is now run on the New Course, which makes it less informative for the Champion Hurdle where tactical speed and positioning is far more important. More to the point, it's a joy to see even more of the old boy. Went from being a near-squiggle horse on the Flat to being utterly genuine at both codes, but he had to be ridden to the very second, timing his challenge was all important. Still get a chill-thrill when I see Francome waiting till even after the last in his 1980 CH win. But I will always think his best ever run was when he lost by a short head at Ayr to one of the greatest Ascot Gold Cup winners (Le Moss) giving him a bucket of weight - two stone, IIRC ?? It makes me a bit giddy to think how often he was campaigned with so many different challenges and rarely flinched. Racing's not quite the same now, but we can salute the past with this.
"Absurde" for Willie Mullins just won the County Hurdle at the 2024 Cheltenham festival gave me the chills immediately felt Deja Vu .......Oh Yes was Sea Pidgeon both won the Ebor & identical running styles. Reborn? I wish
Sea Pigeon was also my favourite horse, you always knew you would get a run for your money. I can remember Comedy of Errors and Tree Tangle too - both top class as well - but I don´t remember Navigation (?), he must have been a pretty good horse to finish a close second here. I´m guessing he must have been one of Derek Kent´s NZ imports. Did he do anything after this race?
His name is the caused for him winning the race because he literally flew from the last fence to the line to catch the lead horse as the leading horse was not tiring hence his name SeaPigeon
Was there not another race when sea pigeon was over a fence behind (may have fallen n remounted?) and still won? Anyways was the first horse I ever backed - flat race ( cesarewitch?) I got sent to school, but, my wee ma put ten Bob on for me, was maybe 18/1 or 22/1.
@@pauladams1924 Thanks Paul I remember I was at school at the time but I remember having my regular 25p on at the local shop Then I went on to work in the trade for years, That was food for thought But all them years of monksfied night nurse birds nest bright highway brown lad Borough hill lad . Good races and good times.
One of the best ever dual purpose horses, an absolute superstar.
The 70s were a fantastic era for NH racing. Sea Pigeon, Night Nurse, Comedy Of Errors, Lanzarote, Bula, Pendil, Captain Christy, Tingle Creek, Game Spirit, Red Rum, Monksfield, Bird's Nest, to name some of the best.
They certainly were!. A few more i would like to throw in. Grand Canyon, Tied Cottage, and Crisp.
@@doinggreat9197
... and here's two I'd like to throw in who would have been great had ill-fate not so cruelly got in the way ... Golden Cygnet and Killiney
Another ... L'escargot.
My sporting hero. I had the privilege of meeting him twice in his retirement aged 26 and 28 at Slingsby in North Yorkshire.
Funee man you are 100% I was only a kid but can remember amazing bunch , and the late golden cygnet had the makings of one of the best
Class on the flat and Class over hurdles one of favourite horses
Fabulous over hurdles and on the flat. He was by the great Sea Bird II.
Ryan Price's Major Rose was also versatile on the flat and over hurdles. He never won a Champion Hurdle but placed twice when up against Persian War and Bula. Won the Cesarawitch and Chester Cup.
Yes indeed. The other great dual purpose horse I can remember from that time was Alverton. Won an Ebor Handicap on the flat then won a Cheltenham Gold Cup and I'm convinced he'd have won the Grand National had he not tragically fallen at Becher's Brook second time around when going very easily.
My favourite horse of all time.Even placed in a Derby before he hit the heights under NH rules......I do believe he's buried next to the great Night Nurse at MH(Peter)Easterby's yard.
R.I.P old fellah,you did us proud.
Mine too 👍
Never placed in the Derby. Unless it was the pitmans Derby
Finished 7th in 1973 Derby
Jeremy Tree i think trained him when he ran in the Epsom Derby. Definitely not in the first three.
He most certainly is
theres a great vid on utube with peter easterby
When he won the 1981 Champion , I stuck £100 on him when Francome was in the saddle. Lot of money then , my wages was about £150 a week . Francome nearly did me in but what a ride he gave him.
Yes I remember that race with francome bringing him through smooth as silk and as they crossed the line francs run his hand down the side of Sea pigeons neck inasmuch to say well done fella
7/4 i remember
Tim Overington
Yes I remember it well too. I also remember that Francome later described Sea Pigeon as a Rolls Royce of a horse. John Francome's Champion Hurdle win aboard Sea Pigeon is one of the finest NH rides I've ever seen.
Now this is what you call a great horse!
Smooth as Silk .Never knew he’d had a race .
I remember all of these horses, but not Navigation. Today's hurdlers aren't as memorable as those of that era. To think that Sea pigeon's dad was even better than him is mind-boggling!
This race was formerly the Bula Hurdle. Rooster Booster remains the last horse to complete the International/Champion Hurdle double roughly twenty years old. But this winner went on to become one of the greats in the hurdling division, wearing down the leader.
Sea pigeon coming from out of the clouds my arse cruise control stead every yard class horse cream allways comes out on top 👌👌👌
Well, this is a terrific find, though I don't quite get the need for the hyperbole in the headline - they all lie back off a fast pace and only one of them was good enough to pick up Navigation on the day. The Bula Hurdle, or what it is now, is now run on the New Course, which makes it less informative for the Champion Hurdle where tactical speed and positioning is far more important.
More to the point, it's a joy to see even more of the old boy. Went from being a near-squiggle horse on the Flat to being utterly genuine at both codes, but he had to be ridden to the very second, timing his challenge was all important. Still get a chill-thrill when I see Francome waiting till even after the last in his 1980 CH win. But I will always think his best ever run was when he lost by a short head at Ayr to one of the greatest Ascot Gold Cup winners (Le Moss) giving him a bucket of weight - two stone, IIRC ??
It makes me a bit giddy to think how often he was campaigned with so many different challenges and rarely flinched. Racing's not quite the same now, but we can salute the past with this.
Francome was 1981
"Absurde" for Willie Mullins just won the County Hurdle at the 2024 Cheltenham festival gave me the chills immediately felt Deja Vu .......Oh Yes was Sea Pidgeon both won the Ebor & identical running styles. Reborn? I wish
What a finish
Sea pigeon best flat horse ever lived 💯💯💯
Navigation ran a blinder staying on strong.
Sea Pigeon was also my favourite horse, you always knew you would get a run for your money. I can remember Comedy of Errors and Tree Tangle too - both top class as well - but I don´t remember Navigation (?), he must have been a pretty good horse to finish a close second here. I´m guessing he must have been one of Derek Kent´s NZ imports. Did he do anything after this race?
Yes I do recall Navigation being a NZ import
His name is the caused for him winning the race because he literally flew from the last fence to the line to catch the lead horse as the leading horse was not tiring hence his name SeaPigeon
Was there not another race when sea pigeon was over a fence behind (may have fallen n remounted?) and still won?
Anyways was the first horse I ever backed - flat race ( cesarewitch?) I got sent to school, but, my wee ma put ten Bob on for me, was maybe 18/1 or 22/1.
Sea Pigeo won the Ebor Handicap in 1979, with a weight-carrying record. That may be the race you're referring to.
No he never done that.
What year was this race ... anybody remember?
1975
@@pauladams1924
Thanks Paul
I remember I was at school at the time but I remember having my regular 25p on at the local shop
Then I went on to work in the trade for years,
That was food for thought
But all them years of monksfied night nurse birds nest bright highway brown lad
Borough hill lad .
Good races and good times.