Cheltenham Gold Cup Memories: Desert Orchid

Henry Ford once said of his cars: ''You can have one in any colour, as long as it is black.'' Thank the Lord he didn't breed racehorses! Where would we have been without ''Dessie''? 

It is difficult to put a finger on it, but there is something special about grey horses. Even from afar they eclipse the bays, chestnuts and their like. Lady luck invites us to bet on the grey. No one asks: ''Which one's mine?'' And when they win... it's like watching Pegasus without wings. You know, I believe one grey horse was truly magical. Why? Because if you ask someone to name a grey I bet they will give one reply. Such elegance, beauty, captured in a gritty determined winning style. I'm convinced he was born a unicorn but some vagabond stole his magical horn leaving him with a story which foretold one day you will run like the wind, fly over fences and be crowned a champion racehorse. His name was Desert Orchid. 

Born on the 11th April 1979, this son of Grey Desire, out of the mare Flower Child, became an icon of National Hunt racing. With his front-running style and iron will this much-loved horse was simply the peoples' champion. 

His greatest victory came in the 1989 Cheltenham Gold Cup. 

Desert Orchid, trained by David Elsworth and ridden by Simon Sherwood, had been in superb form leading up to this race where he was made 5/2f. Running over 3m 2f, jumping 19 fences in heavy ground, would be a remarkable test for a horse who was once thought a two-miler at a course he did not favour. This noble grey jumped well, leading to the 14th fence, he was left in the lead 3 out, only to be headed by the brave mud-loving Yahoo. Over the last fence it looked as though Desert Orchid was beaten. 

The crowd watched in awe as racing commentator Peter O'Sullivan echoed those famous words: ''Desert Orchid is beginning to get up.'' He won by one and half lengths beating Yahoo, with Charter Party finishing third. 

Simon Sherwood said: ''I have never known a horse so brave. He hated every step of the way in the ground and dug as deep as he could possibly go.'' Dessie was without question the peoples' champion. 

A quote from a race fan remembering this day detailed what so many felt. 

''When Peter O'Sullivan started to say Desert Orchid was beginning to get up it sent shivers down my spine. It was like watching England win the World Cup. I wanted to streak up the road I was so delirious'' 

Few race meetings capture the anticipation, excitement and passion of the Cheltenham Festival. The Gold Cup the pinnacle of equine star. Which horse captures your imagination like Dessie? What's your idea of a good horse racing bet? Bring sports alive with the best odds available at Bet Victor.

Qipco 1000 Guineas Stakes (Group 1) Fillies: Possible Entries

With the conclusion of the Flat turf season, it's time to assess the very best fillies in training. For leading horse trainers, the 203^rd running of the 1000 Guineas brings warm comfort on many a cold winter morn.

On 1^st May 2016, Newmarket will crown a superstar filly.

What better time to consider the possible entrants for this historic race. This Group 1 Flat horse race is open to three-year-old fillies run on the Rowley Mile over the distance of one mile. This second of five Classic races was first run in 1814 taking its name from the prize money afforded to its winner (1,000 Guineas). The inaugural winner – Charlotte – was trained by Tom Perren, ridden by Bill Clift.

Take a moment to review these outstanding record holders which – for the most part – display a very historic flavour:

The leading jockey with seven winners is George Fordham: Mayonaise (1859) – Hauteur (1883).

The leading trainer with nine wins, Robert Robson: Connie (1818) – Arab (1827).

The 4^th Duke of Grafton is the leading owner with eight wins: Catgut (1819) – Arab (1827).

Other points of interest:

• Fastest winning time – Ghanaati (2009) 1m 34:22s
• Widest winning margin – Mayonaise (1859), 20-lengths
• Longest winning odds – Ferry (1918) 50/1
• Shortest winning odds – Crucifix (1840) 1/10
• Most runners – 29 (1926)
• Fewest runners – 1 (walkover) 1825

Last year saw Legatissoimo prove victorious, trained by David Watchman, ridden by Ryan Moore for Messrs Magnier, Tabor & Smith.

At present we are talking possible entrants of this 2016 contest, detailed via the Racing Post:

Alice Springs – A P O'Brien

Ballydoyle - A P O'Brien

Beautiful Morning – L uca Cumani

Besharah - William Haggas

Blue Bayou - Brian Meehan

Coolmore - A P O'Brien

Fireglow - Mark Johnston

Hawksmoor - Hugo Palmer

How High The Moon – A P O'Brien

Illuminate - Richard Hannon

Katie's Diamond - K R Burke

Lumiere - Mark Johnston

Minding - A P O'Brien

Most Beautiful - David Watchman

Now Or Never - M D O'Callaghan

Tanaza - D K Weld

BetVictor anti post betting: 11/4 Minding, 4/1 Ballydoyle, 7/1 Lumiere, 16 Besharah, 20/1 Illuminate, 20/1 Alice Springs, 25/1 Tanaza. For a full list of prices take a moment to visit BetVitcor.

It will be interesting to see which horses go straight for this race, making their three-year-old debut or contest the Nell Gwyn Stakes or Fred Darling Stakes trials.

A fascinating race. Anti-post betting can give an equal measure of value and disappointment but for many punters. However, this is often a great time to place bets if you hold a strong opinion.