1988 Whitbread Gold Cup Sandown extended footage Desert Orchid

[@Summertimesensation]

Dessie sure gave us some great days. Loved that horse, will always be my favourite.

[@debbieg4689]

Ah Dessie, the greatest chaser at his most brilliant and sublime best. What a performance, what a horse. There will never be another like him, certainly not in my lifetime anyway.

[@beverleymorris167]

He was a great horse but not the best.....I remember nupsala coming from France in king George....he destroyed dessie 15 lengths Dessie was in his prime,8yr old, good going....no excuses...these races and Sabin du loir never losing to him, even at levels!! Great but not the greatest!!

[@beverleymorris167]

Nobody ever mentions Sabin du loir...he always beat dessie.

[@aberlioness]

@@beverleymorris167 that’s because Sabin raced Des when Des was waning and close to the end of his career despite being the same age. Why did he not run against Des before 1990? Would it be the same result had he faced Des with Simon on board when he was at his peak? Nah. Don’t think so. And he never beat Des over three miles- he was beaten in the 1990 King George (where Sabin fell). And jumping is the name of the game. Which is why I don’t think that Kauto Star would beat Des, his jumping was very sketchy and under pressure would fold (making that comment as an aside because lots of others have wondered whether Kauto would beat Des.) As for the Nupsala debacle, that was entirely the fault of Colin Brown who quite frankly isn’t a patch on Simon Sherwood (nor Richard Dunwoody for that matter, and I don’t think that Dunwoody was as good as Simon either). Colin got sucked into going flat out against Beau Ranger, the pace was suicidal and neither horse was ever going to last at that pace - they covered the first half mile faster than that year’s 2000 Guineas horses did carrying 2st 10lbs more. Pure idiocy on the part of Brown to go too fast too early. It’s not a wonder that Nupsala took advantage to win a race that he shouldn’t, goodness knows he didn’t do much after!

[@beverleymorris167]

@@aberlioness Sab was same age as dessie, dessie was great, but my original argument was, he was not in the same league as Arkle. Even on the wane as you say, he was always well beat by Sabin, I,m a dessie fan, but at levels? Nupsala in my opinion on that day was exceptional. Dessie was 8 yr old, he was Beat by a better horse. His limitations were exposed.

[@Poikka65]

I love you debbie

[@OldiesAl]

After 3 1/2 miles Dessie accelerates in the last furlong, the best steeple chaser I've ever seen and probably ever will see

[@johnristheanswer]

The others slow down . It just looks as if he accelerates. Usain Bolt didn't run faster in the last 10 meters as a reference. Great horse all the same.

[@beverleymorris167]

You can't have seen Arkle at sandown obviously.... nothing came up the hill like him....12-7 both times. 17 seconds off record... with 12-7..... dessie!! Don't be stupid.

[@OldiesAl]

@@beverleymorris167 I'm not old enough to have seen Arkle, yes I've seen the film but that's not what I was saying, just think before you start throwing insults about.

[@gazowen7310]

@@beverleymorris167 arkle was better than anything

[@beverleymorris167]

@@gazowen7310 👍👍👍

[@rohansrider]

How lovely to hear the three Johns: sadly no more. Channel 4 racing team was the best.

[@rohansrider]

Yes, you have summed it up very well. Back in the day when I was working for an equestrian book shop,John Oaksey came in. He was John Lawrence in those days.. Absolutely charming to me and we had a great chat about NH horses. He purchased the newly published 'WInter Kings" , which then in 1968 only included 12 horses. We talked about Arkle being the best. Years later, the book was completely revamped; two horses were withdrawn: Jerry M and Prince Regent; seven others including Dessie were there. It was an altogether larger and very colorful publication. The quite excellent Ivor Herbert wrote it. ( he who trained Linwell, 1957. CGC winner. If you have never read it, get a copy - you will not be disaappointed. FYI the horses include the very best of NH racing.

[@mizofan]

@@rohansrider Have you read The Grey Horse: The True Story of Desert Orchid by Richard Burridge?

[@jakubwidlarz]

Having only gotten into Racing full-time thanks to Bryony & Paisley Park at Cheltenham two years ago I came to love ITV's coverage(don't laugh), but I do regret not watching C4 Racing regularly, especially during the Highflyer days.

[@mazwatkinson116]

My goodness Dessie absolutely loved jumping those fences.x

[@patrickrose1221]

You'd Ave to go go a long way to find one half as good . Thank you for the memory x

[@sharonhazeldine7507]

This horse dessie he was the best of the best he had the heart of a lion and he never stopped fighting R.I.P beautiful boy we love you.

[@mizofan]

Until he won the 86 King George, pundits didn't think he would stay 3 miles! John Oaksey doubted it too, as he said during that race. Dessie and Simon Sherwood won their first 9 races together, including the Cheltenham Gold Cup. This was marvellous, all horses back safely, and great credit to Kildimo too.

[@adrianjonathansmith]

awesome horse - the way he finished!

[@henrietta9394]

The fact that even in the final furlong the jockey doesn’t even need to ask him to accelerate, he just knows. and that turn of foot was beautiful, Dessie was a horse that truly loved his job 🎉

[@jaymacgee_A_Bawbag_Blethering]

2 miles to 3 miles 5 all at the top level.. unique and we will never see the like again, 81 times he raced 81 !!!!! These days you are lucky to see top stars 3 maybe 4 times tops a year

[@beverleymorris167]

Great horse....just make you Appreciate Arkle more...rated over 2 stone better than dessie, what a phenomenon he must have been.

[@jaymacgee_A_Bawbag_Blethering]

@@beverleymorris167 Arkle was just before my time in the mid 60’s , but yeah I agree , a phenomenon

[@beverleymorris167]

@@jaymacgee_A_Bawbag_Blethering 👍

[@112sje]

Great effort by Dessie but full credit to Kildimo who was trying to concede a pound to him on a right-handed track.

[@murdoch691]

The grey magician I've loved great horses on par with this man red rum best mate tiger roll all exceptional horses

[@johnbaines7796]

just loved that horse

[@LilithCharles]

Ah, what a beautiful and gallant horse.🐎👏

[@stephenpiggott5869]

my favourite horse ever

[@matnettleton526]

Love listening to the channel 4 team n dessi what a horse.

[@majkut01]

one racehorse I can watch over and over again

[@stevelee4952]

One of the greats.

[@clivesangster7274]

Such a great jumper.

[@TheLovwomen]

Such a Ridiculous Talent in any year !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@mizofan]

and such a great heart

[@carina914]

a different class

[@edmondscott7444]

Dessie was a star.

[@paulkinsella5628]

Class horse Dessie

[@martinhorvath7865]

Always felt sherwood was the best jockey for dessie

[@112sje]

Colin Brown did a great job on Dessie in his novice days but Simon was the best. Dunwoody was overrated & over-used the whip.

[@mizofan]

and least inclined to use the whip- he felt it through the reins and knew Dessie would do his best

[@mizofan]

@@112sje well said.

[@burkhillcomedy]

I genuinely believe around any flat track with Simon on board Dessie was unbeatable

[@ElizabethCoral]

@@burkhillcomedy I agree, Dessie and Simon Sherwood were made for each other. He was a very smooth rider who trusted Dessie completely. Such a pity he retired when he did!

[@andrewclark2237]

The best av ever seen

[@2icelollys1goat]

What a jumper

[@ebenalmanac]

Brilliant horse with the heart of a lion . Vive le Gris

[@barbaradyson6951]

TO EVERYONE OUT THERE DESSERT ORCHID IS IN THE SAME CLASS AS AKLE OR IF NOT AHEAD OF ARKLE. I KNOW ARKLE CARRIED TOP WEIGHT SO DID DESSERT ORCID. BUT ARKLE NEVER RAN 2 MILES AND THEN 3 MILES

[@lidiaolejnik323]

23/02/62, Leopardstown, Milltown Nov Chase, 2 miles - winner: Arkle (12st11lb) 9/10/63, Navan, Donoughmore Plate - 1m6f - winner: Arkle (9st6lb) 7/03/64, Cheltenham, Gold Cup - 3m2f - winner: Arkle (12st) (Timeform ratings: Arkle 212, Desert Orchid 187)

[@barbaradyson6951]

yes I know that, but that doesn't make arkle the greatest steeplechase ever. He didn't win the irish grand national by much of a margin, I believe old dessie won by 12 lengths carrying top weight. Also there has been only ONE HORSE THAT HAS EVER WON THE CHELTENHAM GOLD CUP 5 TIMES PLUS A GRAND NATIONAL IN BETWEEN THE CUPS AND SET THE COURSE RECORD THAT WAS FINALLY BROKEN BY RED RUM IN 1977. NOW TELL ME WHO THAT WAS. THAT IS SOMETHING THAT ARKLE NEVER ACCOMMPLISHED.

[@jakhal5153]

golden miller...fab horse......but not the incomparable dessie!!!!

[@barbaradyson6951]

JAK HAL​ we shouldn't really compare horses against each other they are all brillant in their own way. But I do think there was somdthing special about Golden Miller.

[@jakhal5153]

barbara dyson....against???????

[@barbaradyson6951]

Currently there is no trail blazing horse like desert orchid Hands and heels, so why need a whip

[@michaeldowd5545]

Dessert Orchard, ashame the Gran National is run in the wrong direction.

[@lizbignell7813]

Dessie was Pegasus made flesh.

[@seeker5738]

Little run n skip bles him.

[@burkhillcomedy]

He was my absolute favourite,the girls called him Skippy in the yard,he was an absolute gentleman,he was some racehorse too

[@uhegbu]

I have never, ever.... Graham Goode.

[@philipbuckley1577]

fantastic commentator racing coverage pure shit nowadays compared to them days all that at big races now are Facebook fans taking selfies

[@philipbuckley1577]

fantastic commentator racing coverage pure shit nowadays compared to them days all that at big races now are Facebook fans taking selfies

[@samanthadancer4535]

What a shame they had Dessie gelded if he had foals the greatness and history of desert orchid would carry on best horse 🐴 next to red rum 🐴🐴

[@rohansrider]

NH horses are always geldings or mares. That's why the mares have the stud value, The odd entire horse might run, but it’s very rare.

[@johnristheanswer]

All jumpers are gelded or they'd get their knackers ripped off jumping the fences !

[@darrenjohnbryant51]

Amazing racing days! Great Britain!

[@gazowen7310]

Gave weight and still beat them

[@johndonnelly3135]

Got into a debate on social media yesterday with someone who referred to the legendary all time great Dessert Orchard as average.