Top 25 Greatest Hurdlers

A video of the 25 greatest hurdlers over the years. There's probably a few controversial selections but I don't think many would disagree with most of the horses listed here.
In the time that I've followed the sport the three Irish hurdlers Istabraq, Hurricane Fly & Faugheen are the best I've seen. Istabraq would be my No.1 overall.
In alphabetical order:
Annie Power
Baracouda
Birds Nest
Big Buck's
Bula
Buveur d'air
Comedy of Errors
Dawn Run
Faugheen
Gaye Brief
Golden Cygnet
Hardy Eustace
Hattons Grace
Hurricane Fly
Istabraq
Lanzarote
Monksfield
Morley Street
National Spirit
Night Nurse
Persian War
Quevega
Sea Pigeon
See You Then
Sir Ken

[@godchannelled5990]

Night nurse. Sea pigeon. Birds nest. Monksfield... great memories...

[@Zarkava8]

And the best of them Golden Cygnet.

[@electriceclectic5144]

late 70s and 80s ,strength in depth of hurdlers and chasers will never be equalled.night nurse,silver buck,comedy of errors ,Birds nest ,Bregawn persian war sea pigeon Bula,Lanzarote,Monksfield,Wayward lad,little owl,Jack of trumps,Burrough Hill lad,Kybo,Beacon light,Captain christy,Badsworth Boy.etc etc

[@Zarkava8]

You left out the best of them all in Golden Cygnet.

[@Spliff66]

And the game was pre internet The best of the best were absolutely PRINTING MONEY

[@kepnjem]

Thanks for this. Brought back some great memories of great horses. My late Dad and I used to love watching the racing on TV on a Saturday afternoon together and many of these brilliant hurdlers remind me of those days.

[@chrishuckfield5975]

Golden cygnet would have become legendary if he had lived

[@liamg353]

He was the best hurdler i ever seen, He was all over Sea Pigeon and co. in the Scottish champion but Alas.

[@ivorscrotumic3556]

What a fantastic trip down memory lane..!! You had me hooked at 'Bird's Nest'. Nice one.

[@goldenmiller7942]

Good selections Arzani124 but for me Golden Millers stable mate Insurance would be in my 25 won 2 champion hurdles 32&33 and Brown Jack won in 28 then won the Queen Alexandra 6 consecutive times on the flat from 1929 and my own favourite Inglis Drever with 3 world hurdles. Also think Brownes Gazzette was very special. Thanks for the vid.

[@gored6248]

Faugheen really was a machine, he couldn’t even hurdle, used to hit every hurdle and still power clear!! I’ve seen a lot of good horses but the new kid on the block looks a special special horse, constitution hill! He could be the best of them all!

[@killianlpc]

The 1977 Champion Hurdle was the best quality race ever ran over hurdles. Night Nurse, Monksfield, Sea Pigeon, Birds Nest, Dramatist, Beacon Light. All pure top class in any other era all those others would have won a Champion Hurdle. Of course Monksfield did win in 78, 79 and Sea Pigeon in 80,81. Sea Pigeon was also a brilliant flat horse winning two Chester Cup under 10st. Night Nurse of course was a class apart winning in 76,77 and still is Timeform's highest rated hurdler ever on 182. Monksfield on 180, and all the other in that field that day on 170+. We will never see such a quality field like this again. Truly the Golden Era of Hurdling.

[@SWITCHMACABREUNIT]

How did Inglis Drever not get in this list. As well as Rooster Booster. And a little mention for Binocular

[@stevecampbell6294]

Great call Arazi124 totally agree on your selections.

[@protarget1]

The 1977 Champion Hrurdle is regarded as the highest quality race ever run over timber. And when Night Nurse took on Monksfield at Aintree 2.5mls giving him 7lbs. It is still regarded as the greatest hurdle race ever. As for Istabraq, he never beat anything near the quality of the 1997 CH. But still rated the joint 2nd highest rated hurdler ever with Monksfield ON 180, with Night Nurse number 1 on 182.

[@Zarkava8]

If Golden Cygnet had fulfilled his potential he would've ended up with a rating that would've been untouchable.

[@graemepetty1864]

Been following racing for 60 years now. The best horse I ever saw.......... BIG BUCKS !!! To me it is irrelevant that he was a hurdler ( as opposed to a chaser). Persian War could have been even better with a decent trainer and owner who both flogged the poor old bugger to death

[@FORESTDONS]

Nothing like the 70s golden bunch.

[@someoneinyourchatfromdubli7258]

Gaye breif, first time seeing it run.. What a absolute daisy cutter 😍 that's how you want a horse to run

[@stephenfry9140]

Sea Pigeon for me was the best as none of today's champions have ever faced a field as good as Night Nurse , Monksfield, Birdsnest, . Also on the Flat the races he won & up at Ayr under 10 stone being beat by Le Moss won 3 gold cups ! In o photo.

[@davidkent8606]

Sea Pigeon in my opinion was the best cross purpose National Hunt/Flat horse of all time, and the classiest, let's not forget he also finished 5th in the Epsom Derby as a 3yo.

[@simonhindley65]

Absolutely, none even comes close.

[@boogiestreet594]

an it's kinda sad how you older guys cling to the past and are afraid to let go. Go look at the 20 best arc winners video, someone the same as you, having the second comment on the list said the EXACT same thing you did "Dancing Brave was the best as he DEFINITELY faced the best fiel ever that day". And then go and watch the video of Red Rum's first Gran National win, the 3rd guy down again "The best grand national field ever". Whats wrong with you guys? Why do you think the best of everything has already been and gone, and nothing can compare to stuff that just magically happens to have happened when you were in your mid 20's (the best years i suppose of your life) were the best horses ever. Why are people so opposed to newer horses, gootballers, cars etc, literally you older people think the human race reached it's pinnacle in the 90's, and everything reached it's limit then, and now anything that came after the mide 90's can never compare as we're on a downhill slope into oblivion. I hate to burst you bubble but there have been FAR better winners of the race than Sea Pigeon, not to mention the amount of times he lost to horses who weren't actually that great. You need to live in the moment man, living in the past is bad for you, if you keep looking to the past, thats where you'll stay, you'll regret it when you're older. Appreciate what you have now, not what you had. Just some advice.

[@davidkent8606]

Young Mr. Quigley, I'm afraid your advice is misguided, first of all let's correct you, I never said Sea Pigeon was the best horse to win the Champion Hurdle, I said in my opinion he was the best cross-purpose flat/jumps horse of all time, I still follow horse racing these days, and I've seen nothing yet to change my opinion on that point. I see you bring up that old chestnut (pun intended) Red Rum, are you honestly suggesting that his National record of 3 wins and 2 seconds doesn't entitle him to the accolade of the best national horse of all time? If you want to look at people living in the past I suggest you view some videos about the greatest racehorses of all time, the Americans can't seem to get past Secretariat, in fact I often make comments on these videos similar to yours along the lines of "that was then, this is now", they just can't bring themselves to mention American Pharoah in the same breath (I don't think this year's Triple Crown Winner Justify is as good as AP). As for my best racehorse of all time it would have to be Arkle, he had to have the handicap changed to give his opponents the slightest chance of beating him, with him on 12st 7lb and the rest of the field lumped on 10st. I've retired to Thailand, but I still watch my daily dose of racing on my PC, and I think this year's European crop of 3 yr. olds is pretty mediocre, with the exception of the filly Alpha Centauri. The way the others keep flip-flopping in the results tells me that if Enable is fit in time she'll win a second Arc. 4 yr. old Ascot Gold Cup winner Stradivarius could turn out to be better than Le Moss if he's kept in training. Also I'm following closely the Australian filly Winx, who at seven just keeps on winning. So as you can see I'm not living in the past at all. What makes you think I have anything against today's "gootballers", whatever they are, oh, wait you mean footballers, no I think my team's great (Spurs) particularly Harry Kane and Kieran Trippier. I like modern cars too, I've got a Mitzubishi at the moment, but it'll never compare to my BMW Z3 3 litre auto that I had when I left the UK. Where you could have nailed me for living in the past is music, with a few exceptions good music finished about the year 2000, today's music is crap.

[@alastor2322]

@@boogiestreet594 I think many of the real top ones from the 60's onwards are all in the same bracket but I'll agree that the night nurse/monskfield/sea pigeon/birds nest era - saw the most competitive races and Sea pigeon was sired by Sea bird one of the best flat horses of all time. If Sea pigeon was around today he would of been aimed yearly at the- Melbourne Cup and I'm sure he would have been a multiple winner and place horse there. The horse was a real racehorse and on good ground at Cheltenham I think he could of beaten anything-its testament to his ability that he had to win it in on soft/heavy ground. Of todays horses-Hurricane Fly ranks highly with his two wins and incredible record in Ireland and obviously Istabraq who was in the same kind of abillity level-although he didn't beat sea pigeons, night nurses and Monksfields! But sea pigeon was unique. If he had remained an entire he might of won an arc!

[@barbaradyson6951]

Night nurse suffered from a fibralating heart like sprinter sacre but back then it wasn't treated in the same way as it is today.

[@paulsharkey2862]

Golden Cygnet the best of all them by far.

[@paulotoole9758]

Agreed

[@Zarkava8]

Without a doubt. If he had wings he'd be Pegasus.

[@fredscott7340]

Night nurse for me

[@shanej35]

You're missing two of the best hurdlers of the early 80s in Broadsword and Ekbalco

[@Zarkava8]

Ekbalco was an enigma.

[@johnfisher2529]

Ekbalco was my dad's horse

[@salsabil44]

@@johnfisher2529 I loved Ekbalco but always felt he just wasn´t quite at the same level as the very best. What was that other very good hurdler from the same connections whose name escapes me?

[@dermotfox1761]

Then FOR AUTION beat both easily in champ 82 and also at leopardstown sweeps hurdle. Alderbrook should be on list

[@alanfinn1096]

The potential of Golden Cygnet was immense. Such a shame he never got to realise it. Monsignor was another who never got to realise his potential.

[@stephenholmes1036]

Jumping is the name of the game and sadly some dont make it

[@FORESTDONS]

My favourite of all time will always be that little horse with a heart of a lion,the one and only Monksfield.

[@befairish]

Agree++; I remember being at Leopardstown Xmas 1980; Monksfield carrying top weight into 3rd; must have been the Sweeps hurdle; It was bucketing down, almost unraceable. He was such a little fighter

[@calburton334]

It makes you wonder what Browns Gazette would have achieved had the jockey been straight.

[@chloedevereux6051]

The fly unreal horse and record considering he missed large chunks at start of his career over hurdles

[@heaven-is-real]

the "wonder" mare

[@horseracingstuff]

I'd have Inglis Drever in there and also Alderbrook based on his destruction of a very good field in the 1995 Champion Hurdle.

[@112sje]

Yes I would put Inglis Drever in place of Quevega, but she could only win the Mares' Hurdles were she was sent. She should have been Big Buck's main challenger.

[@glynnevans1851]

@@112sje Hi Steve, Appreciate your comments but in my view Bula light years ahead of these. Fabulous racing in the 70s and Momentous competition. Jockeys then were made of steel and sheer grit unlike today's Mamby Pamby and prima donnas. Kind regards Glynn n greetings from Stourbridge West Midlands UK 🤝

[@112sje]

@@glynnevans1851 Yes the 1970s were a fantastic era for the Champion Hurdle and there were some great rivalries with Bulla, Comedy Of Errors, Night Nurse, Monksfield & Sea Pigeon. Persian War only has a small indoor bar named in his honour at Cheltenham but Quevega has a huge outdoor one overlooking the paddock. It should be the other way round ! I wonder if you can remember the Aintree race before Red Rum won his third Grand National; the epic duel between Monksfield & Night Nurse. Who came out on top ?

[@glynnevans1851]

@@112sje Hi Steve, Thanks for your reply. I remember that epic duel well and it up lifted the day to a new height prior to the Momentous National as you indicate sir. Not sour grapes but if Andy Pandy had stood up ' he would of won in my view especially as he was going like an express train. Just about remember Persian War and is often forgotten also remember the ding dong battles Lanzarote had with Comedy. Do you remember the ill fated Killiney who he was sadly taken from us so prematurely . Possibly the new Arkle was in the making. Another of my favourites Spanish steps n was so genuine and gallant. Ace chatting with sir.Kind regards Glynn n greetings from Stourbridge West Midlands 🤝

[@112sje]

@@glynnevans1851 Thank-you same to you. You usually need a bit of luck to win the National. Rummy might not have won in 1973 either if Grey Sombrero hadn't fallen fatally at the Chair or Crisp hit the wall on the run in, but his victory over L'Escargot, a year later was purely on merit. You probably go back further than me but I remember the affection racing fans had for Spanish Steps. I know some commentators were disgusted ( and so was I) that his name was allowed to be used again a few years ago.

[@colincocks1335]

Yep,, sea pigeon, night nurse, monks field and the next few in the field, the seventies was great and how about see you then who won it three times on the bounce, but for me the greatest hurdler who sadly didn’t get to his full potential because of injury was Monsignor.

[@Zarkava8]

Greatest hurdler was Golden Cygnet, even without fulfilling his potential.

[@barbaradyson6951]

Annie Power greatest you have to be kidding. Now BIG BUCKS 18 straight races surely he ranks above the rest.

[@Arazi124]

Annie Power is first in this video because I put them in alphabetical order.

[@barbaradyson6951]

@@Arazi124 no it wasn't that they were in alphabetical order. Didn't think Annie P rated that high. Did you know rating of horses didn't start think till the late fifties. Which means you can't compare horses. Just opinions.

[@xaar81]

annie was a great hurdler would hammer half of these esp the old ones

[@befairish]

Thanks for putting this up; great memories

[@chrisstorey4197]

Big Buck's was a failed chaser, as many three mile hurdlers are. Three mile hurdling shouldn't be a championship event.

[@litogor]

The most impressive of this list = Baracouda Biggest potential now = Espoir D'Allen

[@myfrobert]

Pity that Espoir D'Allen died of injury suffered during training. No one could know whether he would have got had he been still alive.

[@Zarkava8]

Most impressive = Golden Cygnet. Most Potential = Golden Cygnet.

[@davidkent8606]

It's a bit fishy (excuse pun) that Salmon Spray and Kribensis never made your list.

[@davidkent8606]

Eddie they're not, I'm particularly upset by the omission of Kribensis (my favourite tropical fish).

[@davidkent8606]

Eddie, you must be about the same age as me, I'm 69, I can remember I was trapped indoors with my leg in plaster and about the only thing on TV in the afternoons was horse racing, and my first heroes, who always seemed to be racing, and winning were Frenchman's Cove and a prolific hunter chaser Baulking Green, plus another giant hunter chaser Pride of Ivanhoe. then of course then there were Mill House, Arkle, Fortria, Rondetto, Mandarin, Woodland Venture, Dormant, Laffy and so on. My dad use to put on a few bob for me on the Saturday races, and my first really big winner was a hurdler named Baridi who slipped the field and won easily at a long price beating hotshot the ill-fated Wilhelmina Henrietta, he eventually went on to run in the Champion Hurdle finishing about 5th or 6th to Salmon Spray. My first memory of the Derby was of Dicta Drake and Psidium. like you I remember Sea Bird II, Mill Reef and Brigadier Gerrard, and in the Oaks Sweet Solera and the great Noblesse.

[@jamesbaker6834]

My favourite was istabraq who i think is still the best horse that AOB ever trained

[@andymatthews7617]

GREAT GREAT HORSES.

[@stephenburke5967]

Charlie Swan"how good Montelado could have been only for tendon problems omg he was very good".

[@MrOitoyboy]

No Thistlecrack? No Unowhatimeanharry?

[@leecorcoran6174]

Imagine how good valoramix would have gone on to be if it hadn’t clipped heels and died in the champion hurdle 🏇🏇🏇such a shame , I remember AP crying at the side of the track

[@thomaselliott4157]

Think golden cygnet would have been the best out of the lot tragic in Scottish champion hurdle

[@stephenholmes1036]

Persian war

[@ellvee426]

Morley Street could have went round again.

[@alexander53907]

BUENO NOTTE

[@101mossie]

Hurricane fly was the greatest ever. Nothing came close.

[@nepiris]

Celtic ryde was some horse.

[@sharkeybran]

Harchibald should be in there

[@rodneymckee8431]

How did buveur dair get in won 2 of the worst champion hurdles ever where is inglis drever. Hurricane fly my favourite

[@Zarkava8]

Best hurdler by far was Golden Cygnet and that's without fulfilling his enormous potential. He was Pegasus in disguise, A horse with invisible wings.

[@invisibleman4656]

Alderbrook

[@shawncarter5540]

Where's RED RUM?

[@Brilliantnash]

He was no hurdler!

[@jonathanhart8570]

Buried at Aintree...my friend red rum didn't jump the smaller obstacles he jumped the biggest and did it better than any no other nag will compare seeing as the fences at Aintree have been made easier

[@dawnkeir549]

Red rum is alegend at sintered not a hurdler

[@dermotyoung5142]

Uwot ?

[@andrewtaylor5833]

Istabraq at his best was probably the greatest

[@1414yorks]

He never beat anything decent in a poor period for hurdlers just as Buveur D'air is a moderate dual Champion Hurdler now

[@lucaplayzrobloxyt7846]

cant believe you left out bumfish? surely he should in there?

[@protarget1]

To 1414yorks, Your Correct! Istabraq never face the quality of the 70's hurdlers. Highest rated horse he ran against was 165 rest were below 160. The 1977 champion hurdle is regarded as the highest quality race ever run over timber

[@bernardthegwp71020]

Istabraq at best would be 12th in the all time list as he beat fuck all. Night Nurse, Sea Pigeon, Monksfield, Comedy of Errors, Bula, Persian War.,Lanzerote, Sir Ken, See you then, Hattons Grace, Morley Stret, Alderbrook. All would have beaten him.

[@roberto4001000]

@@bernardthegwp71020 istabraq would piss on them all did you see the manner in which he won his races you knob jockey .

[@andrewcatley964]

retired bog orandr tiger wolf, . new. top list. cracks man poats woar crystail coean. anable stradverius kalashnikf roring loin. havingpoet beat crystail and roringloin beat them both

[@kazneedham4947]

Fixed

[@boogiestreet594]

HOw did i know it'd be a bunch of horses from decades ago who'd be rated highest. It's like people are stuck in the past, and everybody seems to think that mankind reached it's pinnacle in about 1990, and we've been on a steep downhill curve since then. Nothing after that year be it fighters, cars, horses, footballers, anything basically. Why do you people seem to think all of the best horses are from decades ago? it makes no sense. at all. Nostalgia is a powerful drug.

[@barbaradyson6951]

Quigley shows you no nothing about the jumping game.

[@chrisherbey4402]

Have look at the Timeform ratings!

[@barbaradyson6951]

@@chrisherbey4402 timeform ratings didn't come into fashion until the 60s. The timeform people admitted they got it wrong with sprinter sacres rating. So can't rely on them.

[@horseracingstuff]

All the horses on this video aren't from decades ago.

[@petermcintyre8336]

The best was seapigeon night nurse brake light dramatist bird's-nest monksfield