Arkle 1965 & 1966 Cheltenham Gold Cups

Arkle 1965 & 1966 Cheltenham Gold Cups

[@marsvltor2]

Arkle was a freak (in the best possible sense). When he died, a post mortem showed a heart way, way bigger than what would be expected from a thoroughbred. He had so much more oxygen going though his arteries than any horse should. No wonder he won. Nothing, ever, will ever get close to Arkle, the greatest racehorse ever.

[@Zarkava8]

Arkle was a one off, There won't be another like him ever.

[@marsvltor2]

It's called multi-tasking: entertaining the crowd. posing for photos, incidentally winning another Gold Cup, wondering why these so-called hard fences are so easy... Himself was pure class, pure and simple...

[@eugenekeher978]

Arkle did all his talking on the racecourse , lots of other horses mentioned never gave away three stones in handicaps and yet still win easily , who cares he never ran in the National , simply the best steeplechaser ever by a long way .

[@alipitogen]

I think I'll adopt Sir Peter O Sullevan's strategy when people get carried away with the here and now and doubt Arkle's vast superiority.He just allows himself a little knowing smile and says as little as possible.

[@fleetmaze2]

arkle the greates chaser that ever was and ever will be, he was unique and tho good horses will come and go they will never be a patch on the great arkle

[@thomaslogue7773]

no steeplechase born would live with arkle at level weights

[@georgeprime2249]

Good looking fella too.

[@Stephen-gl5wu]

Will we ever see a chaser the likes of arkle again I seriously doubt it

[@ThefightingCelt]

@kealano123 Arkle's poor jumping? Please explain. Arkle was a magnificient jumper and seldom made mistakes. He never fell in any of the 26 chases he contested.

[@FORESTDONS]

Always sad when the unsung hero is always ignored in this kind debates.Flyingbolt was special in his own way.

[@johnlivesey7892]

I feel bad for Mill House, in any other time he probably would have won 3 or 4 Gold Cups. Timeform ratings Arkle, 212, Flyingbolt 210, Mill House 192.....

[@mikyboy234]

its funny how some people actually think that kauto star would actually beat Arkle, Arkle could give ks 3 stone and still beat him

[@silver-hammer]

Quite..!

[@pauldonohoe3646]

Greatest of all time. Not even sure if he was all horse😂. He was a freak of nature never to be repeated.

[@thomaslogue7773]

Well maybe 2 stone my friend and a 10 length beating

[@beverleymorris167]

Not 3stone...2 maybe

[@alipitogen]

@TissuePrices That is an astounding comment. Look at other Gold Cup winners approaching the line and then look back at Arkle. Look particularly at their actions near the line. I'd say you could probably look at all of them and no other horse's action remains as extended as Arkle's up that stamina examining hill. Mention whoever you like and you will still see a more scraping action and never such an effortlessly turf-eating stride.

[@beverleymorris167]

Exactly what I think

[@spaz5138]

Im his biggest fan no one knows him more than me I love him so much r.i.p rest in peace boy who was a great racehorse and I miss him because he's dead and not coming back r.i.p and rest in peace

[@alipitogen]

@MrAddyginsh Do you doubt that Arkle could have won a Champion Chase? If Dawn Run could beat a recent 2Mile Champion at Punchestown in April 1986 , and if Desert Orchid a couple of years later could humble the contemporary 2milers at Ascot, I would see a similar task as no great challenge to Arkle. Flyingbolt was extraordinary but I harbour a sneaking suspicion that, places swapped, Arkle would have won that Champion Hurdle, probably Dawn Run fashion, except perhaps by further.

[@tigerarmyrule]

Unequaled and probably unequalable.

[@alipitogen]

@MrAddyginsh I won't strongly disagree.Your argument deserves great respect because you can obviously recognize greatness.The case of Flyingbolt was so unfortunate but, as you will surely agree, we can never now know.There have been also cases of flawed geniuses who might have challenged Arkle. I would like to ask the question 'how far would Arkle have been in front of Captain Christy in the 1975 King George?' I have to assume Arkle would have won but CC was extraordinary that day.

[@johnkimber776]

NEVER UNDERESTIMATE JUST HOW GREAT FLYINGBOLT WAS. BUT WHILE THERES SO MUCH FOOTAGE RE ARKLE ITS HARD TO FIND ANYTHING ABOUT FLYING BOLT

[@thomaslogue7773]

Pat taffe said captain christy was a great horse reminded him of ankle if he was only right in the head

[@patrickcleary9358]

The weight arkle gave away no modern day horse could do that .And there are people who think dessie and kauto would have given him a race .

[@mervyncharter]

Let me throw in two unlucky horses whose careers was ruined by injury and untimely death. Two of Fred Winter`s cracking chasers Pendil & Killiney. Pendil lets not forget really was a brilliant chaser who was unlucky not to win at least a couple Gold Cups. And he was actually Favourite for the `77 Gold Cup having made a fantastic come-back from lengthy injury at the age of 12 before he got injured again. Killiney, well it`s anyones guess how good he could have been. He looked a superstar.

[@jakhal5153]

being "brilliant" as you put it mervyn charter means your brilliant in every aspect of a what a fantastic horse should be and staying free from injury come,s under that umbrella..for example the grey horse was as sound on the day burridge retired him as he was on his first outing......quite incredible when you think of how brave he was......thats being brilliant!!

[@alipitogen]

@pmus1 Good one! Flying Bolt would beat Kauto Star that way alright -but Arkle would have won with McCrirrick having a row with Ted Walsh on his back!

[@alipitogen]

@MrAddyginsh Thanks for clarifying.You might be right but I'm not sure. Arkle did hurdle early on but strangely enough he was a late developer and his class wasn't yet evident then.

[@thomaslogue7773]

He ran a few hurdle races in Ireland and some bumpers he was just being schooled he was always going to be a chaser

[@beverleymorris167]

@@thomaslogue7773 He did,nt do bad over hurdles, I think won 4 out of 6? He was always gonna be a chaser.

[@shane-irish]

The greatest

[@alipitogen]

Just look at Arkle rounding the home turn.Was that really a horse?This is Steve Ovett winning an Olympic 1500 metres, this is Michael Flatley pointing to his feet in Riverdance.The feckin' Son of a Bright Cherry is looking around to see if he knows anyone in the stands. That's a flat out gallop for mere mortals, and feck sake look at it, 3 miles on the clock in a Gold Cup and he's bloody idling! He's bored! What other horse has pissed home in a Gold Cup in that manner?

[@december2364]

I agree. We'll never see the likes of this again.

[@silenusmeduseon8814]

Good one; subbed.

[@julzyboy1973]

Thanks for that - I was not born until '73 so would not know. Was it even a minor possibility that Arkle could have ever run in the National? Davy Lad & Alverton both did in the 70's. I think Denman could win the National even with 12 stone. In my life time Kauto & Denman are the best chasers I have seen. Best Mate had nothing to beat so hard to judge.

[@thomaslogue7773]

That's why ankle never ran in the grand national to many loose horses plus its a handicap he would have had 14 stone on his back

[@beverleymorris167]

You couldn't run Arkle in the national of old...too great to risk... especially then, longer distance, and the fences were like brick walls..they didn't budge, today's fall over!! Poor old Alverton....what a waste...killed in national. Could have won more gold cups

[@julzyboy1973]

@@beverleymorris167 yet MOL still twice denied Tiger Roll the chance to gain a third GN

[@beverleymorris167]

@@julzyboy1973 👍

[@garrywilson7676]

@@thomaslogue7773 - the grand national is a compressed handicap, Arkle would've been burdened with 12 stone, the bottom weight would've have carried no less than 10 stone, even if he had of been originally allotted less than 10 stone. Those weights would've greatly favoured Arkle. However, you still have to get round without mishap. I think Arkle would have won!

[@footstatic]

my cousin trained arkle

[@alipitogen]

I've never heard it said by anyone else but I firmly believe that the best steeplechaser ever apart from the matchless Arkle was actually his rival, Mill House. To back up my point I would ask racing analysts to suggest another horse who would have given him a race over the last half mile at level weights such as Mill House did in 1964. If you want me to suggest one I would say Captain Christy in his 1975 King George Chase form, but I wouldn't be producing any money on it.

[@beverleymorris167]

Arkle won his king George by a fence...giving weight to good horses...it was a handicap back then. Captain Christys king George was levels....not in arkles league I,m afraid.

[@beverleymorris167]

Pat taaffe said mill House was the second best horse he had ridden.

[@julzyboy1973]

So she was considering him for '67. Probably would have had to carry 13 stone. The Duchess of Westminster won it with Last Suspect. My Dad won a nice few quid on him in '85. Got on at 50/1

[@julzyboy1973]

Did Mill House run in 66 GC - I know he fell in 67 & 68. What happened to him in 66?

[@alipitogen]

@MrAddyginsh We're on the same page. I'd have loved to have seen Arkle and Flyingbolt compete. I'd like also to be slightly older too, b.1963.(Only ever reason I wish that!) Mill House was a champion too, of course, and what I always say to myself is what if Mill House had preceded Arkle, by say four years? What if he had 3 Gold Cups won and Arkle had beaten a faded champion.Then we would not even have the true answer to Arkle v Mill House.That thought leads me to side with Arkle.

[@lessamuels3767]

Opposition wasnt like today

[@TissuePrices]

@alipitogen well ofcourse its easy to look like that against donkeys, thats the point im making, arkle did it in a weak era which makes him look better then he is

[@tomgallagher7870]

Think u should change the channel ski sunday is on in a minute😂😂😂😂

[@thomaslogue7773]

Your at the wind up there where lots of good and very good horses then but ARKLE WAS DIFFERENT CLASS ON AND OFF THE RACECOURSE

[@liddy92]

in yesterdays gold cup did kauto star not put up a performance to rival arkle? is denman the new mill house

[@tonysinnott2785]

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😂😂😂

[@fawltyoldboybasil.2178]

I see the same troll is still here occasionally proffering the theory about the 'donkeys' & 'plodders' of yore - yes indeed. The Flat Earth society has it's most steadfast adherent!

[@samsonpug]

Of course the modern horses are faster and better than the likes of Arkle. Training methods and breeding have improved. Same in human athletics. Still an amazing horse for his era.

[@sagahammer]

I was there that day, and my money was on Rondetto, I never bet on favourites. It was a special day even before I heard about the course record. There was a massive crowd and Mill House put on a fantastic performance of jumping gaining two length or three lengths on Arkle at every fence. When they passed the stands on the first lap there was a deafening applause as as these two superstars took a curtain call before the last act. On the long bend before the third from home Arkle destroyed Mll House. and came home to another, even louder ovation. Poetry

[@lukejfmccann]

thanks for sharing that sagahammer

[@daverichardson1753]

If arkle never got lnjured he would won 6 gold cups what a myth in 1969 arkle used him 2 stone or more

[@thomaslogue7773]

I agree but Tom dreapers training methods where 35 yes ahead of his time

[@beverleymorris167]

That doesn't hold water ... Arkles times are comparable......and he Could have gone round again..... cantered up hill

[@Stanters1967]

That's another and very definite NO Not within a stone mate sorry

[@thesedreamsarefree]

These folks comparing overall standard of then to now might be right, but that doesn't mean the best then (Arkle) wouldn't still be the best now. For one thing he would benefit from tougher standard of opposition which would raise him not lower him. In all sport since the 60s times and standards have improved with the overall improve in standards. The overall quality of opposition pushes the elite to new heights. Amazing then that against supposedly inferior opposition that, in 1965, Arkle set a new record in the Sandown Gold Cup which the superior horses of today have still not lowered. Also Mill House was maybe not so inferior that in receipt of 16 llbs to any of the modern champions he wouldn't have given them a race. Arkle beat giving 16 lb, to a Gold Cup winner. He gave almost 3 stone in a couple of races. I'm not knocking any of the modern greats but suggest some of you watch a few of Arkle's complete races, take into account weight, times, etc. Then we have the opinion of such as Nicky Henderson. Really we shouldn't be comparing Arkle to anyone, just watch him; it's a beautiful sight.

[@thesedreamsarefree]

That should records have improved with overall improve in standards.

[@beverleymorris167]

@@thesedreamsarefree when you look at the gold cup times, They are similar to 50 year ago....this year's was slower Than arkles, on decent ground...also Arkle was carrying 12 STONES...not 11.10.

[@PhilipKerry]

@@beverleymorris167 12st 7lbs to be exact , when he won at Sandown he smashed the course record by 17 seconds and his time with 12st 7lbs on his back still stands today . Horses carrying only 11st 10lbs still can't match his time ......

[@beverleymorris167]

@@PhilipKerry in gold cup at Cheltenham...12 stones Level weights..

[@gerardlacey5428]

Really like your well balanced view

[@TissuePrices]

2 plodders look how slow they went.

[@beverleymorris167]

Arkles gold cup times are comparable to today ... and if you watch him he is just cantering...his 2 Nd Gold cup was breathtaking!! He flew up hill with pat hardly moving. Most gold cup winners including kauto are hard ridden up the hill.

[@maxtudor]

You are on crack, If Denman was fit he would have beaten Kauto in 09. Arkle is miles better than anything else, Mill House is the third highest rated chaser ever and Arkle crushed him. You should read up on Arkle and watch him, out and out class.

[@beverleymorris167]

Denman was a better horse than kauto at Cheltenham... He finished in front of him 3 times, and had just come back from heart problems in his ,1 defeat to kauto.

[@TissuePrices]

Kauto star would have destroyed these plodders by a furlong, arkle incredibly slow.

[@thomaslogue7773]

Arkle won a lmile 6furlongs race in Ireland against some decent horses t p burns who rode him said arkle could really shift and he was a top jockey that was a flat race