Desert Orchid vs Panto Prince | 50 Years Of Jumps At Ascot | 'Dessie' defies the odds

[@BritishRaceCaller]

I had the privilege of being in the Ascot commentary box with Peter O'Sullevan that long ago day when I was just 12. Now I am a full time race commentator in the USA. But I will never forget that day.

[@nantes23]

Still the greatest i've seen in my time. Took the best on, time after time over all distances on any ground and beat them. Legend.

[@barryquayle1405]

The greatest horse in the greatest race I’ve seen. This performance is phenomenal

[@OldiesAl]

I was at Ascot that day, I'd travelled down from Yorkshire to see Dessie in the flesh and was treated to one of the greatest races over jumps anywhere. I not only backed Dessie but also the other 5 winners on the card. I think in the closing stages Sir Peter says Dessie for the first time it had always been Desert Orchid to that point.

[@David-k9w4u]

2 miles to 3 1/2 miles. Dessie won them all. Big heart. Never gave up. Won the gold cup in the mud and won the nations hearts. A true champion of the world.

[@michaeljenkins8593]

the greatest imo and my fav of all time dessie

[@conmurphy69]

The bravest of them all. Poetry in motion.

[@WESSERPARAQUAT]

6.32 David the Duke Nicholson offering his congratulations to Simon Sherwood and in doing so acknowledging a truly great horse the pat he gave him spoke volumes , he trained Long Engagement a decent horse in his own right

[@Formula1Madx]

By god, Dessie was brave, determined horse

[@elizabethgalligan1805]

Wonderful Dessie. Heart of a Lion☺️😍

[@silenusut]

Memories. Grand. Subbed.

[@jakhal5153]

22 pound between them..enough said.....

[@carmelademir1193]

Darling dessie❤

[@mightyquinnproductions8672]

A legend of a horse with the heart of a Lion.

[@carina914]

there'll never be another dessie. too many delicate french bred horses these days , not real home bred chasers with rags to riches stories

[@lechatel]

Yes. However his sire was a very very good flat horse I used to follow...placed in the Derby if I recall....Grey Mirage.

[@suechadwick3355]

I'm sure at the time Janice Doyle ? Had the best job in racing looking after this brilliant horse!

[@markperryman1797]

Janice Coyle, just a polite correction....

[@mizofan]

I recommend the book The Grey Horse: The True Story of Desert Orchid by his owner Richard Burridge. Janice liked to say she was 4ft 11 1/2 not just 4 ft 11. To sum her up in one word, he chose "bossy" and said she and Dessie suited each other. Of course she became a well known and popular face. Yes, who wouldn't to look after Dessie?

[@WESSERPARAQUAT]

the only other chaser who attacked his fences like that was Tingle Creek

[@richardjames712]

Peter O'Sullevan had a lot of nerve calling Desert Orchid the winner - nearly 30 years on and I still can't separate them at the finish. One of the great races.

[@OldiesAl]

Sir Peter was on the line, the camera is at an angle so he probably had a better view

[@murdoch691]

His lordship showing off what a horse man

[@chrisfleming8908]

It looked like a dead heat to me Dessie deserved it best horse 🐎 the bravest anyway 😊

[@barbaradyson6951]

Horses by nature are not NATURAL JUMPERS they have to be trained. Every now and again you find a horse who really enjoys it eg desert orchid.