'We were looking at a licence to print money' - Cheltenham's greatest gambles

Cheltenham's greatest gambles

Forgive ‘N Forget
Coral Golden Hurdle Final, 1983

If we’d known then what we know now, we’d all be millionaires. As it is, we didn’t and mostly we aren’t, but when the 1985 Gold Cup winner lined up two years earlier in what is routinely one of the most fiercely contested handicaps of the big week, off a weight of 11st 6lb having been bought from the legendarily shrewd Barney Curley, what we were looking at was a licence to print money.

Jimmy Fitzgerald knew. So did the horse’s owner, the Cheshire-based Irish construction tycoon Tim Kilroe, but then he was a millionaire anyway. A lot of other people developed an inkling as the race approached, the raceday crowd put its full weight behind the project, and the sheer volume of money from all sources ensured that the six-year-old son of Ascot Gold Cup hero Precipice Wood and five-furlong winner Tackienne was sent off at what may have looked to dissenters like a ridiculously short price. By the time he jumped the last in front and full of running, 5-2 looked like a steal.

Fitzgerald was keenly aware of the talent he had at his disposal – perhaps Curley had even had a quiet word in his ear – and the gamble began from the moment the weights were revealed. Irish bumper winner Forgive ‘N Forget, having already ‘won’ four of his first six hurdle races – being disqualified for interference on the second of them, at Worcester in October – was perched near the top of the handicap, but his successes in handicap company at Catterick and Ayr in January 1983 merely hinted at his true ability.

Forgive 'N Forget won the 1985 Cheltenham Gold CupCredit: Gerry Cranham

His tempestuous trainer, from Horse and Jockey in County Tipperary, was renowned as a man who could "lay one out" and the support for the chestnut suggested he had left a little in the locker for a later day, and although his young rider Mark Dwyer lacked the experience of some of his older rivals, confidence never waned, despite the regulation large field and the frantic nature of the event.

Again, if we’d known that 19-year-old Dwyer was to turn out to be one of the brightest talents to cross the Irish Sea in many a year, we’d have all been on. The gifted Irishman kept his mount anchored towards the rear, made sweet progress into third place with three flights to jump, unleashed him to lead at the last and steered him up the hill to a three-length success over Brunton Park.

The talk was of a £1 million coup, in the days when £1 million was a lot of money. If only it were always that easy.

Forgive ‘N Forget raced once more that season, when pulled up at Aintree, but his best days were still in front of him. When switched to fences the following season, he posted an impressive success in the prestigious Timeform Chase at Haydock and ran with great credit in the Sun Alliance Chase, but it was the following season that he truly shone.

Fitzgerald confirmed what we had suspected since March 1983, that this was the best horse he had ever trained and that he would be disappointed if he never won a Gold Cup. The trainer was not to be disappointed, sending Forgive ‘N Forget to win the Rowland Meyrick Chase and the Timeform Chase again, before beating Monica Dickinson’s Righthand Man in the main event at Cheltenham.
Peter Thomas

The countdown
15 days to go – 15 years ago ...

Mattie Batchelor
King Harald, Jewson Novices’ Handicap Chase, 2005

He always had a very good engine but he was a bit clumsy, so we’d done a lot with Yogi Breisner in the build-up and when it mattered most he hardly made a mistake.

Mattie Batchelor wins the 2005 Jewson Novices’ Handicap Chase on King HaraldCredit: Gerry Cranham (racingpost.com/photos)

He almost slipped over coming round the bend first time, but he jumped really well, I got a little breather into him at the top of the hill and he led coming to the last. He jumped it well, but he half pecked and jinked and I thought I was going out the side door. Dickie [Johnson] was behind me on Lacdoudal and I remember hearing him say, “oh no, Batch, no, don’t come off”. I’d never known a jockey in second willing the leader to stay on, but that sums him up – he’d had loads of festival winners and he didn’t want me to lose my only one.

Anyway, I lost the left iron and couldn’t get it back so I kicked the other foot out, booted him in the belly and away he went. I even had time to spin the whip!

I’d lost my mum the previous November and when we were watching the replay on Friday evening I realised that my number cloth was 19 and my mum’s birthday was March 19. I know it was just coincidence and it didn’t make a difference, but it was very poignant for me. I went past the post and I was looking up at the heavens. It was that kind of day.

My Cheltenham Festival routine

Charlie Morlock
Assistant trainer to Nicky Henderson

In a lot of ways, a festival day is much the same as any other day. All the other horses need to be kept ticking over because they’ll have a main event of their own at some stage, and even on the first day there’s still 30-odd runners on the other three days who need to be kept on the go, but we try to get done as quickly and sensibly as possible so that people can watch all the build-up.

I never miss a day at the yard, but that’s fine by me, I’m quite happy to stay at home because I don’t like crowds or traffic. I think I’ve been racing once since I packed up training and I don’t miss it at all.

Charlie Morlock is second-in-command to Nicky HendersonCredit: Edward Whitaker

I nip home to Kingston Lisle and watch it quite quietly on my own – I'm not a great shouter at the television – but often we'll watch the big race in the office, get as many people in as possible, have a glass of something and get a great atmosphere going, because over the years we’ve had a lot of good moments and those four days are what the year is judged by.

Desert Island Tips
One tip per day. Who do you go for?

Tuesday

Brewin'upastorm
Racing Post Arkle

I'm far from convinced the Irish novice chase form is that strong and Brewin'upastorm has looked a natural over fences so far. A strongly run two miles will be ideal.

Wednesday

The Big Getaway
Ballymore Novices' Hurdle

Envoi Allen is obviously the one to beat but he has had everything his own way so far and The Big Getaway looked special when winning at Naas last time.

The Big Getaway: an impressive winner at NaasCredit: Patrick McCann

Thursday

Summerville Boy
Paddy Power Stayers' Hurdle

Summerville Boy wasn't far behind Paisley Park last time on his first attempt at three miles and there should be more to come. He might not beat Paisley Park but he has a great chance of beating the rest and makes plenty of each-way appeal.

Friday

Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle

Latest Exhibition has barely put a foot wrong over hurdles and the further he goes the better he appears to be. The step up to three miles looks sure to suit.
Tom Segal, Pricewise

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