Book Description
Over the years, many of National Hunt racings most renowned equine and human celebraties have been associated with the hurdling's Blu Riband event. The roll of honour reads like an encyclopedia of the sport. From Blaris to Istabraq, all the great horses are her, notably the elite quintet of triple champions: 'the ugly duckling' Hattons Grace; surely 'the ul timate champion' Persian War; the irascible pair Sir Ken and See You Then--and Istabraq himself, denied his first crack at the elusive fourth title because of the disasterouis foot and mouth outbreak of 2001. Their stories evoke memories of mighty deeds, while those of horses like Merry Deal, Winning Fair, Dawn Run and Flakey Dove, for in stance, require belief in fairy tales. The gallery of human participants adds to the action and romance. No history can be dull when it involves owners like the inveterate gamb-ler and eccentric Dorothy Paget; trainers like the charismatic Ryan Pr ice, Irish Wizard Vincemt O'Brian or the mould breaking Martin Pipe--and jockeys such as the irrepressible Fred Winter and the unstoppable Tony McCoy.
