Who was George Duller?

In later life, George Duller made a name for himself as a motor racing driver, but it was as a National Hunt jockey – and, specifically, as a specialist hurdles jockey – in the early part of the twentieth century that he first found fame. He was, in fact, Champion Jockey in 1918, but with restrictions on horse racing, he managed just 17 winners in the entire calendar year in a severely limited National Hunt programme.

Born in Canning Town, London in 1891, fostered an idiosyncratic, ‘short’ style of riding, which was at odds with other jockeys of the day. Nevertheless, coupled with exceptional judgement of pace, his style allowed him, more often than not, to execute front-running tactics to good effect. Interestingly, while he rarely rode over larger obstacles, Duller was also the first jockey to wear a crash helmet.

As a jockey, Duller is probably best remembered for his association with Trespasser, on whom he won the Imperial Cup at Sandown Park three years running in 1920, 1921 and 1922 and the inaugural running of the County Hurdle at Cheltenham in 1920. Between 1963 and 1974, Duller was commemorated by a race at the Cheltenham Festival, the George Duller Handicap Hurdle, although it was susbequently replaced by the Coral Golden Hurdle Final, or the Pertemps Network Final, as the race is known today.

Aside from Arkle & Flyingbolt, which was the highest rated steeplechaser in history?

Whether or not the Timeform Annual Rating awarded to Arkle (212), or his contemporary stablemate Flyingbolt (210), is accurate remains open to question. Either way, the pair stands head and shoulders – or 20lb, in empirical terms – above any other steeplechaser to grace a racecourse in the last five decades or so.

On the whole, the Timeform Organisation is fastidious about keeping ratings consistent from one generation to the next, precisely so that comparisons can be made without the need for so-called ‘historical recalibration’. The veracity of ratings from the mid-60s aside, it therefore seems reasonable to use Timeform to identify the next highest-rated steeplechaser in history or, at least, in the history of that venerated authority.

The horse in question was Sprinter Sacre (192p), who ran his last race, as a ten-year-old, in April, 2016 but, even at that late stage, was considered likely to improve on his rating by the Timeform scribes. Owned by Caroline Mould and trained by Nicky Henderson, Sprinter Sacre won 14 of his 18 steeplechases, including the Arkle Challenge Trophy in 2012 and the Queen Mother Champion Chase twice, in 2013 and 2016. All told, he won nine times at the highest Grade One level and may, indeed, have been better yet, but for being diagnosed with an irregular heartbeat in late 2013, which ruled him out for the whole of 2014.

Did Greville Starkey ever win the Derby?

Sadly, the late Greville Starkey, who died in April, 2010, at the age of 70, will always be best remembered for ‘losing’ the 1986 Derby. His mount, Dancing Brave, was sent off 2/1 favourite for the Epsom Classic but, having been held up at the rear of the field, was a long way out of his ground as the field turned for home. Dancing Brave made relentless progress up the straight but, at the winning post, was still half a length behind the winner, Shahrastani, ridden by Walter Swinburn. Starkey was, unjustly, pilloried for setting Dancing Brave an impossible task in a steadily-run race and one losing ride would overshadow his career.

To answer the question, yes, Greville Starkey did win the Derby and it shouldn’t be forgotten that, in so doing, he produced one of the boldest, strongest rides ever seen on Epsom Downs. In the 1978 Derby, Starkey rode Shirley Heights, trained by John Dunlop and, approaching the furlong marker, appeared to have little chance of winning as Hawaiian Storm, ridden by Bill Shoemaker, made the best of his way home. However, galvanised by Starkey, Shirley heights made rapid late progress against the inside rail, getting up to beat the long-time leader by a head in the final stride.

Who was Khalid Abdullah?

The late Khalid Abdullah, or His Highness Prince Khalid bin Abdullah Al Saud, to give him his full title, was one of the most influential, and successful, owner-breeders in the history of horse racing. Abdullah, who died in January, 2021, at the age of 83, recorded his first winner as an owner in Britain, Charming Native, trained by Jeremy Tree and ridden by Lester Piggott, at Windsor in May, 1979.

The following year, Abdullah bought Cayton Park Stud and Pudders Farm in Wargrave-on-Thames, Berkshire, which would become the basis for the hugely successful Juddmonte Farms breeding operation. Nowadays, the operation has 250 horses in training worldwide and, down the years, its familiar racing colours – green, pink sash and cap, white sleeves – have been borne to victory by such luminaries of the sport as Dancing Brave, Frankel and Enable, to name but three.

Indeed, over the last four decades, Abdullah had 118 Group One or Grade One winners worldwide. In Britain alone, he amassed a total of 2,485 wins, including 13 British Classics, and was champion owner three times, in 2003, 2010 and 2011. He won the 2,000 Guineas four times, the Derby three times and the 1,000 Guineas, Oaks and St. Leger twice apiece. Internationally, he also won the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe six times and remains the joint leading owner in the history of the Longchamp showpiece.

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