Times are always a changing and the sport of horse racing is only half different. True, the traditions of decades past are fondly maintained and the importance of this should not be overlooked. Royal Ascot is perhaps the greatest example of how to apply timelessness across the years and long may the equine-drawn coaches ferry Windsor Castle luncheon guests to their afternoon theatre. For a mile or so, they are the theatre.
This article has a strong Royal link and remembers a horse who, by modern standards, could never really get to where he got.
Now I already hear the cries of protest from readers who are looking forward to the Cheltenham Festival 2020 with the level of excitement that is normally reserved for kids counting down the last weeks of December…but, the fact is that flat racing is the big money, has the richest owners, the most elegant and demure social occasions and a bit more sun. Jumps racing could, or at least could once have been described as a playground for the ‘amateur’, the farmer with a bit of land, five sheep, three pigs, a few chickens and maybe, an old horse.
Today, alongside a much-reduced percentage of farm pet point to pointing slow boats and Irish-bred store horses who will make their bumper debut aged six, there are purposely bred horses in France who see a racecourse at kindergarten stage and which change hands for big Euros and join the top British trainers. There is another category, the ex-flat racer.
Flat racing is not all champagne and Group 1 glory. The majority of flat racehorses will at best win a small handicap or two. For some that don’t make the grade, they will be asked to try hurdling in the hope that will show them in a better light. For a minority, that will happen but for most, they will prove equally modest or quite commonly, wholly worse.
Returning to the subject, VIKING FLAGSHIP was bred Vincent O’Toole and foaled on the 27th March 1987 (also by chance the wife and I’s anniversary of getting together a couple of years later). Vincent had the not so common job description of ‘master mariner’ before becoming a hotelier in Waterford City. A notable breeder in quality if not quantity, together with his daughter Ethne he bred not only Viking Flagship but a second Queen Mother Champion Chase winner in Flagship Uberalles. Given that in addition Sea Falcon won the 5f Windsor Castle Stakes at Royal Ascot in 1984, then it would be fair to say this small breeding venture was a job well done.
The reason for considering the ex-flat-racer above is that Viking Flagship started off as a flat horse over in Ireland. Initially trained by Ethne Holdsworth herself in Co. Kilkenny, he made his debut as a juvenile at Naas on the 14th October 1989 over 7f and, whilst beaten little more than 6-lengths, it was an inauspicious debut as he finished 15th of 18.
A trio of quick runs followed before the end of the year and whilst you could at a stretch say that there was a little promise, there was certainly no need for connections to find space in the winner’s enclosure. The following year, the then 3-y-o Viking Flagship ran no less than 14-times on the flat and although he managed a couple of respectable places; he was now an 18-race maiden who had been beaten at every distance from 7f to 14f.
Details of the transfer to Martin Pipe in Nicholashayne are perhaps lost in time but given the prominence of the yard in that era, it was no real surprise to see the seemingly modest ex-flat racer sent off as 4/1jf to win a novice hurdle at Wolverhampton on fast turf over the Christmas program . A fall at the fifth hurdle cannot have immediately endeared our subject to this change of discipline. Less than an hour later, Cool Ground won the Welsh National under a certain Luke Harvey. In each of the following three years, Martin Pipe would win that famous race with Carvill’s Hill, Run For Free and Riverside Boy.
In the new year, as a newly crowned 4-y-o, Viking Flagship hinted at the battling quality which would come to define him when making most in a 16-runner novice hurdle at Newton Abbot and rallying really strongly late, just succumbing to a horse named Requested trained by Reg Akehurst. Six weeks later, Viking would put in excess of 75-lengths between himself and his conqueror when they both met again at Sandown.
There was sufficient promise in his Newton Abbot defeat for the assessor to raise the horse 17 lb and then there was a dream run of form. As was the team tactic of the yard at the time, the novice hurdler was asked to win his races from the front and in a two month spell from February to April, Viking won 4-races in succession, never once seeing another rival and putting an aggregate 51-lengths between himself and his nearest pursuers. A double-penalty made no difference and his first handicap resulted in a 30-length winning margin and a 19 lb improvement; after which he again defied the weight in novice company.
It was at this point that the owner-breeder sold the horse to Graham Roach, who had made his money in the food business. W M Halley was the trainer later in April for a deserved if ambitious tilt by new connections at the 4-y-o Champion Hurdle held at Punchestown. Sixth was no disgrace and more or less aligned with market expectations.
By the winter of 1991, Viking had joined David Nicholson back on these shores. ‘The Duke’ was a man of character and discipline and a leading trainer of the time. Even so, it might be considered that he had inherited a fairly high mileage-horse who, having been expertly produced to win 4-races from Pond House, was at risk of being harshly treated handicap wise and set to struggle.
A clean round of hurdling but a 44-length beating back at Newton Abbot in the run up to Christmas maybe would have confirmed that view. Two quick fourth place efforts followed; the best being rated 5 lb below his previous best rating. Taunton provided a better story as the horse got back on track with a 2-length win. That saw him prominent in the betting for the Tote Gold Trophy but he weakened a fair way out to finish only 10th.
Kept busy with his sixth run in two months, the next target at Nottingham looked much easier but in a race where each of the first four home were rated at least a stone lower, David Nicholson’s charge was a beaten horse when he fell at the last.
There were to be three more hurdle races before the summer break and each one was of a high grade. The Imperial Cup at Sandown resulted in a fair fourth of ten; the County Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival saw a big effort with Viking Flagship coming home third of 27, beaten less than 2-lengths. The final hurdle assignment was at Aintree where another gallant effort off a light weight saw the 5-y-o finish third to the mare Flakey Dove, who would win the Champion Hurdle two seasons later.
Time to take stock. What connections had now was a horse that had raced in total 34 times; had run eleven times since his best performance (RPR 133) and achieved 131 no less than five times since. A useful handicapper for sure but highly (extremely) unlikely to be going on to win five Grade 1’s.
For the 1993 season, the only sensible option was to go novice chasing. Viking Flagship was not the biggest, at least on the outside and modern day, ex-flat racers going chasing after 34-races are generally likely to struggle.
In a carbon copy of his first racecourse view of hurdles, Viking Flagship came down on his chase debut when looking almost certain to win approaching the final Nottingham fence, as was back then.
Now some horses understandably lose confidence after a tumble and so it must have been pleasing to see the horse make all and win by 5-lengths at another track that has long ceased hosting jumps racing, Wolverhampton. Three quick wins followed in novice company and the Racing Post does not record a single mistake in any of those four wins. For all that, the best rating achieved was 128 and so handicapping looked the route once novice status has been surpassed.
In fact, connections didn’t wait and sent their novice to the Punchestown Festival in the spring to contest a handicap. As 5/4 favourite, Viking made one mistake 4-out and beat his Irish-trained rivals with a degree of ease. On the face of it, that effort (RPR 147) appeared to be exactly a stone (14 lbs) better than anything that had gone before. Since the horse was already there, it must have been tempting to consider a Grade 3 Listed Novice run 2-days later at the same festival.
Indeed, that decision was taken and the fact that the English raider would have been best in at the weights yet started at 4/1 was indication that he was still perhaps considered a 130s horse. After tracking the leader, he came away to win by 4-lengths. Both the joints favourites failed to show on the day and the second was rated 132 but it is fair to say that over in Ireland that spring, Viking Flagship announced he was not just a useful 130s handicapper, he could be a 140’s handicapper at least.
After the summer break, our subject was beaten 3-lengths in a match in the Haydock mud. Less than a month later, he failed by 15-lengths to give 25 lb to a lesser rival in the Hungerford. Both respectable runs but not ones that really told us much.
Sent to Warwick in January to take on the exciting Egypt Mill Prince, trained by Jenny Pitman, Viking handed out a 2-length beating conceding 6 lb with the by then fading hero Waterloo Boy (winner of the Arkle 5-seaons earlier) well beaten last of four. The 7-y-o had officially become a 150’s horse on his 44th racecourse appearance!
The Game Spirit was the obvious next target. At Newbury, Viking Flagship would face a small but select field including the reigning Champion Chaser, Deep Sensation. The result was never in doubt, taking it up 3 fences from home, he shrugged off a mistake at the last to put distance between himself and Egypt Mill Prince. The handicapper believed that this performance was a whopping 17 lb above anything that Viking had achieved previously. Perhaps. The proof may come at Cheltenham in the 1994 Champion Chase.
I have to mention that this was a bit of a golden age for 2-mile chasers. Pearlyman and Barnbrook Again were both dual champions from 1987/90 and the enigmatic Remittance Man followed by Deep Sensation took the next two renewals. On the day, Viking Flagship faced the 1991 winner Katabatic as well as Remittance Man, Deep Sensation and the youngster, Travado, who had given Deep Sensation a 7-length beating in the Peterborough Chase early in the season.
Given the strength of opposition, Viking Flagship went off only third favourite at 4/1. On relatively decent ground, Remittance Man as favourite fell 4-out leaving Travado, Deep Sensation and Viking Flagship 3 abreast. As they approached two out, Viking was the first to be ridden and on the turn in, Deep Sensation was hard on the bridle. As they jumped the last, Viking was just third and looked to be struggling but with the rail to help, Adrian Maguire galvanized his mount to beat Travado by a neck.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1rfxW5n7UVE [youtube.com]
Perhaps Adrian was a mere passenger as Viking Flagship seemed to have that die-hard will to win. You cannot breed, train or ride that into a horse. Viking wanted to get back past his two larger rivals and so he did. How many horses have won a Championship race on their 46th start, I couldn’t tell you but if you told me none in recent times, I would not be surprised.
Many horses take a quick return at the Aintree Festival in their stride and as many do not. Although 11-lengths behind the less talented Uncle Ernie come April, that can be easily forgiven.
In his 8-y-o season, Viking was asked to contest five races before attempting to retain his Champion Chase crown. On his seasonal return, he again despatched Travado, Deep Sensation and stablemate Wonder Man in the Tingle Creek at Sandown. Less than a month later, he earned a new high RPR of 170 when destroying the field in the Castleford Chase up at Wetherby.
The season seemed to be going perfectly but then followed a disappointing 5th to the hugely talented Martha’s Son at Ascot, a fall in the Game Spirit and then a defeat at 2/5 in his Cheltenham prep race at Kempton.
A Champion doesn’t need to justify himself; once a Champion, always a Champion. However, he may need to defend himself and Viking went to Cheltenham in 1995 as market favourite, despite a troubled preparation. He would again face a tough set of rivals. 1991 Champion Katabatic may have been struggling at the age of 12 and 1993 winner Deep Sensation (trained by Josh Gifford) had also suffered a poor season thus far. Josh Gifford also ran Bradbury Star, winner of 18-races, 8 at Cheltenham and Travado, who went so close a year ago was also in the line-up.
This time ridden by Charlie Swan, the Flagship took the lead between the second and third last and for a moment looked like he had it in the bag. However, as they rounded the final bend, once again Deep Sensation was on his rival’s shoulder seemingly travelling easily. Charlie didn’t wait to be mugged; he pushed Viking to seal things and although Deep Sensation was only a length behind as they jumped the last, the ‘terrier-like’ Viking Flagship pulled away and broke his rival’s heart. Deep Sensation would have one more race. The latest dual champion, Viking Flagship, would be sent into battle 20 more times.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6LkEqgsGo7M [youtube.com]
At Aintree three weeks later, many punters will have been mindful of the Champion’s failure a year before. Add to that, this race was over 2m 4f and Viking was an absolute 2-miler. Martha’s Son, who had missed Cheltenham but had won his previous 9-chases, went off 11/10 favourite, Viking Flagship 5/2 and the retiring Deep Sensation at 5/1. As they ran between the last two fences, both Viking And Martha’s went past the leader, Southolt, in unison with the veteran Deep Sensation hard at work in fourth. By the time they jumped the last, Deep Sensation had responded to pressure and took the lead, with the sandwiched Viking Flagship relegated to third. Two strides from the line, Deep Sensation was in front but history records a short-head verdict in favour of a persistent Viking Flagship with Martha’s Son a length back in third. This is a race that has to be remembered as one of the steeplechasing greats.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6LkEqgsGo7M [youtube.com]
The 1995 Arkle saw a couple of young Irish horses dominate; Klairon Davis just getting the better of Sound Man. Both these horses would feature later on in the story of Viking Flagship.
December 1995 and Viking Flagship made his debut in the Tingle Creek. Sound Man ran out an impressive winner (Travado third) and a heavily beaten Adrian Maguire reported that his mount had ‘gurgled’ during the race. In those days, trainers were free to carry out procedures on a horse’s wind un-reported but the fact Viking reappeared in early January and was again well beaten behind Dublin Flyer and Travado suggested something may be amiss. Now a 9-y-o with over 100 racing miles on the clock, perhaps it was to be downhill from hereon in.
The Game Spirit of 1996 was a bit of a substandard affair. Travado at the age of 10 had already won all he was going to and the favourite was pulled-up. Nonetheless, Viking returned to form with a bang and beat his old rival Travado by 6-lengths. To be sure he was right back, David Nicholson entered his chasing star in a lesser race at Kempton. Given this was a little over 2-weeks until the Queen Mum at Cheltenham, there must have been some doubts. However, a facile victory at odds of 1/2 confirmed all was well.
At Cheltenham, the exciting young pretender Sound Man was made favourite at 11/8, Viking 9/4 with Klairon Davis sent off at 9/1. Sound Man led but mistakes at 3-out and 2-out didn’t help. Neither of his challengers jumped 3-out particularly well either but it was Arthur Moore’s Klairon Davis that was stronger from the last, putting 5-lengths between himself and our subject.
Viking Flagship would gain his revenge at Aintree a couple of weeks later, thrashing both Sound Man and Klairon Davis in the Mumm Melling over 2m 4f and earning his highest ever RPR of 173 in the process.
At the start of the 1996/97 season, two defeats again; to Sound Man in the Tingle Creek and then failing to concede huge chunks of weight to lesser rivals in the Victor Chandler handicap at Kempton. Again, redemption came in the Kempton race dangerously close to Cheltenham with an easy 3-length win in a race where only three finished.
At the Cheltenham Festival this time around, the Champion Chase was again a strong contest. The handsome Strong Promise in the Geoff Hubbard green and white (I once commissioned a jumper to match!) was sent off favourite, with both Klairon Davis and Viking Flagship returned at 3/1. Martha’s Son, so often the bridesmaid, appeared to have had his chance and was relatively unfancied at 9/1.
Horse racing has the ability to reward, punish and in either case bring a tear to the eye of those who allow their emotions to be played with by the theatre on the turf. A 10-y-o Martha’s Son had his day, pouncing at the last off a quiet ride to put a clear margin between himself and the northern-trained Ask Tom. Viking gained revenge on his conqueror of a year ago by a length, but the pair were to finish only third and fourth.
Two more races followed that season; defeat to Martha’s Son once again at Aintree and then beaten 40-lengths by Strong Promise back at Prestbury Park over a trip that was too far.
Viking Flagship would be 11 by the time of the 1998 Festival and hope rather than expectation must be the presiding emotion now. Connections opted for the Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter for the comeback. This was a handicap and old partner Adrian Maguire did not ride; he was aboard the much younger stable companion and race favourite, Mulligan, who was receiving 10 lb. Viking Flagship hadn’t read the script though and under a patient ride from Richard Johnson, the old boy fairly sprinted clear up the straight at odds of 9/1.
It is said the mark of a man (and perhaps a horse) is not how and when he falls, but how he rises up from defeat and adversity.
I was lucky enough to be at what was then my local track, Huntingdon, to witness what on paper was a cracking good Peterborough Chase over 2m 4f. Joint favourites were Martha’s Son and a striking grey named One Man. Owned by John Hales, One Man warrants an article of his own as he ran to a level 5 lb higher than Viking Flagship ever did. For three seasons, this hugely talented chaser had failed to come up the punishing Cheltenham Hill, finishing out the back in an RSA (then the Sun Alliance) and two Gold Cups. Given he was sent off 3/1, 11/8 & 7/1, it was a triple disappointment. However, dropping back in distance from 3-miles plus to 2 and a half and then 2-miles would prove to be an inspired, if perhaps slightly late, decision by trainer Gordon Richards
On ground that was officially good, the race lost much of its interest when Martha’s Son was pulled up lame after the 4th. He would not race again. One Man was left in the lead at the 9th when The Last Fling got rid of Richard Guest and he pulled progressively clear of Viking Flagship, being ridden out to record a 9-lengths advantage.
I remember the day well, primarily I remember a tearful Adrian Maguire in the unsaddling enclosure, reunited with the horse after Exeter and it looked like connections were straight gutted. There was no shame in the defeat.
Viking went agonisingly close to catching an all-out Ask Tom in the familiar Tingle Creek come December before struggling to land the Castleford up at Wetherby at odds of 4/9. Ask Tom put 10-lengths between himself and Viking in the Game Spirit at Newbury. There would be one more ask.
March the 18th 1998 and the Cheltenham ground had come up good; perhaps a little faster than Viking Flagship’s old legs would have preferred. Ask Tom, who had become a real force in 2-mile chases, went off 5/2 favourite. It would later transpire that trainer Tom Tate had struggled after the horse had an issue prior to the race, no doubt a contributory factor to his eventual 6th place finish.
Klairon Davis, the 1996 hero, would only finish fourth. The race was run at a frantic pace and few would not be in awe as the much-defeated 3-miler, One Man, made most and came up the Cheltenham Hill with great purpose to defy Or Royal and outsider Lord Dorcet. One wonders where One Man would have fitted into this story if he had been campaigned as a 2-miler much earlier in his career?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2N2WHYfPEco [youtube.com]
Tragedy struck One Man but a few weeks later. The 10-y-o appeared to make no effort to jump the 9th fence at Aintree and had lost his life within the blink of an eye.
For the 11-y-o Viking Flagship, this was race number 73. Adrian Maguire had ridden the old warrior to 8 wins, the same number as Richard Dunwoody, and was on board. A distant 5th as recorded in the racing archives does not do the horse justice. His trainer, ‘The Duke, did.
David Nicholson announced on live television not too long after the race that Viking Flagship had run his last race. Given that David was famously ‘hard’, one of the old school who saw more value in discipline than emotion, to see the great trainer so emotional in front of the camera, told the world of his respect and fondness for a horse who must have more than exceeded any level of expectation.
I recall the trainer saying that Adrian Maguire reported post-race that Viking had given absolutely everything. Everything he could. His legs may have aged, his heart had not. David spoke that although he had beaten ex-Champion, Klairon Davis, his old legs couldn’t take him to the front at this level anymore and so the decision had to be made. The head lad, apparently the hardest lad in the yard, was in bits so it was told.
Viking Flagship had taken the team to no less than six Cheltenham Festivals across 7-years, winning two Champion Chases and winning 22 further races throughout his career. Not bad for a home-bred failed flat racer.
On my desk has long stood a photo (Punchestown, Richard Dunwoody) which reminds me of the importance of a big heart when trying to find decent horses to bet on.
Viking Flagship died in 2000.
Billy Blakeman @five2tenracing
billyblakeman 