David Elsworth at 80: top ten horses for the legendary dual-purpose trainer

David Elsworth celebrates a landmark 80th birthday on Thursday.

Elsworth is not quite Britain's oldest active trainer – he's not even the oldest trainer in Newmarket, although that will change when Alan Bailey retires at the end of next month – but none comes even close in terms of the breadth of achievement.

Barring the odd bumper horse, Elsworth trains exclusively on the Flat these days, but he has strong claims to be recognised as the outstanding dual-purpose trainer of modern times – a man equally adept with a precocious two-year-old as he was with a Gold Cup or Grand National winner.

Racing Post members can read David Elsworth's Tuesday Profile

Indeed, in his heyday horses such as the champion two-year-old filly Dead Certain or the Racing Post Trophy winner Seattle Rhyme would have shared quarters with the likes of Desert Orchid, Barnbrook Again and Rhyme 'N' Reason.

David Elsworth's top ten horses

1 Desert Orchid (foaled 1979)
The winner of four King George VI Chases, a Gold Cup, an Irish Grand National, and many other top jumps prizes. 'Dessie', as most came to know him, was rightly hailed in his time as the best chaser since Arkle.

Desert Orchid in full flight, winning the 1988 Tingle Creek at Sandown ParkCredit: Gerry Cranham

2 Persian Punch (1993)
Elsworth's best-loved Flat horse and one of the most popular stayers of modern times, despite never winning the race that matters most, the Ascot Gold Cup. Won 20 of his 63 starts before he collapsed and died at Ascot on the start of his ninth season.

3 Barnbrook Again (1981)
Won the Queen Mother Champion Chase in 1989 and 1990 and was second to Desert Orchid in the King George VI Chase in between. Also won a Ladbroke Hurdle at Leopardstown and was third in a Champion Hurdle.

4 In The Groove (1987)
A top-class filly and Elsworth's only Classic winner when a three-length winner of the 1990 Irish 1,000 Guineas. Also won a Juddmonte International, a Champion Stakes and a Coronation Cup.

In The Groove (white and red silks): gave David Elsworth his only Classic winnerCredit: Edward Whitaker

5 Rhyme 'N' Reason (1979)
Memorably won the 1988 Grand National after all but falling at Becher's first time around. Had earlier that season beaten Lean Ar Aghaidh and Mr Frisk in the Racing Post Chase and might have gone close in the Gold Cup but for falling at the top of the hill.

6 Floyd(1980)
A bold front-runner who rose rapidly through the handicap ranks before winning successive Fighting Fifth Hurdles in 1987 and 1988 and successive Kingwell Hurdles in 1988 and 1989. Enjoyed a renaissance as a stayer when in his veteran years, landing the 1990 Long Walk Hurdle (then 3m2f) as well as the Rendlesham.

David Elsworth factfile

Full name David Raymond Cecil Elsworth
Born Salisbury, December 12, 1939
Riding career 31 wins as jump jockey 1957-72
Assistant to Ricky Vallance (trainer of Red Candle) 1971-74
First winner as trainer Fortune Cookie, Exeter, March 23, 1979
Highest-rated jumper Desert Orchid (RPR 189 in 1990 Racing Post Chase)
Highest-rated Flat horse In The Groove (RPR 128 in 1990 Champion Stakes)
Champion jumps trainer 1987-88
Total wins in Britain 1,614 (1,125 Flat, 487 jumps)
Compiled by John Randall

7 Oh So Risky (1987)
One of the easiest winners of the Triumph Hurdle in 1991 and went on to finish second twice in the Champion Hurdle. Also won for Elsworth on the Flat, including a Prix Gladiateur at Longchamp, and over fences.

8 Dead Certain (1987)
Champion two-year-old filly of 1989, when her wins included the Queen Mary, the Lowther and the Cheveley Park Stakes. Beaten only a head in what is now the Diamond Jubilee at Royal Ascot the following year.

9 Sir Blake (1981)
Cut off in his prime in 1989 when many at the yard felt he could be the best of the lot. Fell at the last and possibly unlucky in the 1988 Sun Alliance Hurdle (now Ballymore) and then an easy winner of what is now the Mersey at Aintree. Won first two novice chases, including what is now the Kauto Star, but broke a leg on the gallops that March.

Arabian Queen: defeated Golden Horn at odds of 50-1 in the 2015 Juddmonte InternationalCredit: Mark Cranham (racingpost.com/photos)

10 Arabian Queen (2012)
Overlooked at 50-1 when the first horse to beat the Derby and subsequent Arc winner Golden Horn in the 2015 Juddmonte International. Excelled herself that day but failed to win again.

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