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The Gold Cup winner bought from gypsies for the price of a crate of whisky
Unwanted and badly bred but Master Smudge had luck on his side at Cheltenham
Master Smudge and Richard Hoare finished second in the 1980 Gold Cup but were awarded the race on the disqualification of Tied CottageCredit: Gerry and Mark Cranham (racingpost.com/photos)
Henry Radford had a patch over one eye and a liking for scotch. He owned a mare called Lily Pond, who was barely a racehorse, and mated her with Master Stephen, who was better, but not much.
Lily Pond once won a point-to-point, but only once. That was a maiden race at Cattistock, in Dorset, in 1960. She was unplaced in all her other ten point-to-points and amassed a record of 0-26 over hurdles.
Master Stephen was better, winning twice on the Flat and twice over hurdles in the mid-1960s, but he was only a modest performer and an unlikely stallion.
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