Breakthrough win for Middle East in heart of the Cotswolds
Eyewitness tales
Dual Champion Hurdle-winning trainer James Fanshawe was assistant trainer to Sir Michael Stoute when the latter saddled Kribensis to give Sheikh Mohammed his first Cheltenham success in the Daily Express Triumph Hurdle in 1988.
Michael was very competitive and he was good friends with Michael Dickinson and David Nicholson, so I'm sure a lot of it was down to him wanting to show Tricky Dicky and The Duke that he could compete with them – with just one horse! Michael also liked to set himself targets and one of the things he wanted to do was to have a Cheltenham winner.
He loved jumping and I had a jumping background and here we had this gelding who was a borderline Group horse who liked cut in the ground. He was the ideal type for Cheltenham and it was Michael's idea to turn him into a hurdler. I think he was Sheikh Mohammed's only jumper at the time.
Read the full story
Read award-winning journalism from the best writers in racing, with exclusive news, interviews, columns, investigations, stable tours and subscriber-only emails.
Subscribe to unlock
- Racing Post digital newspaper (worth over £100 per month)
- Award-winning journalism from the best writers in racing
- Expert tips from the likes of Tom Segal and Paul Kealy
- Replays and results analysis from all UK and Irish racecourses
- Form study tools including the Pro Card and Horse Tracker
- Extensive archive of statistics covering horses, trainers, jockeys, owners, pedigree and sales data
Already a subscriber?Log in
Published on inCheltenham Festival
Last updated
Copy- WATCH: join Johnny Dineen and David Jennings for episode five of Upping The Ante featuring a selection for the Brown Advisory
- Who do you fancy for the Champion Chase after the weekend wins of Jonbon and Energumene?
- He looks a different animal altogether over fences and 16-1 is a big price for the Brown Advisory
- WATCH: join Johnny Dineen and David Jennings for episode four of Upping The Ante featuring a selection for the Arkle
- Who is the best bet in the Champion Hurdle after Lossiemouth and Sir Gino statements of intent?
- WATCH: join Johnny Dineen and David Jennings for episode five of Upping The Ante featuring a selection for the Brown Advisory
- Who do you fancy for the Champion Chase after the weekend wins of Jonbon and Energumene?
- He looks a different animal altogether over fences and 16-1 is a big price for the Brown Advisory
- WATCH: join Johnny Dineen and David Jennings for episode four of Upping The Ante featuring a selection for the Arkle
- Who is the best bet in the Champion Hurdle after Lossiemouth and Sir Gino statements of intent?