Racing's greatest greys: five top-class grey horses who reigned supreme

Ahead of the (2.45) at Newmarket on Saturday, we take a look at five of the greatest greys to grace the track . . .

Desert Orchid
One who needs no introduction. Desert Orchid is a hero among jumps fans for his incredible versatility, success and front-running style that led him to four King George VI Chase victories.
A successful hurdler, 'Dessie' won the Tolworth and the Kingwell Hurdle in 1984 before a switch to fences propelled him to stardom. Alongside the King George wins, he also claimed a Gold Cup, an Irish Grand National and showed that two miles was well within his repertoire when winning the 1988 Tingle Creek, the same year he won over three miles and five furlongs in the Whitbread Gold Cup.

Desert Orchid: scooping the Tingle Creek Chase

One Man
Equally as versatile as Dessie, One Man has an impressive roll call with Grade 1 victories over a variety of distances, including success in the Queen Mother Champion Chase over two miles and a victory over three miles in the 1996 King George VI Chase. He also boasts a Hennessy Gold Cup, back-to-back Charlie Hall Chases and an Ascot Chase. He suffered a fatal injury when a ten-year-old at Aintree in 1998, but captured fans' hearts with a 2004 Racing Post poll putting him as the sixth best jumps horse ever, with only three chasers in front of him – Red Rum, Desert Orchid and Arkle.

Neptune Collonges (near side) moments before getting his nose in front to win the NationalCredit: John Grossick

Neptune Collonges
Owner John Hales has secured plenty of success with greys, primarily with One Man, Neptune Collonges and most recently Politologue bringing him major honours. But it was Neptune Collonges who provided him with possibly his greatest day. He strung together a good sequence in France but his form really took off when joining Paul Nicholls, winning a Grade 2 on just his third start for the Ditcheat trainer when claiming the Winter Novices' Hurdle at Sandown. Two more Grade 2 wins followed over hurdles before he switched to fences and won the Grade 1 Punchestown Gold Cup in 2007, which he defended the year after. He claimed an Irish Gold Cup in 2009 before registering his biggest victory in the 2012 Grand National, when he got the better of a nail-biting photo-finish with Sunnyhillboy. He retired after and has enjoyed a long career in dressage for the daughter of John Hales.

Daylami and Frankie Dettori win the Breeders' Cup TurfCredit: Edward Whitaker

Daylami
It isn't just jumps racing which has had a multitude of successful greys. Daylami was one of the finest performers of his generation, claiming a wealth of top-level races and accruing £2,264,163 in prize-money for connections. Standing at a massive 17 hands (Tiger Roll is 15.2 hands for perspective), he enjoyed Group 1 success in the Poule d'Essai des Poulains for the Aga Khan before Godolphin snapped him up and led him to six Group 1s. These included a King George, a Coronation Cup, a Breeders' Cup Turf and a Man O'War Stakes at Belmont Park. A horse capable of brilliant performances around the world, Daylami stood, quite literally, above the rest when winning the Cartier Horse of the Year in 1999.

Native Dancer
You couldn't make a list of the greatest greys without including Native Dancer. His success on the racecourse in the early 1950s was phenomenal, claiming two American Classics in the Preakness and Belmont Stakes. He was the American Champion two-year-old, three-year-old and American horse of the year between 1952-1954. But Native Dancer is more renowned for his stud career, as he can be found in nearly all bloodlines of the modern racehorse. He was the damsire of Northern Dancer, who in turn sired Sadler's Wells, who is responsible for stellar names such as Galileo, Istabraq and High Chaparral. All factors considered, Native Dancer may just be one of the most influential horses of all time.

For the freshest betting advice, based on latest going and market conditions, don't miss the Live Tipster every afternoon. Just click Raceday Live at racingpost.com or the mobile app