Mike Cattermole with his ten best rides - now we want yours

Read on to discover Mike's top ten rides. Do you agree with them? What's missing? Send your thoughts to racingfeedback@sportinglife.com and if you’ve any ideas for more topics you want covering over the coming days and weeks please let us know.

You just know when you’ve seen them.

Two of those below, Messrs Brookshaw and Winter, I’d heard all about and the stories of their brilliance have been passed down the generations from over half a century ago.

The others I’ve watched live, either at the track or on television. They all made me gasp in wonder and appreciation, either in victory or defeat.

We’d love to hear from you with your favourites.

So, here we go with a selection of mine, in alphabetical order:

1. TIM BROOKSHAW, WYNBURGH (1959 Grand National, Aintree)

Wynburgh was closing down the tiring Oxo with every stride in the Grand National of 1959 but not quickly enough and he surely would have won in another few strides.

Incredibly, Tim Brookshaw had ridden Wynburgh over the last eight fences with no irons.

On landing after jumping Becher’s second time, Brookshaw felt his near-side iron go, kicked his foot out of the other side to balance and so had ridden the last mile with his legs dangling around the horse.

Just staying on him was an achievement - and those were the days when the National fences were at their most fearsome!

According to Chris Pitt, in “Fearless”, his recently published biography of the jockey, half of the broken iron was found months later by an ambulance man on the course.

It was an amazing feat of horsemanship. And, as the narrator on British Movietone News said in his distinctive, cut-glass accent: “What frightful luck!”

2. WILLIE CARSON, BAHRI (1995 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, Ascot)

You can hardly believe it’s now a quarter of a century since Willie Carson’s “under the trees’ ride on John Dunlop’s colt over the round mile at Ascot.

The ground that day was officially good, good to soft in places, but Willie, the most experienced rider in the line-up, knew that the ground on the far side down the back straight had not been reached by any watering and also been sheltered from the autumn rain by the overhanging trees.

He reckoned the ground there was firm and, knowing that he needed an edge against Ridgewood Pearl, the 8-13 favourite, he decided to take Bahri to race all by himself, even ignoring his own pacemaker Muhab who took the other five runners along on the inside.

Bahri tacked across to join the rest as the field swung for home and already held a decent lead. He then drew clear to beat Ridgewood Pearl (her only defeat of the season) by six lengths.

It was an important Group 1, it was a risk and he could have ended up looking totally stupid. Instead, his courage was richly rewarded.

3. FRANKIE DETTORI, GOLDEN HORN (2015 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, Longchamp)

Frankie could have his very own list of great rides but I chose this one as it showed, once again, what a cool customer he is for the biggest occasion.

Golden Horn wasn’t given the best draw here, out wide in 14 of 17, but Frankie had him out sharply and instead of dashing to the inside to grab an early position, let him find a lovely rhythm before slowly easing across after about three furlongs.

He was soon able to slot in behind the leader and thereafter was in the perfect position to pounce. Golden Horn did the rest.

It was the perfect ride on the day. The best make the hard things look simple.

4. PAT EDDERY, DANCING BRAVE (1986 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, Longchamp)

Another, completely different, way to win this iconic race.

Pat Eddery took over from Greville Starkey in the Arc as Dancing Brave’s defeat in the Derby came back to haunt the veteran rider.

Starkey had held up Dancing Brave, whose pedigree contained a lot of speed, at Epsom and when unleashed down the hill, he took off. But, crucially, he became unbalanced as he began his run and although closing fast, he was still half a length down on Shahrastani at the line.

After that, the Brave bolted up in the Eclipse but Starkey was injured for the King George and so the ride passed, for the first time, to Eddery and Guy Harwood’s colt gained his revenge on Shahrastani.

Three months on and the most amazing thing about the Arc was the similarity of the ride that Dancing Brave had received in the Derby, only even more daring.

Pat knew he was holding onto a lot of horse and held him right up at the back. When they turned into the false straight, Dancing Brave was still at the rear on the outside and ready to pounce. But Pat wasn’t ready and, in an astonishing move, switched him to the inner!

Turning into the home straight, Dancing Brave had only two horses behind him and only then did Pat make his move, bringing him wide and unleashing a turbo-charged burst past other, quickening, top class horses.

It was a brilliant, instinctive ride.

5. JOHN FRANCOME, SEA PIGEON (1981 Champion Hurdle, Cheltenham)

Jonjo O’Neill had taken it up approaching the final flight on Peter Easterby’s quirky but brilliant superstar in 1979 but it was just too soon and old rival Monksfield battled back to win again. But Jonjo nailed it in 1980, this time leading after the last to set the record straight.

However, the flying Irishman was sidelined with an injury for the defence a year later so, step forward one Mr Francome.

Not only did he jump the last flight behind both Pollardstown and Daring Run, both being hard ridden, Johnny sat still and waited again before finally asking Sea Pigeon to go. Then it was a nonchalant shake of the reins and hand riding as Sea Pigeon duly quickened brilliantly to take it up with just 75 yards to go.

Sheer cheek and class - that was a hold-up ride!

6. RICHARD HUGHES, SOLE POWER (2014 Nunthorpe Stakes, York)

Richard Hughes was an artist in the saddle and his wonderful talents were on full show here on the brilliant hold-up sprinter Sole Power.

“Hughesie” knew that he would have to sit and wait to deliver Sole Power’s run as late as he could. It took some daring against 12 rivals over the minimum trip.

Wait he did but, although closing, it looked to be going all wrong when the pair were short of room inside the final furlong. Hughes had ice in his veins, waited for another gap to appear and Sole Power duly shot through to get up.

Breathtaking.

7. AP MCCOY, WICHITA LINEMAN (2009 Ultima Handicap Chase, Cheltenham)

To describe Wichita Lineman as a somewhat reluctant hero in this race, rather understates it. He was never, ever travelling but AP McCoy was on board and if ever there was a better example of the multiple champion making a horse’s mind up for him, I must have missed it.

How he managed to persuade his lazy partner, who had jumped appallingly in the rear, to make any progress after yet another awful mistake at the third last, is the stuff of true wonder.

A tireless AP knew that Wichita Lineman stayed and just kept pushing and shoving. It worked, Wichita Lineman kept going forward but even after jumping the last, he still had five lengths to pick up the leader, Maljimar.

Only in the last few yards did he manage to get in front for a most unlikely and famous win.

Even AP, as modest as ever, thought he had done ok with this one.

8. LESTER PIGGOTT, ROYAL ACADEMY (1990 Breeders’ Cup Mile, Belmont Park)

One of the greatest sporting comebacks of all time as Lester, returning after serving from a year at Her Majesty’s Pleasure for tax evasion and who hadn’t ridden professionally for five years - five years! - took the ride on Royal Academy from the injured John Reid in the Breeders’ Cup Mile, no less.

Lester was now 54 and had only been back for just over a week but nobody would have known it. He was clearly in fantastic shape as he produced Vincent O’Brien’s colt down the outside in the home straight.

Under the distinctive Lester drive, they managed to to get up and beat the Americans in their own backyard. It was just ridiculous, ridiculously good.

“Would you absolutely credit it?” claimed Graham Goode, calling the race in New York for C4 Racing. You just couldn’t!

A smiling Lester, a rare sight, told Brough Scott “You never forget, y’know.”

9. SAM THOMAS, DENMAN (2008 Gold Cup, Cheltenham)

You may have noticed that there is no Ruby Walsh ride on this list, but choosing one out of a huge back catalogue was too difficult. Ruby would easily have 10, just on his own.

As it happens, Ruby, on Kauto Star, was on the receiving end of this brave and dynamic ride from Sam Thomas who was relentless on Denman in the much-anticipated big clash of the giants. Maybe Kauto wasn’t at his best this day but Sam had a plan and executed it perfectly.

Perhaps he sensed early on that Kauto was vulnerable and then he really turned the screw going out onto the second circuit when taking up the running and kicking on. It was ruthless and, on an occasion such as this one, so valiant too.

10. FRED WINTER, MANDARIN (1962 Grand Steeplechase de Paris, Auteuil)

Mandarin, the Gold Cup winner, went over and overcame all sorts of problems to win the big French prize later that year under Fred Winter. Little went to plan and you can’t help but marvel at how it was done.

The rubber bit had snapped in Mandarin’s mouth as he jumped the third, which meant that Winter had no control over his steering – or his brakes - for the next 18 fences over the remaining three and a half miles of the famous figure-of-eight course!

They must have obviously developed a swift and very effective understanding on such a tricky course and found themselves in front jumping the last. They held on by a short head. Winter had produced something extraordinary.

Patricia Smyly, author of the “Encyclopaedia of Steeplechasing” wrote: “For the little crowd of English fans, it was Agincourt, Trafalgar and Waterloo rolled into one.”

Feedback from readers

Kevin Fraser: Dear SportingLife / Mike Cattermole. Read the article with great interest and watched all the videos too.

Can I offer up a 1-2-3, none of which featured?

In (my) 3rd place, from the flat archives of 1972 - ROBERTO grimly hanging on to deny Rheingold in the Epsom Derby by the narrowest margin possible. Bill Williamson had been controversially "jocked off" Roberto in favour of great rival Lester Piggott and it proved to be a decisive move. No-one could possibly have extracted more out of Roberto that day under a forceful Lester Piggott ride.

In 2nd Place I am fast forwarding to April 2012. I love to see a tenderly ridden horse getting up to win and Timmy Murphy steering home MERIGO to win his 2nd Scottish National at Ayr was a tremendous example of horsemanship as MERIGO held on by a head to win the marathon.

In 1st Place, a very under-rated and under-used jockey by the name of James Best. His ride on 25/1 outsider PILGRIM'S BAY to win the 2017 BETBRIGHT Trophy at Kempton in February of that year left me open-mouthed with admiration. His stealthy last to first cajoling of the horse, trained by Neil Mulholland, meant that the horse never knew he was in a race. Ridden with supreme confidence and skill to produce the horse yards before the line was an absolute joy to behold. I have re-run this race so many times and copied it countless times to friends interested in NH Racing. The fact that the horse only ever previously won a couple of grade 3 races before taking this prestigious race, showed all the more what a masterly ride (and training performance) this was.

Just outside my top 3 was Mickael Barzalona's incredibly confident last to first Derby win in 2011. I don't think he could ever reproduce that judgement again if the race was run another 50 times!

Please check them out and enjoy!

Jen From BSE: Now largely forgotten in the wake of what happened in the next hour, Graham Bradley gave what I consider the best ride I have witnessed in the 1993 Aintree Hurdle.

Morley Street had won the previous 3 renewals of the race but had shown an increasing dislike for the task that he had been bred. Bradley had got the leg up after showing dubious temperament in the hands of a string of top jockeys in the previous month’s Champion Hurdle. He had trailed in well behind his full brother Granville Again, the brothers lined up again over half a mile further.

He was somewhat overlooked in the betting at 6/1 with Granville Again sent off at a shade of odds on. Perhaps it was a return to Aintree that brought the best out of him, having won over course and distance in each of the previous 4 years. Bradley employed extreme exaggerated waiting tactics throughout the race. So much so that it is doubtful that Morley Street probably thought that it was nothing more than an exercise canter. Turning into the long straight it was clear that Morley Street was travelling much the best but the question was how much he would find when Bradley asked him for his effort. Sitting with a double handful after the last it appeared a question of how far but Bradley was at pains to leave it until the last possible moment. Well inside the final furlong, Bradley asked him for his effort and the more than useful flat form that Morley Street possessed helped him repel the renewed effort of his brother, the gallant Flown, having set an excellent pace from the start, was back in third.

Simon From Newark: Simon from Newark. Jeremy Glover on Heather's Pride, Catterick 1970. I had bought my fiancee her engagement ring that morning and backed HP, in a seller for the first time, to pay for it.

Glover was ice-cool, cruising up to dispute the lead at the last before coming home cosily to win by under a length, with us screaming at the television. Happy days!

David Parker: My picks would be in no order at all. Barry Geraghty on Champ this year at Cheltenham so similar to Witchita Lineman and A P McCoy who Champ is named after.

Bryony Frost on Frodon Cheltenham 2019 great ride from start to finish the jumping of the Cheltenham fences was superb and great to watch

Pat Eddery on Rainbow Quest in the Corination Cup 1985 Such a easy winner and Pat Eddery talking to the poor Jockey who came second as he passed him so cheeky but a jockey riding with so much confidence

Lester Piggott on Rodrigo de Triano in 1992 in the 2000 Guineas still at his very best and nearly retired !! Who said you don’t get better with age look at Frankie Dettori and Barry Geraghty

John Francome Sea Pigeon 1981 Champion hurdle talk about cool and calm and leaving things late which you had to do with Sea Pigeon great ride

Jonjo O’Neil Dawn Run 1986 Gold Cup. Great race and what a finish John Jo rode coming up the run in brilliant is the only way to describe it.

Kevin Mooney Special Cargo Whitbread Gold Cup Great race with great horses . Kevin Mooney was in the first six from start to finish coming to the pond fence you would have thought they had no chance but both horse and jockey gave it all to win in probably one of the closest finishes of all time

Lester Piggott again Sir Ivor Derby 1968 the only way to describe this is timed to perfection And apparently the best horse Lester ever rode?

Simon Sherwood Desert Orchid 1989 Gold Cup

A great ride in terrible conditions and Simon never once used his whip all hands and heels a great riding performance

Barry Geraghty Bobs Worth 2013 Gold Cup

Fantastic ride from start to finish in the first five all the way never panicked when he seemed to be loosing ground never forget the commentators words “ Bobs Worth is eating up the ground” he surely did to win going away

Superb ride by a great Jockey

Stephen Marks: Ray Cochrane on Ben Gunn.Also R.Dunwoody on Maggie Strait.Two crackers.

Dave Chapman: Denman as a horse meant the most to me (surprised to see it in there – good on you Mike as most everyone else would of put a Kauto victory in there before one of The Tanks) but on first looking at your list my thoughts would go to the fantastic AP ride and also Dancing in The Arc, and then my head took over.

Is there really any other jockey in the world that could come back into the game after 5yrs out after only 1 week in the saddle and into a race watched by the whole racing world AND do it in their mid 50s ? I think not and he not only won but he won virtually on the line as he used to do time and again in his pomp.

My man used to be Geoff Lewis but I am clever enough to concede that there really will not ever be another Lester Piggott, the word genius doesn’t do him justice.

James Fairweather: I always enjoy Mike Cattermole's lists during this enforced period of harking back to the rich history of the game and his top ten rides are again a fascinating selection.

Two others spring straight to mind for me: the first probably the greatest example of Lester's almost inhuman strength in a finish from an era when he was bang in the middle of his prime. If he had been on Rheingold and Ernie Johnson had been riding Roberto in the 1972 Derby, I don't think that there can be much doubt that Barry Hills's horse would have taken the honours. No other jockey, I would venture to say ever, could have changed the result in the dramatic fashion that Piggott managed. All the kerfuffle and spilled words before the Derby about Lester jocking Bill Williamson off Roberto were forgotten with the realisation that only the greatest of them all could possibly have been been capable of winning the race that day.

The other one that sticks in the memory is John Francome's staggering display of nerve on Sea Pigeon in the 1981 Champion Hurdle. All very well to ask a jockey to leave things as late as possible but seriously, how often has a race of that magnitude ever been won with such coolness under pressure. Cheeky, some called it. Genius, more like.

Best to you all - stay safe and well.

Fergus O'Brien: Eddery, piggott and frankie in their pomp.

George Goodenough: Sean Houlihan on UnwinVC, Exeter 23/2/18, NHF. The Life's description reads:-

Took keen hold and raced wide and green for about 2f, soon settled in rear, headway over 4f out, led over 1f out, kept on well.

It barely does justice to Sean. Basically for two furlongs Unwin VC was an unbroken out of control mustang. Most jockeys would have been content to keep the partnership intact and nurse the debutant around hoping the greenhorn might learn something. Somehow SH got his mount to rejoin the field in last and tootled along the back straight before scything through the field for a most unlikely victory. Young Sean is a man to follow and already has a Midlands National to his name on Regal Flow.

Carl Tysoe: Ryan Moore on Notnowcato 2007 eclipse coming standside alone beating dettori on derby winner Authorised and George Washington