Michael Furlong
Michael Furlong’s riding career might have been very different had he won the Cheltenham Gold Cup on Bannow Rambler in 1977. Bannow Rambler started the 11/4 favourite but was brought down by the stricken Lanzarote and the ninth fence, and though Michael remounted almost immediately, his pursuit was always going to be in vain. Tailed off from that point, he eventually called it a day and pulled up two fences from home.
Michael Furlong’s riding career might have been very different had he won the Cheltenham Gold Cup on Bannow Rambler in 1977. Bannow Rambler started the 11/4 favourite but was brought down by the stricken Lanzarote and the ninth fence, and though Michael remounted almost immediately, his pursuit was always going to be in vain. Tailed off from that point, he eventually called it a day and pulled up two fences from home.
The partnership had won their previous three starts including the Thyestes Chase and the Leopardstown Chase. Bannow Rambler was almost certainly a better horse than Davy Lad, that year’s Gold Cup winner, so might well be regarded as an unlucky loser.
The partnership had won their previous three starts including the Thyestes Chase and the Leopardstown Chase. Bannow Rambler was almost certainly a better horse than Davy Lad, that year’s Gold Cup winner, so might well be regarded as an unlucky loser.
Born in Ireland on April 26, 1953, Michael came to Britain in 1982, settled in Lewes and rode mainly for local trainers such as Ben Wise and Rufus Voorspuy. He had a best score of seven wins in 1988/89, far below his peak total of 36 in Ireland in 1975.
Born in Ireland on April 26, 1953, Michael came to Britain in 1982, settled in Lewes and rode mainly for local trainers such as Ben Wise and Rufus Voorspuy. He had a best score of seven wins in 1988/89, far below his peak total of 36 in Ireland in 1975.
Michael suffered more than his fair share of injuries in falls from bad horses. He’d ridden six winners during the 1989/90 season when he broke his right leg for the second time when taking a last fence fall from Never A Penny at Plumpton on Easter Monday, April 16, 1990. After a year’s convalescence he announced his retirement in May 1991 and took up the post of assistant trainer to John Upson.
Michael suffered more than his fair share of injuries in falls from bad horses. He’d ridden six winners during the 1989/90 season when he broke his right leg for the second time when taking a last fence fall from Never A Penny at Plumpton on Easter Monday, April 16, 1990. After a year’s convalescence he announced his retirement in May 1991 and took up the post of assistant trainer to John Upson.