Flyingbolt.

About Flyingbolt

Flyingbolt (1959–1983) was a famous racehorse. Officially, he is the second best steeplechaser of all time, behind only Arkle, who was ironically stabled just a few doors away in the same yard at Kilsallaghan, Co. Dublin where both were trained by Tom Dreaper. A comparison of their merits is probably best illustrated by the Official Handicapper, who at the end of the 1965–1966 season rated Arkle the superior by only 1 lb (0.5 kg). Timeform, the highly respected racing publication, had a difference of 2 lbs between them. However, whereas Arkle is feted and remembered as the greatest steeplechaser of all time, Flyingbolt has been all but forgotten. Over hurdles, he was the best Tom Dreaper ever trained, a long way superior to Arkle in that discipline, as evidenced by the fact that stable jockey Pat Taaffe could not ride Arkle in 3 of his 5 handicap hurdles because he was unable to do the very light weights that Arkle was set to carry in those races, and in two of which he finished unplaced when carrying just 10-1 and 10-5.