Sir Peter O'Sullevan: Six of the best moments behind the microphone

Sir Peter O'Sulleven was responsible for some of the most iconic moments behind a microphone in racing history. Here we look at six of the very best:

ARKLE (1964 Cheltenham Gold Cup)

The eagerly-awaited encounter between Arkle, the pride of Ireland, and England's champion Mill House, winner the previous year, was a race to savour and was matched by O'Sullevan's commentary. The black and white pictures added to the magic of the occasion as the two giants of chasing squared up for a titanic struggle for the right to be claimed the undisputed king of the steeplechasers. Mill House tried to blunt Arkle's superior speed by making all the running but could not shake him off. "It's the big two now as they run down the hill to the third-last," said O'Sullevan. "They are both full of running and going great guns coming to the second-last. Now they are rounding the home turn and this is it. Arkle's going away, this is the champion. He's the best we've seen for a long time."

NIJINSKY (1970 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes)

"Lester Piggott's looking over his shoulder. Blakeney's making ground on him, but Lester's letting him canter. What a horse, he's trotted up," exclaimed an animated O'Sullevan as Nijinsky strode majestically to the line to add the Ascot feature to his victories in the 2000 Guineas and Derby. Lester Piggott was at his imperious best as he brought Nijinsky to take the lead just over a furlong out. Nijinsky was the only three-year-old in the six-horse line-up but he was very much in charge. The previous year's Derby winner Blakeney tried to make a race of it in the closing stages, but it was no contest as Nijinsky, trained by Vincent O'Brien, took control and made smart older horses look like selling platers.

RED RUM (1977 Grand National)

O'Sullevan commentated on all Red Rum's five Grand Nationals and his words sum up the sense of history as 'Rummy' won the Aintree feature for a record third time. "The crowd are willing him on now," said O'Sullevan as the 12-year-old passed the Elbow. "There's a furlong between Red Rum and his third Grand National triumph. He's coming to the line to win it like a fresh horse, in great style. It's hats off and a tremendous cheer from the crowd. You've never heard anything like it at Liverpool." And so Red Rum, trained by Ginger McCain and ridden this time by Tommy Stack, came home clear of the gallant Churchtown Boy to enjoy his final hour of Aintree domination, ensuring his stature as a Grand National institution.

GRUNDY/BUSTINO (1975 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes)

Arguably the race of all-time, it is even the choice of O'Sullevan himself as the most memorable contest in his career. He once said: "Those who saw the race will never forget it." Bustino's trainer Dick Hern had two pacemakers to ensure a true stamina test for the previous year's St Leger winner and to try to break the Derby winner. Joe Mercer kicked on fully half a mile from home with Pat Eddery on Grundy in pursuit and a strong field, that included Dahlia and Star Appeal, well beaten. Grundy drew alongside a furlong out and the pair fought out a heart-stopping finish with the three-year-old prevailing by half-a-length. It was no surprise that they smashed the course record by two and a half seconds.

DAWN RUN (1986 Cheltenham Gold Cup)

"She's made it," screamed O'Sullevan as Dawn Run turned almost certain defeat into victory to become the only horse to win both the Champion Hurdle and Gold Cup. Dawn Run looked to be going the worst of the four horses that jumped the second-last fence in unison and O'Sullevan felt the veteran Wayward Lad was about to win the race at last as he fought off the previous year's hero Forgive 'N' Forget and Run And Skip to lead on the climb from the last to the line. The mare looked down and out but she responded to jockey Jonjo O'Neill's urgings to claw back the deficit and snatch glory in the dying strides by a length to spark off unprecedented scenes of joy as hordes of Irish fans forced their way from the stands to greet Charmain Hill's courageous winner.

DESERT ORCHID (1989 Cheltenham Gold Cup)

Voted the greatest race by Racing Post readers, the thrill and drama of this slog in the mud is exemplified by O'Sullevan's words. Like most viewers, O'Sullevan felt Desert Orchid was "tiring in the ground" coming to the second-last only to be lifted as he described the horse to be "rallying" and even "accelerating" on the run to the final fence. O'Sullevan is so obviously affected by the grey horse's popularity when he observes: "He's beginning to get up. There's a tremendous cheer from the crowd as Desert Orchid's going to win it... Dessie has done it." Poor Yahoo had to play second fiddle in the race and in the commentary as well as Desert Orchid finally broke his Cheltenham hoodoo to lift National Hunt's blue riband prize as well as the hearts of all racing enthusiasts.