Claude Duval legend, including claims of alchemy, gambling, and much womanising. He is reported to haunt the Holt Hotel along the A4260 (Oxford Road) in Oxfordshire, a hotel where he spent many nights when it was a small coaching inn. Recent historians have reappraised the legacy of Duval. James Sharpe in "Dick Turpin" regarded Duval as the most significant figure in the shaping of the highwayman myth. John and Philip Sugden's "The Thief of Hearts" reconstructs what is known of the historical Duval, using much fresh evidence, and shows that the traditions about the Frenchman were used by such literary luminaries as
Dick Turpin (horse) time but, now Dick Turpin's broken his duck, the pressure is off". At York Racecourse in August Dick Turpin was stepped up in distance for the International Stakes over ten and a half furlongs and came home fifth of the nine runners behind Rip Van Winkle. On his final appearance of the season went back to France for the Prix de la Foret at Longchamp over 1400 metres and finished third behind Goldikova and Paco Boy, beaten a length by the winner. In the 2010 World Thoroughbred Rankings Dick Turpin was assessed at 124, making him the fourteenth best horse