Sport
5 of the best Cheltenham Gold Cup winners
With the Cheltenham Festival fast approaching, the countdown is on to the greatest show in national hunt racing. Four days of top-quality racing action are on the agenda come March, including the Champion Hurdle, Queen Mother Champion Chase, and Stayers’ Hurdle. However, the main feature is the Friday’s Cheltenham Gold Cup, the blue-riband event in jumps racing and one of the richest races in the UK with some of the greatest winners in racing history.
The prize money is an afterthought, with the prestige of the Cheltenham Gold Cup far outweighing the financial rewards. In recent years, the Cheltenham Gold Cup has thrown up some monumental and historical winners, and we’re taking a closer look at five of the best winners of the race from the last 20 years.
It’s a who’s who of jumps racing legends and all eyes will be on Cheltenham this year to see which horse will add their name to the prestigious list of Cheltenham Gold Cup winners.
5 of the best Cheltenham Gold Cup winners
Best Mate (2004)
Best Mate arrived at the Cheltenham Festival in 2004, aiming to cement his place in history by becoming the first horse since the mighty Arkle to win three Gold Cups in a row.
Having won the Grade 1 Ericsson Chase at Leopardstown in December, Best Mate was sent off the 8/11 favourite for the Gold Cup, and he looked in trouble as they turned for home as he struggled to hold his position.
Partnered once more by Jim Culloty, though, Best Mate took it up two fences from home and rallied up the Cheltenham hill to hold off the fast-finishing Sir Rembrandt and seal his place in the Cheltenham Festival history books as one of the greatest Gold Cup winners ever.
Denman (2008)
The Cheltenham Gold Cup of 2008 was a race for the ages as the Paul Nicholls trained duo of Denman and Kauto Star clashed.
Kauto Star was the reigning Gold Cup champion and a multiple Grade 1 winning superstar, while Denman arrived as the up and coming new kid on the block boasting an undefeated record over fences.
And it was ‘The Tank’ who tasted glory, galloping the field into submission under Sam Thomas in a display that lives long in the memory with Paul Nicholls landing the 1-2-3 as Kauto Star took 2nd and Neptune Collonges 3rd.
Kauto Star (2009)
Twelve months later, the rematch was on in the Cheltenham Gold Cup as Denman and Kauto Star once more faced off. Denman arrived on the back of an interrupted preparation while Kauto Star was at his peak, landing another King George at Kempton.
And Gold Cup day saw Kauto Star and Ruby Walsh become the first duo to regain the Cheltenham Gold Cup, powering clear up the hill to win by a staggering 13 lengths and securing their own legacy among the greatest ever winners of the race.
Imperial Commander (2010)
This was touted as the decider between Kauto Star and Denman, with the public and press enthralled for what was expected to be a huge battle. Sadly, no one told Imperial Commander, who spoiled the party by landing the big one for trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies.
To be fair, Imperial Commander was a top-quality horse, having won the Ryanair Chase the year before, one of three Grade 1 victories. As for Kauto Star and Denman, Kauto crashed out four fences from home to leave Denman to chase home Imperial Commander up the famous Cheltenham Hill.
Coneygree (2015)
Coneygree arrived at Cheltenham in March of 2015, having had just three runs over fences, as he aimed to become the first novice to win the big one since Captain Christy in 1974.
Having won all three races over fences, the decision was made to go for the Gold Cup rather than the traditional route of the RSA Chase.
And connections bravery paid off as Coneygree made almost every yard of the running to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup for trainer Mark Bradstock.
Briefly looking in trouble up the hill, jockey Nico de Boinville galvanised Coneygree to see the race out, holding off the challenges from Djakadam and Road To Riches, and seal his place in Cheltenham history.
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