Biggest Odds Winners In Cheltenham Festival History
Some of the things that Cheltenham Festival is known for are its thrilling races, legendary horses and moments of incredible underdog triumphs, with this iconic horse racing meeting providing some of the biggest shocks in the history of the sport over the years. There have been a number of longshot winners who have defied the odds and claimed unexpected victories at Cheltenham Festival, with these remarkable results stunning fans worldwide.
Norton’s Coin
One of the biggest shocks in Cheltenham Festival history came in the 1990 Gold Cup when Norton’s Coin, trained by a Welsh dairy farmer by the name of Sirrel Griffiths, stunned the world of racing by winning at odds of 100/1. Facing a field that included famous Cheltenham horses such as Desert Orchid, dew gave the runner a chance. However, thanks to a superb ride from Graham McCourt, Norton’s Coin managed to storm home and secure a famous victory, becoming the biggest outsider to ever win the Cheltenham Gold Cup in the process, a record that has yet to be beaten.
Eileendover
Another of the iconic races at Cheltenham is the Champion Bumper, which is often a proving ground for future stars in the horse racing scene. With the 2021 iteration specifically, Eileendover delivered a jaw-dropping result, crossing the finishing line in first place with odds of 66/1. As was implied by the odds in the horse racing ante post markets, the runner was unfancied by many; however, the filly powered home caused one of the biggest Cheltenham upsets, becoming a reminder of the unpredictability of underdog stories.
Divine Fortune
One of the more recent shocks at Cheltenham Festival came in 2023, in the Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle. This was when Divine Fortune managed to land a stunning 50/1 victory, with the horse being trained by a lesser-known yard. Thanks to its reliance and staying power around the track, though, it managed to hold off all other competition, with the longshot defining all expectations and securing an extremely memorable win.
Kilbricken Storm
A race in particular that has been known for producing surprise winners is the Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle, with the triumph of Kilbricken Storm in 2018 being one of the biggest to date. Sent off at odds of 50/1 on many horse racing betting platforms, the gelding trained by Colin Tizzard outstayed all other rivals to claim the ultimate victory. With this race being a three-mile contest, Kilbricken Storm showcased its stamina impressively, with few anticipating such a performance and an upset from this highly priced competitor.
Arctic Kinsman
Another horse that provided a great surprise at odds of 50/1 was Aric Kinsman back in 1994. This took place in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, with the outsider trained by Nigel Twiston Davies running the race of his life to claim victory. This was all the more shocking considering it was the opening race of the festival, defying the market and proving that the Festival can deliver sensational horse racing results no matter the event.
All of these underdog victories serve as a testament to the unpredictable nature of horse racing and Cheltenham Festival as a whole. Whether it is a novice hurdler all the way to a contender in the major Gold Cup, history shows that certain outsiders could have those rare fairytale endings.