A Plus Tard
(6) A-Plus Grade For Trailblazer Blackmore (2022)
Irish jockey Rachael Blackmore had already broken the mould with Grand National and Champion Hurdle triumphs and celebrated another defining moment in her amazing career when guiding A Plus Tard to a runaway Gold Cup success.
Blackmore had to be patient, but once out in the clear after the penultimate obstacle, Henry de Bromhead’s charge stormed past Minella Indo to score by 15 lengths and avenge the previous season’s second to the same stablemate.
Mill House
(5) Arkle Masters Mill House (1964)
It says something about the mystique of Arkle that he is still regarded as the greatest chaser of all time as we approach the 60th anniversary of him completing his Gold Cup hat-trick.
However, it is the first of those three victories which stands out, when ‘Himself’ swept past the mighty Mill House on the turn for home and galloped on strongly to beat the defending champion by five lengths.
Dessie
(4) Dessie delights army of fans (1989)
David Elsworth’s much-loved grey was far more suited to going right-handed, as highlighted by his four King George victories, but he had the courage to overcome that disadvantage and heavy ground in typically thrilling fashion.
Mud-lover Yahoo appeared to be travelling better with two to jump and landed a length in front after the last, but Dessie wouldn’t be denied and stayed on strongly to raise the Cheltenham roof.
Denman
(3) Kauto Star KO’d by Denmania (2008)
Hyped up as the most eagerly-anticipated Gold Cup clash since Arkle dethroned Mill House , defending champ Kauto Sta r went off as an odds-on favourite but had no answer to the relentless gallop served up by stablemate Denman on the second circuit.
Time and time again, Sam Thomas turned up the heat and ‘ The Tank’ responded with a series of superb jumps which left Kauto Star and Ruby Walsh always fighting a losing battle to reel in the powerful leader.
Michael Dickinson
(2) Famous five for Dickinson (1983)
Modern-day racegoers are used to Willie Mullins dominating major events, but surely even he will never match the amazing feat of Michael Dickinson , who saddled the first five home in the Gold Cup from his Yorkshire base. Bregawn went one better than the previous year to beat Captain John by five lengths, with three-time King George hero Wayward Lad third, defending champion Silver Buck back in fourth, and Ashley House fifth.
Winning jockey Graham Bradley recalls: " Michael was brilliant in preparing them, and it was a magical moment, the man was an absolute genius. "You have to remember that he only had 60 boxes, not 200 like some of them today. The quality of horse he assembled was quite amazing, really."
Dawn Run
(1) Dawn Run rallies to make history (1986)
Two years after claiming Champion Hurdle glory, Paddy Mullins’ wonder mare etched her name in racing folklore when adding a Gold Cup triumph to her remarkable CV, and she remains the only horse to achieve that double. As if that bare fact wasn’t enough, the manner in which Dawn Run rallied late on is simply the stuff of legend.
Jonjo O’Neill was already hard at work on the final bend and seemed powerless to respond as Wayward Lad and Forgive 'n Forget went past her approaching the last fence, but it was Dawn Run who dug the deepest on the run-in to get back up. Who can forget Sir Peter O’Sullevan crying out: "The mare’s beginning to get up – and as they come to the line, she’s made it!"
Bet on Horse Racing Odds at BOYLE Sports
Prices are subject to fluctuation.
Remember, Always Gamble Responsibly.
