The Top Five Cheltenham Gold Cup Renewals

Let’s take a trip down memory lane and revisit five of the greatest Cheltenham Gold Cup renewals ever.

There’s something special about a horse chasing history. In 2025, Galopin Des Champs will attempt to join the elite club of three-time Cheltenham Gold Cup winners, standing alongside legends like Arkle and Best Mate. Trained by Willie Mullins, the superstar chaser has already cemented himself as a modern great with back-to-back triumphs in 2023 and 2024. But winning the Gold Cup once is tough enough—doing it three times is the stuff of racing immortality.

With that in mind, let’s take a trip down memory lane and revisit five of the greatest Cheltenham Gold Cup renewals ever. These races delivered drama, dominance, and moments that live on in racing folklore.

1. Arkle (1964)

Few horses have ever dominated a Gold Cup like Arkle did in 1964. The Irish sensation, trained by Tom Dreaper, lined up as the red-hot favourite and delivered a performance that left jaws on the Cheltenham turf. His effortless acceleration up the hill saw him streak clear of the field, announcing himself as the new king of staying chasers. Arkle would go on to win three Gold Cups in a row, redefining what was possible in National Hunt racing.

2. Dawn Run (1986)

Dawn Run’s victory in 1986 remains one of the most emotional moments in racing history. Already a Champion Hurdle winner, she was attempting to become the first horse ever to win both of Cheltenham’s greatest prizes. It looked like the dream was over when she was headed by Wayward Lad at the final fence, but under Jonjo O’Neill’s relentless drive, she rallied up the hill in dramatic fashion to snatch victory. The Cheltenham roar that day was deafening, and her place in the history books was assured.

3. Desert Orchid (1989)

A Gold Cup win for Desert Orchid always seemed unlikely. The grey was a specialist over shorter distances, hated heavy ground, and was up against proven stayers. But Dessie didn’t care for expectations. Battling through the mud, he looked beaten when Yahoo powered ahead after the last, but in a display of sheer heart, he clawed his way back and surged home in front. It was one of those moments where pure guts and determination won the day.

4. Kauto Star (2009)

In 2009, Kauto Star did something no horse had ever done before—he regained the Gold Cup. After being beaten by his stablemate Denman the year before, Paul Nicholls’ superstar bounced back with one of the most dominant performances ever seen at Cheltenham. He stormed clear of the field, turning the blue riband event into a procession. The sight of Ruby Walsh glancing back on the run-in, realising they were in a different league, is still etched in Gold Cup history.

5. Best Mate (2004)

Winning the Gold Cup three times in a row is a feat only the true greats can achieve, and Best Mate did just that in 2004. Trained by Henrietta Knight, he was a class act who kept winning without the flashiness of some other legends. His third triumph wasn’t as dramatic as his earlier wins, but it confirmed his place alongside Arkle as one of the most dominant chasers of all time. The outpouring of emotion that followed his victory showed just how much he meant to racing fans.