under crushing burdens – he finished third under 12st 5lb that year and fourth under 12st 7lb the following year – pretty much signalled the end of Aintree being the main target for the best chasers. Prince Regent, trained by Tom Dreaper in Ireland, was top-class but wartime restrictions meant he was coming to the end of his excellence when he raced in Britain. He was 11 when he won the Gold Cup. The changing status of Cheltenham was reflected in the career of threetime Gold Cup winner Cottage Rake (1948-50), who never tackled the Grand National. After Prince Regent, the next Gold Cup winner to go straight on to Aintree was Davy Lad in 1977 (he fell at the third) and the only ones since have been Alverton (1979, fell), Garrison Savannah (1991, second), Cool Ground (1992, 10th), The Fellow (1994, fell), Master Oats (1985, 7th) and Synchronised (2012, fell). Cottage Rake’s 1948 success was also the first of 23 at The Festival for his trainer Vincent O’Brien, and the initial intimation to British racegoers of the Irishman’s genius. The gelding carried the colours of O’Brien’s first owner, the Dublin wool merchant Frank Vickerman, who bought him in 1944 after backing the new stable’s first two significant winners, Drybob and Good Days, in the Irish Cambridgeshire and Cesarewitch respectively. Cottage Rake, bred for Jumping, was fast enough to win an Irish November Handicap on the Flat, and his hallmark in chases was his pace and finishing speed. His three Gold Cup victories, which overlapped three in the Champion Hurdle from his stablemate Hatton’s Grace, did much to propagate the Anglo-Irish rivalry at The Festival. Only two other horses have won more than two Gold Cups, the triple heroes Arkle (1964-66) and Best Mate (20012- 04). But before them came a horse who was demonstrably unlucky to win only once. The Bob Turnell-trained Pas Seul’s sole Gold Cup success came in 1960, when – ridden with confident coolness by Bill Rees – he caught Lochroe half-way up the hill and accelerated past to win by a length, going away. The previous year he had fallen at the last in a clear lead, the following year he was second, when Fred Winter on Saffron Tartan comprehensively outrode Dave Dick, and in 1962, when he started favourite, it is accepted he was nobbled. Arkle was, simply, the best. Although exact comparisons between generations are difficult, he set a standard of superiority that has not yet been matched, though it was approached by his own Tom Dreaper stablemate Flyingbolt for one season. And, given that training and conditioning methods have advanced since the 1960s, what might have he achieved today? It would be equally wonderful to see George Best with modern boots, ball and pitch. The Duchess of Westminster’s champion first gave notice of what might be with an imperious display in the Broadway (now RSA) Chase at The Festival in 1963. At the same meeting, Mill House won the Gold Cup as a six-year-old and was trumpeted as a successor to Golden Miller as indeed he might have been, without Arkle. Though Mill House, trained by Fulke Walwyn, came off the better in their first meeting, when they finished first and third in the 1963 Hennessy Gold Cup (Arkle slipped as he landed over the third last), it was the last time he did. In that season’s Cheltenham Gold Cup (1964), their much-anticipated showdown, Arkle settled the issue in a matter of strides with Pat Taaffe barely having to move and the following year treated ‘the big horse’ with even more contempt. Though Arkle had only three rivals in each of his first two Gold Cups (the equal-smallest fields) and five in his third, none of the races lacked excitement, for a demonstration of absolute superiority can be as spinetingling as a pulsating finish of heads. He took his third Gold Cup in 1966 at record short odds of 1/10 by a record 30 lengths. In contrast, the longestpriced Gold Cup winner, Norton’s Coin, owned and trained by Welsh farmer and permit holder Sirrell Griffiths, beat 11 rivals at 100/1 in 1990. In the 1960s, there was not a programme of Grade One contests for the top horses; the King George VI Chase – which Arkle won in 1965 – was the only other accepted championship contest. Arkle had to prove his merit in handicaps, which he did time and time again. His victories included an Irish Grand National under 12st, two Hennessy Gold Cups under 12st 7lb, a Whitbread Gold Cup under 12st 7lb (conceding at least two stone all round), and a Gallagher Gold Cup under 12st 7lb. Arkle’s career came to a premature end when he fractured a hoof during the 1966 King George (he still finished second). He retired as winner of 22 of his 26 chases and of countless hearts. The modern top-class chaser is rarely expected to carry huge weights in handicaps once they have established themselves, but Desert Orchid and more recently Denman were exceptions. Desert Orchid, trained by David Elsworth, was one of the few racehorses to jump the gap that divides racing from the wider sporting and public consciousness, helped by his grey colour (the only grey to win a Gold Cup) and his flamboyantly competitive attitude. Amid all the “Dessiemania” that accompanied him, it was almost forgotten what an absolutely top-class performer he was. He was tough and versatile, winning on 34 of his 70 starts. His victories included a Tingle Creek Chase over two miles, a Whitbread Gold Cup over three miles and five furlongs, a Victor Chandler Chase over two miles, rallying to give Panto Prince 22lb and a head beating, and an Irish Grand National by 12 lengths under 12st, giving at least 26lb to his rivals. He made the King George VI Chase his own, with four victories between 1986 and 1990. He consistently ran well below form at Cheltenham, including when he won 28
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