Unforgettable Moments in the History of Racing With the prestigious Cheltenham Festival just around the corner, there is a palpable sense of excitement across the country. Whether it is punters swotting up on the latest Horse Racing tips available on SBAT.com, or festival goers doing last minute clothes shopping, the Festival can’t come soon enough. To add to the excitement, we look back on some of the most memorable Gold Cups. Dawn Run 1986 “And the mare's beginning to get up” Dawn Run, trained by Willie Mullins' father Paddy produced one of the most memorable finishes ever to a Gold Cup when landing the 1986 race. The mare had won the Champion Hurdle two years earlier and carried the hopes of Ireland in the Blue Riband event. Having made much of the running and several mistakes in the early part of the race she was under pressure turning for home and joined by Run And Skip, Wayward Lad and the previous year's winner Forgive 'N Forget. Dawn Run briefly regained the lead over the second last fence but appeared to be back peddling in third behind Wayward Lad and Forgive 'N Forget as they went over the last. Ridden by Jonjo O'Neill Dawn Run produced a rousing finish up the final climb to collar Wayward Lad in the shadows of the post. The race was run in a record time. Denman And Kauto Star 2008 and 2009 Cheltenham always manages to produce unmissable drama and in the Gold Cups of 2008 and 2009, it did just that. Kauto Star and Denman were stable mates under the watchful eye of the Paul Nicholls. The pair supplied us with an unprecedented two-part cliff-hanger which spanned the two seasons. Kauto Star lived up to his name and was the star of the show when it came to the Gold Cup and headed into the 2008 race as the reigning champion and was sent off at odds-on to beat his very talented stablemate. Unbelievably, Denman delivered a brilliant performance and showed Kauto Star who was boss, finishing seven lengths ahead of the reigning champion. Every racing fan will remember the heightened anticipation surrounding the 2009 Gold Cup. Denman’s win by seven lengths in 2008 was impressive but it was clear that Kauto Star was hell bent on revenge and he didn't disappoint as he gave one of the best performances the Cup has ever seen and won by a staggering 13 lengths. This year's Gold Cup field has been decimated by injury as one leading contender after another has fallen by the wayside — Last year's winner Don Cossack, 2015 winner Coneygree, the exciting Novice Thistlecrack and the ill-fated Vautour — any one of them could have won the 2017 Gold Cup. That said we are in for a memorable climax to this year's Festival as Thisltlecrack's trainer Colin Tizzard sends two horses at the top of their game, Native River and the people's favourite Cue Card. Cue Card, a winner at the Festival seven years ago when landing the Champion Bumper as a 4-y-o, would bring the house down if he were to add a Gold Cup to his CV. The Gold Cup is hitherto missing from the CV of Willie Mullins and he would dearly love to see Djakadam, runner-up in the last two Gold Cups, finally set the record straight. Gordon Elliott, successful with Don Cossack twelve months ago, tries for a second win with Outlander and Don Poli while a definite case can be made for Thyestes winner Champagne West to give Henry De Bromhead a first. Sponsored Content
