The Most Successful Horses at Cheltenham

Ever wondered what the most successful horses at Cheltenham are? In this article, we take a look at four of the most iconic racehorses to remember.

If there’s one festival that can go toe-to-toe with the best horse racing fixtures, it’s Cheltenham. With 28 races in total including the famous Gold Cup and Champion Hurdle, the Cheltenham Festival offers 4 days of extraordinary racing. A place of heroic wins and horses that went down in history as the best ever, it’s a prestigious Festival with thousands of fans all over the globe.

Betting is one of the major elements at the Cheltenham Festival, with millions of pounds placed in bets every year. A punt on the Gold Cup is a tradition at Cheltenham, with almost no visitor being able to resist the urge. Bookies provide their odds months before the event with favourites, underdogs, and long shots on offer for the most exciting races.

This year’s favourite Al Boum Photo leads the list at 4/1 and is closely followed by Kemboy at 7/1. Clan Des Obeaux and Lostintranslation with odds of 8/1 come next. These odds promise a great return and you can find bets of even better value down the list. For example, 2018 winner Native River will surely be on many punters’ minds at 14/1.

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As mentioned, UK punters place millions in bets on the Gold Cup (and other Cheltenham races) every year. The punters in the know use free bets and bonuses to bet on the Gold Cup and other Cheltenham races, as to increase their chances to win without risking their own money.

Throughout its rich history, the Gold Cup has been won by horses that have earned their place in the history books. From Golden Miller to Kauto Star, these are the horses that defined the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Golden Miller

When we talk about truly legendary horses, Golden Miller fits the profile. The thoroughbred racehorse decimated the competition back in the 1930s, winning the Gold Cup in 5 consecutive years between 1932 and 1936. It’s a record that is yet to be broken, but what made Golden Miller stand out is a bigger feat.

Golden Miller is the only horse in history that won the two premier UK steeplechases (Gold Cup and Grand National) in the same year. The horse was obviously in top form in 1934 and this feat earned it a place among the legends.

Arkle

Who can forget the legendary Arkle? It’s been over 50 years since the horse’s incredible achievement – winning three Gold Cups in a row. It’s a feat that took nearly 50 years to replicate and is only topped by Golden Miller’s amazing run in the 1930s.

Arkle’s astonishing run of form nearly a century ago is written in golden letters in Cheltenham’s history. The horse will surely be remembered as one of the best chasers in history. Apart from the Gold Cup, Arkle also won the Irish Grand National, Hennessy Gold Cup (twice), and a slew of other major races.

Best Mate

Best Mate matched Arkle’s record by winning three Gold Cups in a row in 2002, 2003, and 2004.  The horse was a major favourite in 2005 but withdrew from the race after a burst blood vessel. Nevertheless, Best Mate was one of the most famous horses in the UK. People loved the Irish-bred horse so much that his sudden death made a huge wave in the media.

Kauto Star

Kauto Star is one of the latest stars in the Cheltenham Gold Cup after winning the race twice in 2007 and 2009. It would’ve been three if it wasn’t for Denman in 2008. Three Gold Cup wins would have surely made Kauto Star a true British horse racing legend.

Kauto Star ran a further three Gold Cups but failed to replicate his best form. During its career, Kauto Star has earnings of over £3,000,000, making it one of the most successful horses in the history of horse racing.