From Norton’s Coin to Al Boum Photo – the Cheltenham Gold Cup wins against the odds
Who doesn’t love an underdog? At Cheltenham there have been plenty over the years, especially on Gold Cup day. So ahead of the prestigious Friday race, talkSPORT looks at some of the unlikely winners where it definitely didn’t pay to back the favourite. The Gold Cup is the highlight of the Cheltenham Festival and there have been some shocks And anyway, Paddy Brennan who rode Imperial Commander to Gold Cup glory in 2010, told talkSPORT the likelihood of the Willie Mullins-trained Galopin Des Champs winning a third successive trophy is unlikely. Norton’s Coin 1990 Most at Prestbury Park may have expected the 10/11 favourite Desert Orchid to follow up his 1989 victory. They were wrong. The Racing Post headline the following day read ‘Shock of the Century’ – and they were right. Norton’s Coin remains the highest-priced winner in the history of Cheltenham. Al Boum Photo 2019 At 12/1, it’s no Norton’s Coin shock, but it surprised many. Presenting Percy, the favourite, came eighth as Al Boum Photo, ridden by Paul Townend, gave Mullins his first Gold Cup victory. After six second places, Mullins – the most successful trainer in Cheltenham history – finally broke his Gold Cup hoodoo. His three other runners – Kemboy, Bellshill and Invitation Only – failed to finish. Minella Indo 2021 The 9-1 chance won by one and a quarter lengths, with two-time champion Al Boum Photo in third to hand trainer Henry de Bromhead a historic hat-trick having also landed the Champion Hurdle and Champion Chase. In doing so, he denied Mullins and Al Boum Photo the chance to win three consecutive Gold Cups, which hadn’t been done since Best Mate. Rachael Blackmore, who had six wins at Cheltenham in 2021, was hoping to become the first female jockey to triumph in the Gold Cup but was denied on this occasion. Kennedy on Minella Indo held off the challenge of A Plus Tard and Al Boum Photo to win at odds of 9/1Getty Mr Mulligan 1997 AP McCoy rode a record 4,358 winners, and was Champion Jockey a record 20 consecutive times, every year that he was a professional. He won his first Gold Cup, though, in 1997 on the unfancied 20/1, with the odds as such possibly because he had fallen in the King George VI Chase on his previous start. Here, pre-race favourite Imperial Call pulled-up before fence 18 and Mr Mulligan left everyone behind. It was a good week for McCoy, who surprisingly didn’t win again in the Cheltenham’s main event until 2012 when he rode Synchronised to glory. Coneygree 7/1 2015 There was history here. With the win, Coneygree became the first novice steeplechaser – a horse that has not won over fences before the start of the season – to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup since Captain Thirsty in 1974. AP McCoy was hoping for a fairytale ending in his last Gold Cup, but said: “It was an unbelievable performance from a novice chaser. He got them at it early and stuck at it well.” Mullins is Cheltenham’s most successful trainer and is striving to win a third consecutive Gold CupPA The 7/1 chance held off the challenge of Djakadam and Road To Riches in the closing stages, while Favourite Silviniaco Conti could not stay in touch when the pace quickened and finished seventh. Ready for the Gold Cup? Opt in and bet on Cheltenham for a free bet on Horse Racing. Big value you can bet on with Ladbrokes. 18+. Online only. Opt-in from 09:00 to 17:30 each day, Min odds 1/2. Bet on any Cheltenham race & get a Free Bet between £/€1 to £/€25, to be used on any Horse Racing. Free bet expires 23:59, Player Restrictions & T&Cs Apply. Remember to gamble responsibly A responsible gambler is someone who: Establishes time and monetary limits before playing Only gambles with money they can afford to lose Never chase their losses Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry or depressed Gamcare – www.gamcare.org.uk GambleAware – www.gambleaware.org Find our detailed guide on responsible gambling practices here. For help with a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 or go to www.gamstop.co.uk to be excluded from all UK-regulated gambling websites.
Who doesn’t love an underdog? At Cheltenham there have been plenty over the years, especially on Gold Cup day.
So ahead of the prestigious Friday race, talkSPORT looks at some of the unlikely winners where it definitely didn’t pay to back the favourite.
And anyway, Paddy Brennan who rode Imperial Commander to Gold Cup glory in 2010, told talkSPORT the likelihood of the Willie Mullins-trained Galopin Des Champs winning a third successive trophy is unlikely.
Norton’s Coin 1990
Most at Prestbury Park may have expected the 10/11 favourite Desert Orchid to follow up his 1989 victory. They were wrong.
The Racing Post headline the following day read ‘Shock of the Century’ – and they were right.
Norton’s Coin remains the highest-priced winner in the history of Cheltenham.
Al Boum Photo 2019
At 12/1, it’s no Norton’s Coin shock, but it surprised many.
Presenting Percy, the favourite, came eighth as Al Boum Photo, ridden by Paul Townend, gave Mullins his first Gold Cup victory.
After six second places, Mullins – the most successful trainer in Cheltenham history – finally broke his Gold Cup hoodoo. His three other runners – Kemboy, Bellshill and Invitation Only – failed to finish.
Minella Indo 2021
The 9-1 chance won by one and a quarter lengths, with two-time champion Al Boum Photo in third to hand trainer Henry de Bromhead a historic hat-trick having also landed the Champion Hurdle and Champion Chase.
In doing so, he denied Mullins and Al Boum Photo the chance to win three consecutive Gold Cups, which hadn’t been done since Best Mate.
Rachael Blackmore, who had six wins at Cheltenham in 2021, was hoping to become the first female jockey to triumph in the Gold Cup but was denied on this occasion.
Mr Mulligan 1997
AP McCoy rode a record 4,358 winners, and was Champion Jockey a record 20 consecutive times, every year that he was a professional.
He won his first Gold Cup, though, in 1997 on the unfancied 20/1, with the odds as such possibly because he had fallen in the King George VI Chase on his previous start.
Here, pre-race favourite Imperial Call pulled-up before fence 18 and Mr Mulligan left everyone behind.
It was a good week for McCoy, who surprisingly didn’t win again in the Cheltenham’s main event until 2012 when he rode Synchronised to glory.
Coneygree 7/1 2015
There was history here.
With the win, Coneygree became the first novice steeplechaser – a horse that has not won over fences before the start of the season – to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup since Captain Thirsty in 1974.
AP McCoy was hoping for a fairytale ending in his last Gold Cup, but said: “It was an unbelievable performance from a novice chaser. He got them at it early and stuck at it well.”
The 7/1 chance held off the challenge of Djakadam and Road To Riches in the closing stages, while Favourite Silviniaco Conti could not stay in touch when the pace quickened and finished seventh.
Ready for the Gold Cup? Opt in and bet on Cheltenham for a free bet on Horse Racing. Big value you can bet on with Ladbrokes.
18+. Online only. Opt-in from 09:00 to 17:30 each day, Min odds 1/2. Bet on any Cheltenham race & get a Free Bet between £/€1 to £/€25, to be used on any Horse Racing. Free bet expires 23:59, Player Restrictions & T&Cs Apply.
Remember to gamble responsibly
A responsible gambler is someone who:
- Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
- Only gambles with money they can afford to lose
- Never chase their losses
- Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry or depressed
- Gamcare – www.gamcare.org.uk
- GambleAware – www.gambleaware.org
Find our detailed guide on responsible gambling practices here.
For help with a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 or go to www.gamstop.co.uk to be excluded from all UK-regulated gambling websites.
