11 March 2024 , 18:18
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Some of jump racing’s most famous names met at Cheltenham on Monday to celebrate the centenary of the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup..
Rachael Blackmore, Ruby Walsh, Sir A P McCoy, John Francome, Jonjo O'Neill, Barry Geraghty, Mick FitzGerald, Paul Townend and Graham Bradley were among the stars of the past and present to attend the Legends lunch on the eve of the 2024 Festival to which all living riders and trainers to win the race were invited.
Although a race known as the Cheltenham Gold Cup had existed in the past as a three-mile Flat race in the 19th Century, its present status is down to the foresight of Frederick Cathcart, clerk of the course and chairman of Cheltenham racecourse from 1908 to 1934.
Red Splash won the inaugural running of the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 1924 and was presented with a magnificent trophy comprised of 644 grams of nine carat gold and plated in 18 carat gold to give it a rich colour.
Simon Sherwood partnered the famous grey Desert Orchid to an unforgettable success in the 1989 renewal.
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He said: “Cheltenham is a special place. When you see those gates open through the middle of the winner’s enclosure – it’s something you’ll never forget. To seeing the parting of the waves of the crowd when you walk back in is always great.
“The year Desert Orchid won, I was staying with the Twiston-Davies family up the road and the rain that arrived had not been forecast. It was an absolutely bonkers day.
“Cheltenham is the holy grail and always the target at the start of the season. From December onwards, you start to know which horses are going to be going there.”
Recalling the race, he added: “I remember jumping the last, putting my head down and thinking I’ll never have this opportunity again. The crowd was just amazing and to win was just the ultimate. The Queen Mother was here which made it even better – a phenomenal day.
“I am very fortunate and have some very fond memories.”