Cheltenham Festival
The Horses and Jockeys with the most wins in the Cheltenham Gold Cup
With the Cheltenham Festival on the horizon, the feature of the week is the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
The dream of all jockeys, owners and trainers will be to win the blue riband of the national hunt season and few have been lucky enough to enter the winner’s enclosure just once for the big one at Prestbury Park.
Some have managed to win the race on more than one occasion, and here we look at the most successful horses and jockeys in the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Most successful horses
Golden Miller – 5 wins
Golden Miller dominated the Cheltenham Gold Cup during the early 1930s, producing one of the greatest sequences in jump racing history. From 1932 to 1936, he won the famous steeplechase five years in succession, a record that still stands today. He showed exceptional stamina, speed, and accuracy over Cheltenham’s demanding fences. Each victory reinforced his dominance over the staying chasers of the era, and his unmatched run of Gold Cup triumphs secured his place as one of the most legendary horses ever to compete at Cheltenham.
Cottage Rake – 3 wins
The first horse to win the race three times since Golden Miller’s incredible five was Cottage Rake. Trained by the legendary Vincent O’Brien, Cottage Rake’s hat-trick was the first time the Irish really started to get a grip on the Cheltenham Festival, something that has been true ever since. His victories came in 1948, 1949 and 1950, with Aubrey Brabazon taking the ride on all three occasions. His third and final victory was his most emphatic, despite him being an 11-year-old by that point, and it captured the imagination of racing fans across Great Britain & Ireland, making him one of the legendary figures of Prestbury Park.
Arkle – 3 wins
Arkle achieved legendary status in the Cheltenham Gold Cup by winning the race three consecutive times between 1964 and 1966. Trained by Tom Dreaper and ridden by Pat Taaffe, Arkle combined immense stamina with fluent jumping. His victories were often decisive, including a famous thirty-length win in 1966, confirming his dominance over the best staying chasers of his generation and securing his reputation as one of the greatest steeplechasers in racing history.
Best Mate – 3 wins
Best Mate secured his place in modern racing history through his remarkable achievements in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, winning the race three consecutive times from 2002 to 2004. Trained by Henrietta Knight and ridden by Jim Culloty, Best Mate displayed consistency, composure, and excellent jumping. His hat-trick of victories made him the first horse since Arkle to win three successive Gold Cups, cementing his legacy as one of the greatest staying chasers of the modern era.
Most successful jockeys in the Cheltenham Gold Cup
Pat Taaffe – 4 wins
Pat Taaffe enjoyed outstanding success in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, winning the prestigious contest four times during the 1960s. Three of those victories came aboard the legendary Arkle in 1964, 1965, and 1966, where their partnership dominated the race with powerful, commanding performances. Taaffe later secured a fourth Gold Cup in 1968 riding Fort Leney, further confirming his reputation as one of the most accomplished jockeys in Cheltenham Festival history.
Paul Townend – 4 wins
Paul Townend has become one of the leading riders in modern jump racing through his successes at Cheltenham, especially in the Cheltenham Gold Cup. He has won the prestigious contest four times, first achieving back-to-back victories aboard Al Boum Photo in 2019 and 2020. Townend later repeated that achievement with the brilliant Galopin Des Champs, guiding him to Gold Cup success in 2023 and 2024. Riding as stable jockey for trainer Willie Mullins, Townend’s tactical awareness and strong finishing ability have made him a dominant figure at Cheltenham in the modern era.
