• 1924: HOW IT ALL BEGAN…
THE Cheltenham Gold Cup was previously presented to the winner of a three-mile Flat race in the 19th century, but clerk of the course Frederick Cathcart was keen to elevate a level-weights jump race to the standing of the Grand National for the best chasers to contest. The first recipient of the trophy, consisting of 644g of nine-carat gold and plated with 18-carat gold, was Red Splash. The Champion Hurdle followed three years later and they remain the pinnacle of jump racing a century on.
1924
• 1932–1936: THE BIG FIVE
THE race’s most successful horse, Golden Miller, reigned during this time and triumphed for five years between 1932 and 1936, adding the Grand National to his CV in 1934. He remains the only horse to have achieved the big race double in the same season, but Hewick and Corach Rambler are bidding to emulate the feat this year.
1932
• 1948–1953: THE TRAINING MAESTRO
BEFORE embarking on a hugely successful Flat training career, Vincent O’Brien dominated the early post-World War II years of the Festival, saddling Cottage Rake to three consecutive
