Cheltenham Gold Cup 2004 Cheltenham Result
In merely scraping home by half a length in a finish which saw the first four covered by under four lengths, Best Mate failed for the third time running to record a truly exceptional performance. But he once again travelled superbly, held up on the inside where connections had identified a strip of better ground, and he jumped throughout with all of his customary economy and precision. Going to the third last he was going ominously well, on the heels now of First Gold, who had enjoyed a clear lead for so much of the way, but there was drama approaching the turn, where Harbour Pilot edged across to hem him in behind the leader. It got very tight, but Culloty eased him out of trouble to challenge on the outside of First Gold and Harbour Pilot, and he then quickened impressively into the second last to jump it virtually upsides. Unlike last year, he failed to come clear, and at the last he was still being hard pressed by Harbour Pilot, who was proving really determined. But he was very brave up the hill, and was always just holding on.
The most popular horse in Britain had to work hard for the win but scenes of utter jubilation accompanied his return to the winner's enclosure. The Henrietta Knight-trained horse is the first since Arkle nearly 40 years ago to claim the historic feat of three Gold Cups in a row.
