With more than 160 years since the inaugural Cheltenham Festival, National Hunt racing fans past and present have been fortunate enough to witness some of the greatest thoroughbreds to ever grace the track in the Cotswold event’s long and storied history.
Fans will have that opportunity to be in the presence of greatness once again this month, with Prestbury Park playing host to yet another highly anticipated four days of racing. As is the case every year, there are a select few horses who have the chance in 2023 to forever etch themselves into National Hunt racing folklore and become multiple-time Grade 1 Cheltenham winners.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at a list of thoroughbreds who have already stamped their authority on the sport and gone down as some of the best performers at the esteemed Festival.
Best Mate
Best Mate dominated his opposition for five years, securing 14 wins from 20 appearances between November of 1999 and November 2004. While he had six losses during that time – the Henrietta Knight-trained horse came in second place on all six occasions, giving you an indication of his incredible consistency. While that’s a fantastic record in its own right, it was his performances at the Cheltenham Festival which particularly stood out.
After winning his maiden Cheltenham Gold Cup by just shy of two lengths from 25/1 outsider Commanche Court in 2002, Best Mate followed that up with a further two victories in the meeting’s feature race in 03’ and 04’, reigning supreme in each of those contests by ten lengths and half-a-length respectively.
Best Mate’s win in 2004 put the then nine-year-old in elite company, as he became just the fourth horse to win the Gold Cup on three separate occasions.
Badsworth Boy
The only horse to have won the Queen Mother Champion Chase three times, Badsworth Boy’s ability to rise to the occasion in one of the sport’s most prestigious events was nothing short of incredible. Known for his immense power – Badsworth Boy was almost unstoppable on his day. However, if power isn’t harnessed correctly, either by the horse itself or the jockey – it can become erratic.
That was oftentimes the case with the Michael Dickinson-trained horse, whose record of 26 wins in 70 starts not painting the entire picture of just how talented a horse he was. He would always deliver at Prestbury Park however, and with three consecutive Champion Chase victories in 1983, 1984 and 1985 – Badsworth Boy will always be remembered as one of Cheltenham’s finest performers.
Honeysuckle
This great mare needs no introduction. She has taken National Hunt racing by storm over the past five years, winning 17 on the trot before succumbing to her first defeat late last year. It’s been at Cheltenham where she’s achieved all-time great status however – having won the Mares’ Hurdle in 2020 before securing back-to-back victories in the Champion Hurdle in 21’ and 22’.
Given her success at Prestbury Park, it’s only fitting that the Cheltenham Festival will play host to Honeysuckle’s swansong – and although there were many fans and pundits alike who wanted to see her go toe-to-toe with the unbelievable prospect that is Constitution Hill – we can count ourselves lucky that we will still get to see her in the Mares’ Hurdle before she retires. For those who believe Honeysuckle will end her incredible career on a high, the nine-year-old is currently the favourite in the Cheltenham odds to take out the Mares’ Hurdle at 9/4.
Istabraq
Still considered by many as the best hurdler in history, the Aidan O’Brien-trained Istabraq’s résumé speaks for itself. With separate winning streaks of ten and eight victories in 1996-98 and 1998-99 respectively, the Irish-bred horse was near impossible to beat when in form. That is evidenced by his success at the Cheltenham Festival, with the great horse notching up a hattrick of Champion Hurdle wins in 1998, 1999 and 2000.
While this article is surrounding the listed thoroughbreds’ accomplishments at Prestbury Park, it’s worth noting that in addition to three straight Champion Hurdle wins, the Sadler Well’s product also managed four consecutive Irish Champion Hurdle triumphs. You can see why he’s held in such high regard.
