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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Michael Jones

Galopin Des Champs’ shot at history slips away with agonising Gold Cup defeat

Mark Walsh and Inothewayurthinkin ends Galopin Des Champs' pursuit of a historic treble - (Adam Davy/PA Wire)

Head through the gates at Cheltenham Racecourse and look to the left. There you’ll find a bronze statue of the legendary AP McCoy, a 20-time champion jockey and two-time Cheltenham Gold Cup winner. Behind him there is another statue, this one is of a horse. Just as legendary as McCoy but arguably even more successful. It is Best Mate, a triple Gold Cup winner who triumphed in three successive races between 2002 and 2004 to write his name in the history books and get his likeness sculpted in bronze.

Walk past Best Mate and head up the stairs to the viewing balcony adjacent to the Princess Royal Grandstand. Here you’ll find Golden Miller. The statue is smaller but the honours greater. He is the most successful racehorse to grace the Cheltenham Festival. The only horse to win five successive Gold Cups, which he did almost a century ago between 1932 and 1936.

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