Which are the shortest-priced winners of the Cheltenham Gold Cup?
At the time of writing, in 92 runnings since its inauguration, the Cheltenham Gold Cup has thrown up nine odds-on winners – all of whom, with one exception, were also multiple winners – but, interestingly, only one since 1966. The first odds-on winner was Easter Hero, who was sent off at odds of 8/11 for the second of his two wins, in 1930. He was followed shortly afterwards by the celebrated Golden Miller, who started at 4/7 and 1/2 for the second and fourth victories of his unprecedented five-timer, in 1933 and 1935 respectively.
Next up was Prince Regent, at 4/7, in 1946, who has the distinction of being the only one of the odds-on winners to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup just once. Indeed, the last five odds-on winners – which were, in fact, just three different horses – were all in the process of completing hat-tricks. Cottage Rake was sent off 4/6 and 5/6 for the second and third legs of his hat-trick, in 1949 and 1950, Arkle started 30/100 and 1/10 for the second and third legs of his, in 1965 and 1966, and Best Mate was returned at 8/11 for the third and final leg of his, in 2004. Unsurprisingly, Arkle – arguably the greatest steeplechaser of all time – holds the record for the shortest-priced winner in Gold Cup history.