2002 Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase

Date: Thursday 14th March 2002 |
Course: Cheltenham |
Distance: 3m 2f 110y |
Going: Good, Good to Soft in places |
Winning Time: 6m 50.10s |
Winner: Best Mate (Jim Culloty) [Miss H C Knight] |
Runners: 18

[@robertharwood4625]

Magnificent performance, and same for what's up boys in 5th, these racing days where the best by far, the amount of unbelievable horses was amazing

[@latchmere100]

RIP BEST MATE. YOU WERE A SUPERSTAR.

[@michaeljenkins8593]

my 2nd fav horse of all time matey loved him to bits

[@tedduckpond5132]

To listen to some pundits who say he won bad gold cups......Florida Pearl, See more business and looks like trouble in the next parish....a brilliant horse and a fantastic jumper.

[@leeguest1104]

The best jumper of a fence you're ever likely to see

[@bilkomax]

The first of Best Mate 3 consecutive wins in the Gold Cup . Some achievement regardless of the light campaigns he had . Seems to have set the pattern for current handlers with Cheltenham on their radar

[@dominicbrady555]

Good old Best Mate . It would have been some race in 2005 against Kicking King . Pity it never happened .

[@deniseshephard3347]

Looks like Trouble was a incredible race horse

[@dawnkeir549]

underated best mate one of the best three times champion

[@gary1961]

This era of Gold Cups would have included Gloria Victis if he hadn't have run in 2000 as a novice only to fall at the second last and break his leg.

[@gezzaf6912]

the first of the hat trick well done Best Mate...………...

[@aarif4072]

Strong field

[@andrewlukekellyclassbates5339]

what a ride , many would have bottled it

[@latchmere100]

Best mate, as cool as a cucumber.

[@paulbest2203]

Best Mate great great horse ,Arkle would have met his match had they met on level terms .

[@keithknight1686]

You show your ignorance, my friend. Arkle was rated 3-stone better than any horse of his era, an era that included Mill House. Flyingbolt is the only horse that conceivably have beaten Arkle and Pat Taaffe who rode both had no doubt that Arkle would win easily. Best Mate won one 'good' Gold Cup and two poor Gold Cups and Ted Walsh thought Commanche Court would have won in 2002 if Ruby was more experienced.

[@paulbest2203]

@@keithknight1686 Ha Ha !!I wasn't around when Arkle ran just see videos ,but thought nothing extraordinary about Arkle . Great weight carrying performances of his time .I have a soft spot for Best Mate so am bias I guess. I bow to those who are old enough to have witnessed Arkles great wins ,Im sure he was every bit of a fantastic chaser people say he was .Best Mate will always be my number one race horse .Brought me to tears when he died and that takes a lot for me to admit . Wish I could have seen Arkle . All the best Keith

[@uhegbu]

Looks Like Trouble was the winner in 2000 and was the title holder for this race. The 2001 running was cancelled due to foot and mouth.

[@wayevs]

best mate would of won 4 in a row if not for the foot and mouth disease, also possible he would of won 5 in a row if he hadnt lost his life that tragic day

[@michaeljenkins8593]

definitely mate awesome horse don't think he ever finnished out of the first 2 even as a novice hurdler followed him since then

[@kevinmccarroll6077]

Totally agree with with you legend

[@LFCYNWA-zs7dl]

Backed it

[@rufes1981]

amazing run by see more buisness too

[@uhegbu]

The start of the Best Mate era. See More Business, the 1999 winner was in this 2002 renewal. By the end of the decade, Paul Nicholls would train Kauto Star twice and Denman in between the former horse's two wins.

[@stephenhiggins8079]

Thought Commanche Court was the winner going over the scond last he ran a great race but blundered at the last 2 fences

[@patrickcarney8808]

do you have any gold cups from 2007 onwards. and not the awful racing uk ones .thanks.

[@espmadrid]

Yes, but won't be uploading as RUK still own the copyright.

[@patrickcarney8808]

have 1979 no 80, 81 to 2004 & have 2006. can you let me know other years you have and can i buy a dvd off you thanks.

[@espmadrid]

Go to this channel page and contact me via the email address. kzbin.infoabout

[@georgewallace6940]

Month after this race Jim Culloty wins the grand national on Bindaree.