THREE GOLD CUPS! A look back at Best Mate's historic third victory in Cheltenham's blue riband event

[@flower-ss2jt]

The look on Jim Cullotty's face after he won, almost fear and anger, not elation. I have never forgiven the jockeys on the two horses that tried to box in Best Mate going round the last corner. What a fantastic horse Best Mate was to win the 3 Gold Cup.

[@jamesharper586]

The front horse didn’t try to box him in at all was just tiring. Carberry did on Harbour Pilot but so what? It’s race riding. Can guarantee Culloty would’ve done the same in reverse. Imagine Carberry coming in to Noel Meade after and saying ‘sorry but Best Mate needed to get out of a pocket so that’s why we lost the gold cup’. That’s just nonsense.

[@biblybims9868]

Fantastic horse,who died doing what he done best,made his racing debut at Exeter racecourse,and passed away at Exeter racecourse,crazy

[@CFreeJ]

A real true legend, the horse that got me hooked into the racing. If only he had his chance of a 4th gold cup! He is at the top table with Golden Miller and Arkle

[@roberto4001000]

He's about 2 stone inferior to Arkle .

[@DavidLlewellyn-no4sz]

Great jumper

[@Jack-pu4rf]

He was hampered aswell a great run

[@nigelalanwood6781]

His jumping was poetry in motion.

[@bernardthegwp71020]

Cleanest jumper of a fence ever, robbed of an 4th Gold Cup due to a small injury,no disrespect to Kicking King who was a good horse but Best Mate would have won that race comfortably with his prefered ground.

[@stevebartley628]

great race

[@themanager3]

MANAGER OF YONKERS RACE WAY SAYS HELLO THE ONE THE ONLY THE MANAGER

[@Horichdaslicht1858]

I see there are some disparaging comments here, but Best Mate remains one of only 4 horses to win 3 or more Gold Cups, something Denman and Kauto Star could not do. If Arkle had remained sound until 12 it is doubtful that any horse with the possible exception of stablemate Flyingbolt, could have stopped him from winning 6. Flyingbolt would probably have had the measure of Arkle up to 2 1/2 miles, but at 3+ Arkle was unbeatable over fences throughout his career at level weights or anything near. Left or right-handed, firm or heavy, flat or undulating, sharp or galloping, nothing seemed to trouble him. Cottage Rake was a great chaser, but Arkle and Golden Miller were something else.

[@Martin.Lewis..]

Clearly you don’t understand the term ‘longevity’ then Doug If you are referring to Arkle as a ‘great’ Really poor knowledge shown from you yet again on these pages! Sometimes it’s better to say nothing at all….

[@Horichdaslicht1858]

@@Martin.Lewis.. 🤣

[@Martin.Lewis..]

Without question the most overrated GC winner in history. All 3 wins came beating absolute trees. I mean come on, look at who placed in his 3 wins!! It’s dreadful form every one! And when Best Man faced a good one in Jair Du Cochet, Best Mate was beaten easily! Not many on here will have ever heard of Jair Du Cochet but trust me that fella had injury not hit would of dominated the 3mile division back then! Channel4 made it a story with Biddlecombe, Knight and Lewis and the public latched onto this big time! The more knowledgeable fans like myself werent hoodwinked. #knowledgeispower

[@Martin.Lewis..]

@@jamespage6628 Best Mate was 8 when Jair Du Cochet beat him by an eased down 8 lengths, hardly coming ‘to the end of his career’ is it at 8 😂😂 clueless tool. Oh and another thing, See More Business was 12 and 13 years old when Best Mate beat him 😉 Come back when you are at my level of knowledge pal..

[@Martin.Lewis..]

Oh, looks like he has deleted his reply now 😂😂 shown him up with some knowledge and off he goes 😂😂 #bottler

[@jamespage6628]

🤣🤣 you really are clueless aren’t you? Jair du cochet was still younger, fitter. Best Mate was having his first run of the season and was going for his last gold cup. Hence the end of his career. Obviously you don’t understand English very well 🤣🤣. Didn’t have any comebacks when Vauban and Energumene got beat the other week did you boy? 🤣🤣 You can give it but definitely can’t take it.

[@jamespage6628]

@@Martin.Lewis.. You don’t think Best Mate can have an off day? When Jair beat him, who was third in that race a couple of lengths behind him? Valley Henry. Best Mate beat him by much further in the past. Jair also had bad races. So for you to slag off Best Mate as overrated is pathetic. You really do not have knowledge. All you do is give it the big I am as if you know everything. You must be one of those special needs people.

[@TheTruthDon]

@@Martin.Lewis.. freak.