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A great rivalry

Steven LynchFebruary 16, 2015
Arkle (left) won a Cheltenham Gold Cup hat-trick in 1964, 1965 and 1966 © Getty Images
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My Dad told me that when Arkle took on Mill House in the Cheltenham Gold Cup, there were no other horses in the race. Is he right? asked Gavin Hall

I'm afraid his memory is slightly playing tricks, although all the interest - in 1964 and 1965 at least - certainly centred on the legendary Arkle and his great rival Mill House, nicknamed "The Big Horse".

The fields, though, do seem very small to modern eyes. In 1964 there was a distinct possibility that the big two would be the only competitors in that year's Cheltenham Gold Cup, but eventually two other runners were declared: Pas Seul, the 1960 Gold Cup winner, and King's Nephew, the last horse to have beaten Mill House, at Kempton late in 1962. Pas Seul finished 25 lengths behind Mill House in third place.

In 1965 there were again only two other horses: Caduval, and Stoney Crossing, who later in the year finished sixth in the Badminton three-day event, ridden by the Australian Olympian Bill Roycroft.

He was third in the Gold Cup, 30 lengths behind Mill House … who himself finished 20 lengths adrift of the peerless Arkle, who sprinted effortlessly away towards the end - "Like a sports car," according to the BBC TV commentator Peter O'Sullevan.

Arkle completed his Cheltenham Gold Cup hat-trick in 1966, this time facing four other horses but not Mill House, who had tendon trouble. Arkle - who started as the 10/1-on favourite - made a hash of one of the fences, but it didn't make much difference.

He cantered home 30 lengths clear of Dormant (who would win Arkle's final race, the King George VI Chase at Kempton in December '66, when "Himself" sustained a career-ending leg injury), Snaigow, Sartorius and Hunch.

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