Cheltenham Gold Cup 2003

The 2003 Cheltenham Gold Cup featured 15 runners, including the first three horses home in the 2002 renewal, Best Mate, Commanche Court and See More Business. The race was notable for the fact that, for the first time, horses could be supplemented, at a cost of £17,500, five days beforehand.

Defending champion Best Mate had won the Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon and the King George VI Chase at Kempton on his two starts in 2002/03 and was, unsurprisingly, sent off, hot favourite at 13/8. His task was eased, somewhat, when his main market rival, Beef Or Salmon, took a heavy fall at the third fence, but such was the manner of his eventual victory that he may well have won in any case.

Best Mate ran a similar race to the previous year, albeit that he hit the front sooner, cruising past stable companion Chives approaching the home turn and never looking in danger of defeat thereafter. At the line, he had 10 lengths to spare over his nearest pursuer, 33/1 chance Truckers Tavern, who stayed on, under pressure, to take second on the run-in, while 40/1 chance Harbour Pilot – under a typical, if exaggerated, waiting ride from Paul Carberry – came from out of the clouds to finish third, a further 2½ lengths behind. Best Mate thus became the first horse since L’Escargot, 32 years previously, to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup two years running.

Winning owner Jim Lewis said afterwards, “I’ve got a heart here going so fast it could beat eggs.” He was subsequently presented with the Gold Cup trophy by Queen Elizabeth II, making her first appearance at Prestbury Park for over half a century.