Cheltenham Gold Cup 2021

The 2021 Cheltenham Gold Cup, run on good to soft going on March 19, featured twelve runners, including Al Boum Photo, Santini and Lostintranslation, who had filled the first three places in the 2020 renewal. Defending champion Al Boum Photo was, once again, sent off favourite as he attempted to become the first horse since Best Mate, in 2004, to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup three years running.

Willie Mullins’ nine-year-old ran well, too, travelling smoothly until ridden and outpaced two out and staying on to finish third, beaten 5½ lengths by the winner. That winner was Minella Indo, trained by Henry de Bromhead in Knockeen, Co. Waterford and ridden by Jack Kennedy, who appeared to be the stable second-string, having been neglected by stable jockey Rachael Blackmore in favour of better-fancied stablemate A Plus Tard. Nevertheless, Minella Indo led over the third last and stayed on gamely on the run-in to win by 1¼ lengths. A Plus Tard kept on well and made up a little ground from the final fence, but was always held.

A notable 1-2 in the Cheltenham Gold Cup marked the end of a memorable week for De Bromhead, who became the first trainer in history to win the Champion Hurdle, Queen Mother Champion Chase and Cheltenham Gold Cup at the same Cheltenham Festival. Of his victory, an emotional Kennedy said, “I can’t believe it. This is what I have dreamed of as a child.” Following his retirement, as a 12-year-old, in 2025, De Bromhead hailed Minella Indo as a “savage horse who came alive every year at Cheltenham”.