Ahead of the 2007 Cheltenham Festival, James McMahon looks back at some memorable moments at Prestbury Park, starting with Dawn Run's emotional victory in the 1986 Gold Cup
‘Not since the heady days of Arkle has Cheltenham seen anything like this.’ An appropriate lead-in to describe Dawn Run’s stunning victory in the 1986 Cheltenham Gold Cup!
Irish celebrations went into overdrive. Hats were thrown in the air to a chorus of ‘here we go, here we go, here we go’ as Dawn Run was led into a noisy parade ring by Jonjo O’Neill.
The Cork jockey was a late and somewhat controversial replacement for Tony Mullins, son of the winning trainer Paddy. After the younger Mullins fell from Dawn Run in a warm-up race at Cheltenham the previous January, owner Charmian Hill opted for the more experienced O’Neill to take the ride in the chasing showpiece.
Being ‘jocked off' is never pleasant, yet the decision reaped dividends. And while the victory caused many hearts to flutter, Dawn Run completed the Champion Hurdle and Gold Cup double.
After the race, Jonjo O’Neill carried Tony Mullins on his shoulders into the parade ring and admitted afterwards that Mullins was very forthcoming with information as to how to ride the mare.
Dawn Run’s success was all the more noteworthy in that she was only a novice, with only four previous chases under her belt. However, she was meticulously prepared by Paddy Mullins and apart from her dropping her hind legs in the water and a mistake at the fence at the top of the hill, she was virtually foot-perfect over the extended three-and-a-half-miles.
O’Neill blamed himself for the above miscalculations, and this allowed Run And Skip - who had harried Dawn Run from the off - to get back on terms with three fences to jump. But O’Neill retrieved the situation and had Dawn Run back in front heading into the straight.
At this stage, Graham Bradley on Wayward Lad was getting into contention, and Forgive ‘N Forget, the 1985 winner, was beginning to loom large on the outside.
Bradley got his charge in front with two fences to jump, and with O’Neill now hard at work with Dawn Run, it looked as if the Irish challenge would be repelled. However, the mare jumped the penultimate fence brilliantly and was still in with a fighting chance going to the last.
Both horses jumped it well, with Wayward Lad holding the advantage. When the lead increased to two lengths, the prize looked a cert to stay at home. O’Neill had other ideas and called on a monumental effort from Dawn Run.
Wayward Lad began to weaken up the hill and hung to the left. Dawn Run seemed to take heart from this and stuck her neck out in unbelievable style at the line to land the spoils. We have not had a finish to the Gold Cup like it since!
Paddy Mullins, while fearing for the safety of Dawn Run as the crowds mobbed the mare en route to the winners' enclosure, was left speechless after the race.
The connections of both Wayward Lad and Run And Skip, who finished third, were full of praise for Dawn Run afterwards – commending her courage and opining that she would go on to even greater things.
Sadly, that was not to be the case. On June 27 1986, while competing in the French Champion Hurdle at Auteill, Dawn Run was killed at the fifth fence from home. She barely took off at the fence: her nose hit the top and she landed on her neck; she died instantly.
The racing world mourned her passing, but at least she has left us with memories of great deeds around Prestbury Park.
