1989 Cheltenham Gold Cup

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The 1989 Cheltenham Gold Cup was a horse race which took place at Cheltenham on Thursday 16 March 1989. It was the 62nd running of the Cheltenham Gold Cup, and it was won by the pre-race favourite Desert Orchid. The winner was ridden by Simon Sherwood and trained by David Elsworth.

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The race was later voted the "Greatest Race of All Time" in a Racing Post poll, ahead of the 1973 Grand National and the 1975 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes. [1]

Yahoo jumps from Desert Orchid, but Desert Orchid, is rallying, he's trying to come again towards the near side. It's Yahoo on the far side, Dessert Orchid towards the near side, Desert Orchid's accelerating as the come to the last. Yahoo on the far side, Desert Orchid on the near side. It's Desert Orchid on the near side, Yahoo on the far side, Desert Orchid drifting over towards the stand side, he's beginning to get up. Desert Orchid is beginning to get up as the race towards the line, there's a tremendous cheer from the crowd as Desert Orchid is going to win it! Desert Orchid has won the Gold Cup! Yahoo is second, third is Charter Party. Simon Sherwood punches the air, Dessie's has done it!

Commentator Peter O'Sullevan describes the climax of the race

Race details

Full result

*HorseAgeJockeyTrainer SP
1 Desert Orchid 10 Simon Sherwood David Elsworth 5/2 fav
2 Yahoo 8 Tom Morgan John Edwards 25/1
38 Charter Party 11 Richard Dunwoody David Nicholson 14/1
4dist Bonanza Boy 8 Peter Scudamore Martin Pipe 15/2
5dist West Tip 12 Peter Hobbs Michael Oliver 66/1
RefFence 22 Cavvies Clown 9 Ross Arnott David Elsworth 8/1
PUFence 22 Pegwell Bay 8 Carl Llewellyn Tim Forster 25/1
BDFence 20 Ballyhane 8 Richard Rowe Josh Gifford 50/1
FellFence 20 Ten Plus 9 Kevin Mooney Fulke Walwyn 11/2
FellFence 17 Slalom 8 John White Michael Robinson 33/1
FellFence 10 The Thinker 11 Chris Grant Arthur Stephenson 15/2
FellFence 7 Carvill's Hill 7 Ken Morgan Jim Dreaper (IRE)5/1
FellFence 6 Golden Freeze 7 Brendan Sheridan Jumbo Wilkinson 16/1

* The distances between the horses are shown in lengths or shorter. Ref = refused; PU = pulled-up; BD = brought down.
† Trainers are based in Great Britain unless indicated.

Winner's details

Further details of the winner, Desert Orchid :

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References

  1. Philip, Robert (18 March 2005). "Dessie's enduring appeal". The Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 14 March 2010.