Events / Malcolm Pannett / 08 November 2009 /

This year sees the 50th running of the race now known as the Paddy Power Gold Cup. Inaugurated as the Mackeson it is the first major race of the National Hunt season. Malcolm Pannett looks back at some of the 49 winners so far.

Started as the Mackeson Gold Cup in 1960 the race followed in the wake of the Whitbread and Hennessy as a vehicle for drinks companies to advertise their brands in front of an increasing television audience. Originally run over two miles the trip was increased by half a mile in 1970.

During its first decade the race was won by the winners of three Champion Chases and twice by a horse that went on to glory in the Grand National - in those days two-milers did exceedingly well in the Aintree showpiece.

The first winner was the Tom Dreaper-trained Fortria, ridden by Pat Taaffe, who went on to win the next two Champion Chases before winning a second Mackeson in 1962. Fortria was a class act who also won the Cotswold Chase (now the Arkle) and Irish Grand National as well as finishing second in two Cheltenham Gold Cups.

Dunkirk (1965), who is widely regarded as one of the finest two mile chasers in history, won carrying 12st 7lbs in the process adding to his Champion Chase success the previous season. Unfortunately just over a month later he was dead. After leading Arkle & Co. a merry dance in the King George he tired rapidly as his stamina ran out and then suffered a haemorrhage which led to a fatal fall.

Fred Rimell's Gay Trip became the second dual winner when adding to his 1969 success in 1971 both times in the hands of Terry Biddlecombe. In between times he won the 1970 Grand National, with Pat Taaffe deputising for the injured Biddlecombe. The son of Vulgan also finished second to Well To Do in the 1972 renewal of the Aintree marathon.

After Fortia and Gay Trip the other dual Mackeson winners are Half Free (1984 and 1985) (see below); and Josh Gifford's Bradbury Star (1993 and 1994). Cyfor Malta (1998 and 2002) (pictured) also won the race twice but by then the name had changed. The last Mackeson winner was Dublin Flyer (1995) the next year Murphy's took over sponsorship to be followed by Thomas Pink in 2000 with the current incumbents Paddy Power starting in 2003.

Four horses have completed the Mackeson/Hennessy double. Red Candle won the 1972 Mackeson then beat Red Rum in a stirring finish to land the 1973 Hennessy. Since then Bachelor's Hall (1977), who also won the King George; Bright Highway (1980); and Celestial Gold (2004) (see below) have won them both in the same year.

Notable winners include; Skymas (1973) who went on win the Champion Chase twice; Very Promising (1986) who had finished third to Dawn Run in the 1984 Champion Hurdle; Beau Ranger (1987) subsequently third in a Gold Cup and Champion Chase and a first winner for Martin Pipe who dominated the race from 1996 to 2005 sending out seven of the ten winners during that period starting with Challenger du Luc (1996) who finished runner up to See More Business in the next year's King George.

Others also worthy of a mention are; Senor El Betrutti (1997) winner of the Scilly Isles Chase; Shooting Light (2001) who had been a decent hurdler finishing third in the Triumph Hurdle and second in the Fighting Fifth; Fondmort (2003) who went on to win the Ryanair Chase; Our Vic (2005) successful in the Charlie Hall Chase, Ryanair Chase and Betfair Bowl; Exotic Dancer (2006) winner of the Lexus Chase and Betfair Bowl and twice placed in the Gold Cup.

The 1976 race was run at Haydock and resulted in a victory for the Neville Crump-trained Cancello who beat dual-Champion Hurdler Bula who was carrying 12st 1lb

25 years ago - Half Free won the 25th anniversary race pegging back pacesetter Acarine to win by half-a-length. Fred Winter's charge, in the hands of Richard Linley, was always in the chasing group as Foggy Buoy and Acarine set a cracking gallop. Travelowen and King Or Country capsized at the third last leaving Half Free to pounce round the home turn. However the gallant son of Deep Run had been struck into during the race and was sidelined until February as a result. He returned the following year beating Newlife Connection to become the third dual Mackeson winner.

10 years ago - A win for Venetia Williams as The Outback Way under Norman Williamson just held the late charge of Stormy Passage. Sent off at 9/1 the son of Kambalda took up the running from Tremallt and Northern Starlight at the second last obstacle and, under strong driving from Stormin' Norman, was all out to land the spoils by half-a-length. The next year The Outback Way travelled to Japan finishing a creditable third in the Nakayama Grand Jump.

Five years ago - Celestial Gold came from last to first to beat Thisthatandtother with favourite Monkerhostin back in third. Timmy Murphy was more than happy to sit at the rear as Ollie Magern tried to make all. But a mistake at the second last sealed the pacesetter's fate and did Thisthatandtother no favours. The latter rallied to press Celestial Gold, who had swept by, but couldn't close any further in the last half furlong going down by a length-and-three-quarters. Celestial Gold went on to beat Ollie Magern again in the Hennessy and also added the Betfair Bowl to his list of successes the following season.

Last year - A second victory in the race for Nigel Twiston-Davies as Imperial Commander beat the Queen's Barber Shop by two-and-three-quarter lengths. With favourite Silverburn blundering away his chances and Yes Sir hampering several runners when he exited at the fourth last the way was left clear for Imperial Commander to take the race by the scruff of the neck which he did with gusto adding to Twiston-Davies' triumph with Tipping Tim in 1992. Imperial Commander returned to Cheltenham for the Festival securing the Ryanair Chase at the expense of market-leader Voy Por Ustedes.

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