Dust off 1986 for instance, 40 years ago now, and have a gander at the way the world was turning back then. The story of the Gold Cup in 1986 reads like a novel with five chapters; horse, owner, trainer, jockeys, and the drama of the race itself. The prevailing issue in the lead up to the Gold Cup was exactly who was going to ride the mare. Mrs Hill insisted on re-employing Jonjo O’Neill who had ridden her to success in the Champion Hurdle two years earlier. The Gloucestershire sky was peppered by hats and newspapers thrown high in celebration and Jonjo paraded Tony Mullins on his shoulders in the raucous winning enclosure.

Source: Irish Examiner March 09, 2026 15:00 UTC