First staged in 1924, the Cheltenham Gold Cup offers the biggest prize pot for any non-handicap race in jumps racing.

Three-and-a-quarter miles of the hallowed turf at Prestbury Park have to be crossed, and 22 fearsome fences jumps. The uphill run to the line makes the Gold Cup the truest test of class and stamina in all of jumps racing.

The early years of the Gold Cup were dominated by the great Golden Miller, who won the race five times in a row between 1932 and '36.

The following decade saw Cottage Rake win three successive Gold Cup for legendary trainer, Vincent O'Brien.

The 1960's were dominated by Pat Taaffe's Arkle, who many people regard as the greatest jumps horse of all time. Arkle won the RSA Chase in 1963, before claiming a hat-trick of Gold Cup wins between '63 and '66.

Tommy Carberry guided L'Escargot to successive wins in the early 1970's. In 1986, Dawn Run became just the fourth mare to beat the geldings and win the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Fan's favourites like Desert Orchid, Master Oats, See More Business and Looks Like Trouble all won the Gold Cup.

In 1990, Norton's Coin pulled off the biggest shock in Gold Cup history, carrying odds of 100/1 to victory for lowly trainer, Sirrel Griffiths.

Best Mate claimed a famous hat-trick of Gold Cup wins after the turn of the new century.

Kauto Star and Denman then traded Gold Cup wins, during their storied rivalry between 2007 and '09.

Al Boum Photo added his name to the short list of back-to-back Gold Cup winners in 2020, battling bravely to secure victory for Willie Mullins and Paul Townend.