Number 27: The most famous grey of all who defied the odds in a Cheltenham Gold Cup for the ages
The Cheltenham Festival is 27 days away. Sun Racing team will bring you their Festival 50 every day between now and 10 March.
Desert Orchid won the 1989 Cheltenham Gold Cup for trainer David Elsworth. It was his eighth win on the spin and included a King George. He'd been to the Festival five times before but never won.
Dessie won the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 1989. The course passed a midday inspection. Carvill's Hill and Ten Plus were the main threats. Yahoo was the favourite. Jockey Simon Sherwood rode Dessies to victory. He has never ridden a braver horse. He would never win at Cheltonham again. It was all down to guts. "I have certainly never rode a brave horse and never expect to." It's impossible to describe it. it's not possible to explain it either.
