The Cheltenham Gold Cup and the King George VI Chase, in that order, are the two most prestigious weight-for-age steeplechases in the British National Hunt calendar. Indeed, along with the Betfair Chase, run over 3 miles, 1 furlong and 125 yards at Haydock Park in November, they constitute the so-called ‘Jockey Club Chase Triple Crown’, which offers a £1 million bonus to connections of any horse able to win all three races.
Of course, the King George VI Chase and the Cheltenham Gold Cup are both nominally ‘staying’ steeplechases but, granted that they are run on different courses, over different distances, nearly three months apart, each presents its own characteristic challenges. The King George VI Chase is run over 3 miles and 18 relatively easy fences on the right-handed, practically flat course at Kempton Park on Boxing Day. The Cheltenham Gold Cup, on the other hand, is run over 3 miles, 2 furlongs and 70 yards and 22 notoriously stiff fences on the left-handed, undulating and testing New Course at Prestbury Park. Relatively speaking, the former is a test of speed, while the latter is a test of out-and-out endurance.
Granted the versatility required to win both races, especially in the same season, it is no coincidence that the list of horses who have done so includes such luminaries of the staying division as Arkle, Desert Orchid and Best Mate, who were rated 212, 187 and 182 by Timeform. Unsurprisingly, the last horse to win the King George VI Chase and the Cheltenham Gold Cup in the same season was one of the most successful steeplechasers of the Timeform era, Kauto Star. Rated 191, Kauto Star was an impressive, 8-length winner of the King George VI Chase on Boxing Day, 2008 and headed straight to Cheltenham, where he was even more impressive in beating his stable companion, Denman, by 13 lengths.