Jonjo O'Neill sparked wild celebrations when he rode the popular Irish-trained mare Dawn Run to victory in the 1986 Cheltenham Gold Cup.
She remains the only horse to have completed the Champion Hurdle-Gold Cup double.
Now 20 years later, the Irish jockey-turned trainer is looking forward to saddling Iris's Gift in this year's Festival feature on St Patrick's Day, Friday 17 March. Here, he recalls Dawn Run's famous triumph and talks about his hopes for the 2006 race.
Q. So Jonjo, it is 20 years since Dawn Run's Gold Cup win.
A. It doesn't feel like it was that long ago really. That was a great day, the best day's racing I ever had when I was riding.
It was fantastic; the mare was brilliant on the day; and the crowd was brilliant. It was just a fantastic atmosphere.
Q. It was a long time ago but do you remember every detail of the afternoon? A. Every blade of grass. I remember the lot, yes. Steve Smith Eccles (riding Run'N'Skip, who finished fourth) and I had a right old tussle up front, a great battle, and it was just a fantastic race.
We went a really good fast gallop, and I think we broke the track record as well, so it really was a great race.
Q. But what about the expectation? No one would hear of defeat.
A. Well, the whole of Ireland knew she was going to win and after jumping the second last, I thought that she might not so I was going to be lynched.
But she was a brave mare, she filled her lungs going to the last and jumped it really well. Wayward Lad (who was second) didn't get the trip, and that played into our hands. A race like that is what jump racing is all about.
Q.There were four of you at the top of the hill, with three to jump, and all in contention.
A. I thought I'd win coming down the hill, and then going down to the second last I had the boys right up behind us, and I couldn't believe that they were so close to me.
And I thought that we really needed to jump this. I gave her a slap down the shoulder, and she did jump it really well, but they went past us like we were standing still. I couldn't believe it.
And then, as I said, she filled her lungs and outstayed them in a very gutsy and special way.
 Dawn Run famously claimed victory in the 1986 Gold Cup |
Q. But it was still so close on the run-in. A. Jumping the last, Mark Dwyer on Forgive 'N' Forget (3rd), a really classy little horse, was going quite well, but Wayward Lad was hanging left and was getting a bit tired.
Dawn Run got encouragement from him running out of juice, but I was worried about Forgive 'N' Forget, but she picked up and once she'd got away, he wasn't going to get to her.
Q. And when you finally reached the finishing line, what did that feel like?
A. It was magic. Just before the winning post I knew we were going to win, and it was just a fantastic feeling, and the crowd went mad.
It was something unique, something that you couldn't explain. It was a just a fantastic feeling, and the whole place lifted. And Dawn Run even grew an inch, as they say, as we were walking back in.
We had lots and lots of great parties afterwards, which lasted a very long time. Yes, there were some rough, rough nights.
Q. And then everything happened so fast afterwards. She died only a couple of months later, and you fell ill.
A. Yes, it was a real rough and tumble job. She died in the French Champion Hurdle in June, just three months after the win, and a couple of days later I was discovered with cancer myself. Yes, it was an up-and-down sort of a year.
It was a terrible time, and when you get told something like that, all the good days disappear for a while. But thank God, we are still here all this time later to tell the story.
Q. That's all behind you now, and you are training, and, 20 years on, you are here with Iris's Gift. He's had a few ups and downs too.
A. Yes, but mainly up, to be fair. He's been a fantastic horse, a very good one over hurdles, and he won his first three chases and then got beaten at Newbury, and that was the first disappointment.
 Iris's Gift's Gold Cup preparations have been less than smooth |
But he was beaten by a very good horse in Darkness and I thought he jumped quite well really, bar for one down the back, so we were very pleased with the way he went.
Then unfortunately he fell at Warwick. It was a silly mistake, but he's a novice and these things happen. He's in great form now, and we are happy with him.
Q. The big question though has to be whether he will jump around Cheltenham?
A. That's the big question about them all though. It was the same with Dawn Run, as she was relatively a novice, having run only four or five times over fences, and she was quite capable of making mistakes, but it just went right for her on the day.
She made two mistakes that day - she dropped her hind legs in the water, and she missed one at the top of the hill - but as she proved, if you are good enough you can still get up and do it. If Iris's Gift puts in clear round he will be in there with a live chance.
Q. Do you believe that he will be able to jump around and win?
A. Yes, I do otherwise there's no point trying. I believe in him. He won a novice chase there, and looked very exciting at the time, surviving some hairy early mistakes before jumping really well in the latter part of the race, the most important bit.
He loves Cheltenham - he's won a couple of very good hurdle races there - so it's his track, and he's good form, as I say. He has the ability to win, yes.
Q. And what would that be like if 20 years after Dawn Run Jonjo O'Neill could train the Gold Cup winner?
A. That would just be magic, simple as that. He's a great horse, a great character, with a lot of talent, and let's just hope he gets it right on the day.
Your memories of Dawn Run's win
I was there, that great day in 1986, and it is a memory that will live with me forever. It was my first ever visit to Cheltenham and the atmosphere that day has never since been beaten, either at Cheltenham itself or at other sporting events I have attended at places such as Wembley and the Millenium Stadium.
Dave C, Wolverhampton
When we got married we named the tables after great horses. Top table was Dawn Run. Our first baby, Joe was named after Jonjo. Besides the amazing achievement of being the only double champion and the dramtic finish, the race was one of Sie Peter O'Sullevan's finest commentaries. Gets me every time.
Jerry, Woodbridge
There has never been a better, more exciting race commentary than Dessie Scahill describing that brilliant mare surging past top-class horses.
Mike Monaghan, North London
I'm glad to say I was there to witness arguably the greatest Gold Cup win ever. What a great mare Dawn Run was. The celebrations were enormous, including all the Irish and Scousers drinking black velvet outside the Guinness tent!
Derek
It was my first trip to the Cheltenham Festival and one I will never forget. Have seen many special moments since - See You Then, Desert Orchid, Imperial Call, Best Mate - but that day will always stay with me...
Shamus, Kingswinford
I remember the day clearly as in the Gold Cup I had backed Wayward Lad to win. Although a a little disappointed, I was chuffed to witness a piece of history and proud that I can say 'I was there'.
Peter Baker
I watched it on a big screen in a Dublin pub. We were over for the Ireland-Scotland rugby match and I was persuaded to have another bet by my new-found Irish friends, having invested before leaving, so it was a weekend to remember. I think Scotland won as well!!
Calvert Douglas
A fantastic achievement to be champion hurdler and Gold Cup winner , and nothing can take that away. I was really only giving racing a passing interest at the time, but I remember watching this on the TV as my father wisely pointed out to me that this was history in the making
Geordie Racer
Jonjo is a top man, and I'd love to see Iris' Gift win. I was born in December 1986, so therefore I was concieved around the time of that Gold Cup!
Disisjay
I was gutted. Wayward Lad was a better horse and deserved to win a Gold Cup; it was only that year when the mare's weight allowance was introduced, and without it she (probably) wouldn't have won. Just my opinion of course...
Janczyk
I too was heartbroken when Wayward Lad got caught - just could never stay that extra 200 yards. However, even though Wayward was a great horse, I think Dawn Run was a better one - don't forget she did it over hurdles AND fences and we never saw the best of her because of her tragic premature end. Both great horses who fully deserve the fond memories we have of them
Legend Dessie
MMIX
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It was just a fantastic feeling