Down Memory Lane – Dawn Run

Good Morning all,

Last week I took a trip down memory lane with Sea Pigeon the horse that hooked me into the sport of horse racing.

This week I’m looking back at the greatest race mare I have ever seen – Dawn Run.

You can read all about her inside the main piece.

The Little Wonder Mare

Dawn Run, a daughter of the great National Hunt Stallion Deep Run was foaled in 1978.  She went into training with Paddy Mullins and began her racing career at the age of four.

Ridden on her first three starts in bumpers by her owner the 62-year-old Charmaine Hill and unbeaten in her three bumper starts she went hurdling the following season. Progressing to become one of the best novice hurdlers in Britain and Ireland.

The 1983-84 season saw the mare win eight of her nine starts over hurdles. Including becoming the first and only horse to have ever won the English, Irish and French Champion Hurdle.

That alone propelled Dawn Run into horse racing hall of fame but even better was to come as owner Charmaine Hill was dreaming of Cheltenham Gold Cup glory, and the chance to make further history, by becoming the first winner of both the Champion Hurdle and Gold Cup.

Goes chasing

Dawn Run began her career over fences with a ten-length win at Navan in November 1984. On the back of that success the bookies cut her odds to 5/1 for the 1985 Cheltenham Gold Cup. A mad price and trainer Paddy Mullins had no intention of running his mare in that seasons Gold Cup with the RSA Novices Chase her target. 

Sadly, she was unable to make it to that seasons Cheltenham Festival as she sustained ligament damage that would keep her off the course until December 1985.

Despite her relative inexperience over fences both owner and trainer had penciled in the 1986 Gold Cup as the mare’s target. An easy eight length win in the Durkan Brothers Chase at Punchestown on her return saw her Gold Cup odds cut from 8/1 to 5/1.

A win over Buck House (who would later to go on to win that seasons Champion Chase) followed, at Leopardstown despite a last fence mistake.

The mare had returned with the Gold Cup firmly in her sights.

Mullins is jocked off

The Cotswold Chase at Cheltenham in January 1986 was to be Dawn Run’s final test before racing's blue riband race.

Sent off the 4/9 favourite for her first start over fences further than 2m 4f. She was travelling well out in front but a bad mistake at the open ditch saw her jockey Tony Mullins unseat from the mare. Those were the days when a jockey could remount and Mullins duly got back on the mare and eventually finished a distant fourth.

After that mishap it looked like the Gold Cup would come too quick for the inexperienced Dawn Run.

Despite this far from ideal preparation, Charmaine Hill had other ideas and decided that Mullins should be replaced in the saddle by Jonjo O’Neill.  It was a decision mired in controversy as trainer Paddy Mullins was firmly opposed to his son losing the ride

Gold Cup glory

The day of the 1986 Gold Cup arrived and Dawn Run started the 15/8 favourite despite just having the four starts over fences. Up against her were the likes of 3-time King George IV winner Wayward Lad and reigning Gold Cup Champion Forgive N’ Forget.

What was to follow was one of the most pulsating and thrilling finishes in Cheltenham Festival history.

As ever Dawn Run was sent to the front but for the first circuit, she wasn’t allowed an easy lead by Run And Skip. It was a new experience for the mare who made a mistake at the water jump and was under pressure, after another mistake at the final ditch 

At the third last there were four in contention with both Wayward Lad, and Forgive ‘N’ Forget going well.

Two out the duelling Dawn Run and Run And Skip were joined by Wayward Lad and the strong travelling Forgive N Forget.

At the last Forgive ‘N' Forget was fractionally in front. However, on the run in Wayward Lad looked to have forged clear with Dawn Run in third place.

The mare's beginning to get up

A tired Wayward Lad veered left towards the far rail. Forgive ‘N’ Forget had run his race. But Dawn Run found a second wind as O’Neill galvanized her for one final effort.

BBC racing commentator Peter O’Sullivan would utter the immortal words. “The mares beginning to get up and as they come to the line. She’s made it. Dawn Run has won it”.

In the shadow of the post she had overhauled the gallant Wayward Lad to win by three quarters of a length.

You can watch the whole race here.

Cheltenham had never witnessed the celebrations that followed Dawn Run’s win. Grown men threw their hats into the air. They wept tears of joy as they invaded the winner’s enclosure to join the party.

But tragedy is just weeks away

In her next race at Aintree, Dawn Run failed to get beyond the first fence. But followed up, by once again beating Buck House in a match over two miles at the Punchestown Festival.

Owner Charmaine Hill then made the fateful decision to send the mare over to France and try to repeat her Champion Hurdle success.

Travelling well, she fell at a hurdle in the back straight and broke her neck. She was only eight and in her prime as a chaser. It was a tragic end to a wonderful season and a death mourned by the Irish people.

There have been better jumpers of a fence but few could match her fighting spirit. As she showed when fighting back to win the Gold Cup. However, what stands out for me was her versatility whether it was 2m or 3m 2f. Whether it was quick or heavy ground she would just gallop her rivals into the ground.

Dawn Run remains the only horse to have won the Champion Hurdle and Gold Cup. I suspect it will be a long time before her achievement is emulated.

Yes, she will forever hold a special place in my heart.

Until next week.

John Burke is the tipster behind the long standing Victor Value service you can join himhere – https://victorvalue.uk