Dawn Run, trained by Willie Mullin’s father, Paddy, has the distinction of being the only horse to win the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham, the Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown and the Grande Course de Haies d’Auteuil, also known as the French Champion Hurdle. However, the mare is best known as the only horse ever to complete the Champion Hurdle – Cheltenham Gold Cup double. Jonjo O’Neill, who rode her to both victories, once said of her, “she was very moody and not a very comfortable ride”.
Her win in the Champion Hurdle in 1984, in which she started odds-on and eventually prevailed by three-quarters of a length from 66/1 outsider Cima, was only workmanlike, but the same couldn’t be said of her spine-tingling victory in the Cheltenham Gold Cup two years later.
Reunited with Jonjo O’Neill for the first time, Dawn Run was backed as if defeat was out of the question, being sent off 15/8 favourite, despite the lack of experience over fences. In any event, Dawn Run was passed by both Wayward Lad and Forgive ‘N’ Forget on the run to the last fence, but, as Jonjo O’Neill put it later, “She came up the hill like a tyrant” – accompanied by Sir Peter O’Sullevan’s now famous commentary – overhauling Wayward Lad close home to win by a length.
The iconic mare was tragically killed later that year, breaking her neck in fall at Auteil, while attempting to win the French Champion Hurdle for a second time. She is commemorated with a bronze statue, which stands opposite that of Arkle, overlooking the parade ring at Cheltenham.
