To mark the 50th anniversary of the legendary Cheltenham Gold Cup clash between Arkle and Mill House in 1964, Channel 4 is broadcast a one-hour documentary ‘Arkle – The Legend Lives On’.
Broadcast on the night before Channel 4’s live coverage of the 2014 Cheltenham Gold Cup, the documentary narrated by Alastair Down takes a look at that momentous occasion and reflects on a golden era when Arkle changed the face of jump racing.
It also examines how the legend of Arkle has grown over the past half century and draws upon comparisons with today’s great chasers.
All surviving connections associated with the great horse are featured within the documentary from his work rider Paddy Woods; to head lad Johnny Lumley, Jim Dreaper – son of trainer Tom Dreaper – Cath Walwyn, wife of the late Fulke Walwyn, Alison Baker, breeder of Arkle and Stan Mellor, one of the few jockeys ever to have beaten Arkle.
The documentary also features 96-year-old broadcasting legend Sir Peter O’Sullevan, whose evocative commentaries on Arkle’s three successive Gold Cups from 1964-1966 perfectly captured those thrilling occasions.
Other contributors to the documentary include Brough Scott, Hugh McIlvanney, Ted Walsh, Nicky Henderson, Paul Nicholls, racing analyst Donn McClean and senior Irish National Hunt handicapper Noel O’Brien.
The documentary has been produced for Channel 4 by Touchline Media, makers of the Jump Boys documentary which was shown on Channel 4 last year.
Jamie Aitchison, Channel 4’s Commissioning Editor for Sport, says: “This documentary is a wonderful addition to our vast Cheltenham Festival broadcast and compliments a tremendous week of top class sport on 4 that includes the Paralympic Winter Games.
Denis Kirwan, producer at Touchline Media, said: “Arkle is considered the greatest National Hunt horse of all-time.
“we are delighted to have been commissioned to take a look back at that golden period when the Arkle and Mill House rivalry thrilled racing fans on both sides of the Irish Sea.
“The documentary features many of the great moments in Arkle’s glittering career and it is appropriate that Channel 4 viewers can relive that great era on the 50th anniversary.”
Luke McManus, director of ‘Arkle – The Legend Lives On’, says: “Never before or since has a horse so powerfully captured the public imagination and become a symbol, not just of success, but of hope.
“The story of Arkle is uniquely fascinating. He came to prominence in the 1960, at the time of JFK, the Beatles, George Best & Muhammad Ali.
“Just like them, Arkle was sublimely talented, charismatic and ultimately, iconic. In Ireland, Arkle still inspires devotion.
“As Brough Scott says in the film ‘It’s much more than just a racing story…it’s about a nation yearning for something’.”
The documentary supports Channel 4’s extensive coverage of the 2014 Cheltenham Festival, which runs from March 11-14.
Arkle – The Legend Lives On will be broadcast on Channel 4 on Thursday, March 13 at 11.00pm and will also be available to view online via Channel 4’s catch-up service 4OD.
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