Top 10 National Hunt Horses of All-Time

National Hunt racing by its nature produces a host of much-loved performers as talented jumpers turn out year after year and earn a loyal band of followers.

Comparing the generations is therefore a thankless task, as most observers will have an understandable bias towards the performers that made them fall in love with the sport.

It's a classic topic of debate from all fans of the sport and it's unlikely any two top-10 lists would be the same as you size up the merits of the modern stars with the legends of the last century.

Nevertheless, take a look at our top 10 below and see if you agree with our choices.

10. Mill House

Rivalries make sporting greats and the horses that brought out the best in the all-time titans might well have dominated in other eras.

Mill House gets the nod for our 10th place after being the great rival of his stablemate Arkle in the 1960s, but is only just ahead of 2008 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Denman, who played the same role with Kauto Star.

Mill House is rated right up with the best on this list after romping to victory in the 1963 Cheltenham Gold Cup as a six-year-old.

Trainer Fulke Walwyn thought the huge horse could be the best chaser since Golden Miller, but he won only one of his five meetings with the great Arkle, with his victory coming in the 1963 Hennessy Gold Cup.

9. Sprinter Sacre

One of the most exciting chasers of the modern era, Sprinter Sacre won the Champion Chase at Cheltenham in both 2013 and 2016.

The 2012 Arkle winner also took the Melling Chase at Aintree and the Punchestown Champion Chase, winning 18 of his 24 career starts.

He won the 2013 Champion Chase by a stunning 19 lengths, putting him behind only Arkle and Flyingbolt on Timeform's ratings.

French-bred, he was trained by Nicky Henderson, who described him as "the horse of an absolute lifetime".

8. Red Rum

Few horses have ever captured the hearts of a nation more completely than Red Rum, the Grand National legend who won the marathon race in 1973, 1974 and 1977, as well as finishing runner-up in both 1975 and 1976.

Trained by Ginger McCain, Red Rum won the 1973 race in an epic tortoise-and-hare contest against the gallant Crisp. He carried 12 stone to victory the following year, when he also won the Scottish Grand National.

His record-breaking third success is considered one of the greatest sporting moments of all-time and proved Red Rum had the ability to transcend his sport and become a national treasure.

7. Flyingbolt

Possibly the least well-known horse on the list, Flyingbolt is the forgotten horse of his era, but he deserves his place on talent and is rated in the same class as Arkle by some.

The three-time Cheltenham Festival winner (1964 Supreme Novices' Hurdle, 1965 Cotswold Chase, 1966 Champion Chase) won 16 of his first 18 races and an illness that affected the latter stages of his career has arguably tarnished the memory of just how good he was at his peak.

Trainer Tom Dreaper never allowed him to race stablemate Arkle in public and while he does not have the reputation of that rival, he clearly was not far behind him at all in terms of talent.

6. Desert Orchid

Being a striking grey clearly did no harm to Desert Orchid's popularity, but he wasn't just a pretty face and the versatile superstar landed big prizes over two miles, as well as winning an Irish Grand National in 1990.

He will be most fondly remembered for his four wins in the King George VI Chase at Kempton between 1986 and 1990, but his crowning moment was his 1989 Cheltenham Gold Cup victory on heavy ground for trainer David Elsworth and jockey Simon Sherwood.

Other horses on the list were more talented but few could ever match the flying grey for popularity.

5. Istabraq

Istabraq is the greatest hurdler of the modern era. The winner of three Cheltenham Champion Hurdles from 1998 to 2000 and four Irish Champion Hurdles from 1998 to 2001, he was imperious for trainer Aidan O'Brien.

By Sadler's Wells and out of a mare by triple-crown winner Secretariat, Istabraq had a stunning pedigree for Flat racing, but took to jumping like a natural, cruising throughout his races before scooting to victory in 23 of his 29 outings over hurdles.

4. Kauto Star

Cheltenham Gold Cup winners fill our top four places, with Paul Nicholls' Kauto Star deserving his place in such exalted company.

Bred and originally trained in France, he excelled in Britain with 16 Grade 1 wins over fences including five King George VI Chase wins between 2006 and 2011.

He won the 2007 Cheltenham Gold Cup and, after going down to stablemate Denman in 2008, he became the first horse to regain the title when winning the 2009 running by 13 lengths.

3. Best Mate

Best Mate secured his place in the racing history books when he became the first horse since Arkle to win three Cheltenham Gold Cups in 2004.

The Irish-bred gelding finished first or second in his first 22 starts over hurdles and fences for trainer Henrietta Knight before his ill-fated final run at Exeter in 2005, when he died of a suspected heart attack after being pulled up.

His second Cheltenham success - by 10 lengths - in 2003, saw him become the first multiple winner of the race since L'Escargot in 1971, and his place among the greats was secured with his third victory the following season.

2. Golden Miller

Golden Miller was foaled almost 100 years ago in 1927 but still holds his place among the all-time greats thanks to his unrivalled five Gold Cup wins between 1932 and 1936. 

The race did not have the same status then as it does now, but the fences were far more daunting than modern obstacles.

He won the 1934 Grand National carrying 12st 2lb and won his fifth Gold Cup by 12 lengths in 1936. He was denied a shot at a sixth win when the 1937 race was cancelled and age had caught up with him when he was a gallant second in 1938. 

1. Arkle

Arkle is generally regarded to be the greatest National Hunt horse of all-time. The classy performer was nicknamed 'Himself' and won 27 of his 35 career starts.

Trained in Ireland by Tom Dreaper, he won by 20 lengths on his first Cheltenham appearance in the 1963 Broadway Novices' Chase.

He won his first Gold Cup in a legendary meeting with the previous year's winner, Mill House, in 1964 and won that year's Irish Grand National despite giving 30lb to his rivals.

He won the 1965 Cheltenham Gold Cup by 20 lengths and completed his historic hat-trick as a 1/10 favourite, winning at a canter by 30 lengths.