The 2013 Cheltenham Gold Cup featured just nine runners – the smallest field since 1992 – and had the distinction of being the first renewal since 2007 not to feature Kauto Star, who was retired from racing the previous October. However, the field did include The Giant Bolster and Long Run, second and third in 2012, Betfair Chase-winner Silviniaco Conte and Hennessy Gold Cup-winners Bobs Worth and Sir Des Champs, so was by no means lacking in quality. Unsurprisingly, it was a tight betting heat, with Bobs Worth just shading favouritism at 11/4, ahead of stable companion Long Run at 7/2 and Silviniaco Conte and Sir Des Champs at 4/1.
Ridden by his regular partner, amateur rider Sam Waley-Cohen, Long Run attempted to make all the running, but hit the third-last fence and was soon joined by Sir Des Champs. At the same fence, Silviniaco Conti, who had been travelling well in a close third, fell and, in so doing, hampered Bobs Worth, who was left with 8 lengths to find on the leading pair.
However, galvanised by jockey Barry Geraghty, Bobs Worth produced a strong run on the approach to two out, struck the front between the final two fences and forged clear in the final half a furlong or so to win by 7 lengths. Sir Des Champs, who had dropped to third, rallied on the run-in to deny Silviniaco Conti of second-place, by 2¾ lengths, but could make no impression on the winner in the closing stages. Bobs Worth was completing a notable Cheltenham Festival hat-trick, having won the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle in 2011 and the RSA Chase in 2012.