Known as 'The Big Horse' on account of his height of 18 hands, Mill House took part in one of the most famous battles of National Hunt Racing when in March 1964, he defended his Cheltenham crown against the Irish star Arkle.

In 1967, Mill House was back but Arkle was not, having been retired after suffering a serious leg injury a few months before at Kempton.

However, Mill House slipped and fell at an open ditch in the back straight and left the race to a virtual unknown, Woodland Venture.

A few weeks later, Mill House won the prestigious Whitbread Gold Cup under top weight at Sandown Park.

Continuing back weakness plagued his campaign in 1968 when he fell again in both the Cheltenham and Whitbread Gold Cups.