<sod>On 9 March 1939 Brendan's Cottage, having run promisingly at [[Gatwick Racecourse]] on his previous start,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2507&dat=19390309&id=KklAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=j4UMAAAAIBAJ&pg=3548,1518479&hl=en|title=Morse Code for Cheltenham Gold Cup|date=9 March 1939|author="White and Gold"|publisher=[[Glasgow Herald]]}}</ref> was one of five horses to contest the fifteenth running of the Cheltenham Gold Cup. [[Morse Code (horse)|Morse Code]] the winner of the race in 1938 was made the [[Fractional odds|4/7]] favourite ahead of Bel et Bon on 11/4 with Brendan's Cottage, ridden by George Owen, third choice in the betting on 8/1.<ref name="Breedon"> {{cite book|last1=Abelson|first1=Edward|last2=Tyrrel|first2=John| title=The Breedon Book of Horse Racing Records|publisher=Breedon Books Publishing |year=1993|isbn=978-1-873626-15-3}}</ref> The other two runners, L'Estaque (ridden by [[Harry Llewellyn]]) and Embarrassed were given little chance.<ref name="Harman"/> The race was run at a slow pace with the runners closely grouped until Brendan's Cottage and Morse Code broke away from their opponents on the second circuit. The favourite led until the last fence but was was being hard ridden whilst Brendan's Cottage was traveling easily.<ref name="Harman"/> Brendan's Cottage took the lead at the final obstacle and drew away on the run-in to win by five lengths.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/obituary-george-owen-1233473.html|title=Obituary: George Owen|author=Richard Griffiths|date=1 October 1997|work=[[The Independent]]}}</ref> In the [[1939 Grand National]] just over two weeks later Brendan's Cottage who carried 156 pounds and started at odds of 25/1. He looked to be in good condition before the race but fell at the first fence.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=NZH19390414.2.31&srpos=6&e=-------10--1----2Brendan%27s+Cottage--|title=Grand National|date=14 April 1939|publisher=New Zealand Herald}}</ref><eod>
<sod>On 9 March 1939 Brendan's Cottage, having run promisingly at [[Gatwick Racecourse]] on his previous start,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2507&dat=19390309&id=KklAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=j4UMAAAAIBAJ&pg=3548,1518479&hl=en|title=Morse Code for Cheltenham Gold Cup|date=9 March 1939|author="White and Gold"|publisher=[[Glasgow Herald]]}}</ref> was one of five horses to contest the fourteenth running of the Cheltenham Gold Cup. [[Morse Code (horse)|Morse Code]] the winner of the race in 1938 was made the [[Fractional odds|4/7]] favourite ahead of Bel et Bon on 11/4 with Brendan's Cottage, ridden by George Owen, third choice in the betting on 8/1.<ref name="Breedon"> {{cite book|last1=Abelson|first1=Edward|last2=Tyrrel|first2=John| title=The Breedon Book of Horse Racing Records|publisher=Breedon Books Publishing |year=1993|isbn=978-1-873626-15-3}}</ref> The other two runners, L'Estaque (ridden by [[Harry Llewellyn]]) and Embarrassed were given little chance.<ref name="Harman"/> The race was run at a slow pace with the runners closely grouped until Brendan's Cottage and Morse Code broke away from their opponents on the second circuit. The favourite led until the last fence but was was being hard ridden whilst Brendan's Cottage was traveling easily.<ref name="Harman"/> Brendan's Cottage took the lead at the final obstacle and drew away on the run-in to win by five lengths.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/obituary-george-owen-1233473.html|title=Obituary: George Owen|author=Richard Griffiths|date=1 October 1997|work=[[The Independent]]}}</ref> In the [[1939 Grand National]] just over two weeks later Brendan's Cottage who carried 156 pounds and started at odds of 25/1. He looked to be in good condition before the race but fell at the first fence.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&cl=search&d=NZH19390414.2.31&srpos=6&e=-------10--1----2Brendan%27s+Cottage--|title=Grand National|date=14 April 1939|publisher=New Zealand Herald}}</ref><eod>