Cheltenham Gold Cup

The Cheltenham Gold Cup is a Grade 1 National Hunt horse race run on the New Course at Cheltenham Racecourse in England, over a distance of about 3 miles 2½ furlongs (3 miles 2 furlongs and 70 yards, or 5,294 m), and during its running there are 22 fences to be jumped. The race takes place each year during the Cheltenham Festival in March.

The steeplechase, which is open to horses aged five years and over, is the most prestigious of all National Hunt events and it is sometimes referred to as the Blue Riband of jump-racing. Its roll of honour features the names of such chasers as Arkle, Best Mate, Golden Miller, Kauto Star, Denman and Mill House. The Gold Cup is the most valuable non-handicap chase in Britain, and in 2025 it offered a total prize fund of £625,000. A prize of £685 was awarded to the owner of the winning horse. This was considerably less valuable than the National Hunt Chase, which was still regarded as the most important race of the meeting. The weather at Cheltenham for that first Gold Cup was mild and springlike. Among the spectators was the Prince of Wales, a friend of Harry Brown who was riding Conjuror II. There was an exciting finish, with Major E.H. Wyndham's five year old, Red Splash, 5/1, ridden by Dick Rees and trained by Fred Withington, beating Conjuror II by a head, with Gerald L a neck away third. Forewarned, ridden by Jack Anthony, was the 3/1 favourite. Red Splash appeared to have a great future, but he was difficult to train and never again ran in the Gold Cup.

The event originally took place on what is now the "Old Course" at Cheltenham. In its early years it was overshadowed at the Festival by another race, the National Hunt Chase and was worth less in prize money than the County Handicap Hurdle which had a purse of £1,000.

The Gold Cup was abandoned in 1931 (because of frost) and 1937 (flooding), but the five intervening years saw the emergence of the most successful horse in the event's history. All five races from 1932 to 1936 were won by Golden Miller, who also won the Grand National in 1934.

During World War II, the Gold Cup was cancelled twice, in 1943 and 1944. The first multiple winner in the post-war era was Cottage Rake, who won the three runnings from 1948 to 1950. Cottage Rake was trained in Ireland by Vincent O'Brien, and his successes helped to popularise the Gold Cup, and the Festival itself, with the Irish public.

Modern era

The Gold Cup was switched to the "New Course" in 1959, and this remains the regular track used for the event. In the mid-1960s, the race was dominated by Arkle, who won three consecutive runnings from 1964 to 1966. Such was Arkle's perceived superiority before the last of these victories that he was given a starting price of 1/10 (a £10 bet would have won £1). He remains the shortest-priced winner in the race's history.thumb|Cheltenham Gold Cup with Graham Bradley

The first commercial sponsorship of the race was by Piper Champagne, which began supporting the event in 1972. The Tote (now known as Totesport) became the sponsor in 1980.

The most remarkable feat in the Gold Cup by a trainer came in 1983, when Michael Dickinson was responsible for all of the first five horses to finish – Bregawn, Captain John, Wayward Lad, Silver Buck and Ashley House. The 1986 winner, Dawn Run, is the only horse to have ever won both this race and the leading hurdle event, the Champion Hurdle. One of the most popular horses to win the Gold Cup was Desert Orchid, a grey who won the event in 1989. The following year's running was won by Norton's Coin, whose starting price of 100/1 represents the race's longest ever winning price.

The entire Cheltenham Festival was cancelled in 2001 because of an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease. A replacement for the Cheltenham Gold Cup, the Gold Trophy Chase, was contested at Sandown in late April, but the Racing Post stated that this "lacked any strength in depth and was no substitute for the Gold Cup". The next three runnings were all won by Best Mate, who is the most recent of the four horses to have won the race three or more times.

In 2009, Kauto Star became the first horse to regain the Gold Cup. He overcame his stablemate and conqueror in 2008, Denman, who had recovered from a heart condition to take his place in the race. Timeform spokesperson Kieran Packman said of Kauto Star's performance, "it is the best Gold Cup-winning figure since the Arkle era in the mid-1960s".

One of the cups, a different one being awarded each year, was reported stolen on 14 July 2010 after a burglary at a home in Wormington, Gloucestershire.

Cheltenham Racecourse announced in September 2018 that it had been reunited with the original Cheltenham Gold Cup trophy, dating back to 1924, and will present it to the winner of the 2019 race. First awarded to five-year-old Red Splash, owned by Major Humphrey Wyndham, trained by Fred Withington and ridden by Dick Rees, it will now be re-introduced as a perpetual trophy, presented to the winning connections of the 2019 race and in future years.

In 2020 the Cheltenham Festival, and the Gold Cup in particular, was blamed for accelerating the spread of COVID-19 in the UK, being one of the last major sporting events to take place before national lockdowns were imposed by the government. In 2021 the Gold Cup was contested behind closed doors, as the rest of the festival was, resulting in a muted atmosphere. In 2022 Rachael Blackmore became the first female jockey to ride to victory at the Gold Cup on A Plus Tard, who she had ridden to second place the previous year.

Records

Most successful horse (5 wins):

Golden Miller – 1932, 1933, 1934, 1935, 1936

Leading jockey (5 wins):

Paul Townend - Al Boum Photo (2019, 2020), Galopin Des Champs (2023, 2024), Gaelic Warrior (2026)

Leading trainer (5 wins):

Tom Dreaper – Prince Regent (1946), Arkle (1964, 1965, 1966), Fort Leney (1968)
Willie Mullins - Al Boum Photo (2019, 2020), Galopin Des Champs (2023, 2024), Gaelic Warrior (2026)

Leading owner (7 wins):

Dorothy Paget – Golden Miller (1932, 1933, 1934, 1935, 1936), Roman Hackle (1940), Mont Tremblant (1952)

Multiple wins on 2 or more horses

Trainer: Willie Mullins, Jockey: Paul Townend 2019, 2020 Al Boum Photo, 2023, 2024 Galopin Des Champs.

Winners

Amateur jockeys indicated by "Mr".
Winning mares indicated by †
Winning trainers based in Great Britain unless indicated (IRE) = Ireland, (FRA) = France

{| class="sortable wikitable"

! data-sort-type="number" | Date

! Winner

! SP

! data-sort-type="number" | Age

! Jockey

! Trainer

! Owner

! data-sort-type="number" | Field

! class="unsortable" | 2nd and 3rd

! Time

! class="unsortable" |

| | 12 March 1924

| Red Splash

|align=center|

| 5

| Dick Rees

| Fred Withington

| Maj. Humphrey Wyndham

|align=center| 9

|align=center|2nd. (hd) Conjuror II 7/1 3rd. (nk) Gerald L. 5/1

|Not taken

| | 11 March 1925

| Ballinode†

|align=center|

| 9

| Ted Leader

| Frank Morgan (IRE)

| Christopher Bentley

|align=center| 4

|align=center|2nd. (5 L) Alcazar 8/13F 3rd. (dst) Patsey 10/1

|align=center|729607:29.6

| | 9 March 1926

| Koko

|align=center|

| 8

| Tim Hamey

| Alfred Bickley

| Frank Barbour

|align=center| 8

|align=center|2nd. (4 L) Old Tay Bridge 3/1 3rd. (5 L) Ruddyglow 6/5F

|align=center|711007:11.0

| | 8 March 1927

| Thrown In

|align=center|

| 11

| Mr Hugh Grosvenor

| Owen Anthony

| 2nd Lord Stalbridge

|align=center| 8

|align=center|2nd. (2 L) Grakle 5/1 3rd. () Silvo 13/8F

|align=center|728007:28.0

| | 13 March 1928

| Patron Saint

|align=center|

| 5

| Dick Rees

| Stanley Harrison

| F. W. Keen

|align=center| 7

|align=center|2nd. (4 L) Vive 8/1 3rd. (2 L) Koko 4/5F

|align=center|729607:29.6

| | 12 March 1929

| Easter Hero

|align=center|F

| 9

| Dick Rees

| Jack Anthony

| John Hay Whitney

|align=center| 10

|align=center|2nd. (20 L) Lloydie 100/9 3rd. (2 L) Grakle 11/4

|align=center|657006:57.0

| | 11 March 1930

| Easter Hero

|align=center|F

| 10

| Tommy Cullinan

| Jack Anthony

| John Hay Whitney

|align=center| 4

|align=center|2nd. (20 L) Grakle 10/1 3rd. (dist) Gib 13/8

|align=center|706007:06.0

|- bgcolor="#eeeeee"

| colspan="11" style="text-align:left;" | No race 1931

| | 1 March 1932

| Golden Miller

|align=center|

| 5

| Ted Leader

| Basil Briscoe

| Dorothy Paget

|align=center| 6

|align=center|2nd. (4 L) Inverse 8/1 3rd. (dist) Aruntius 20/1

|align=center|733407:33.4

| | 7 March 1933

| Golden Miller

|align=center|F

| 6

| Billy Stott

| Basil Briscoe

| Dorothy Paget

|align=center| 7

|align=center|2nd. (10 L) Thomond II 11/4 3rd. (5 L) Delaneige 20/1

|align=center|733007:33.0

| | 6 March 1934

| Golden Miller

|align=center|F

| 7

| Gerry Wilson

| Basil Briscoe

| Dorothy Paget

|align=center| 7

|align=center|2nd. (6 L) Avenger 6/1 3rd. (6 L) Kellsboro 10/1

|align=center|704607:04.6

| | 14 March 1935

| Golden Miller

|align=center|F

| 8

| Gerry Wilson

| Basil Briscoe

| Dorothy Paget

|align=center| 5

|align=center|2nd. ( L) Thomond II 5/2 3rd. (5 L) Kellsboro' Jack 100/7

|align=center|630006:30.0

| | 12 March 1936

| Golden Miller

|align=center|F

| 9

| Evan Williams

| Owen Anthony

| Dorothy Paget

|align=center| 6

|align=center|2nd. (12 L) Royal Mail 5/1 3rd. (2 L) Kellsboro' Jack 10/1

|align=center|705207:05.2

|- bgcolor="#eeeeee"

| colspan="11" style="text-align:left;" | No race 1937

| | 10 March 1938

| Morse Code

|align=center|

| 9

| Danny Morgan

| Ivor Anthony

| Dealtry C. Part

|align=center| 6

|align=center|2nd. (2 L) Golden Miller 7/4F 3rd. (3 L) Macaulay 3/1

|align=center|635206:35.2

| | 9 March 1939

| Brendan's Cottage

|align=center|

| 9

| George Owen

| George Beeby

| Jean Smith-Bingham

|align=center| 5

|align=center|2nd. (5 L) Morse Code 4/7F 3rd. (dist) Embarrassed 25/1

|align=center|734207:34.2

| | 20 March 1940

| Roman Hackle

|align=center|F

| 7

| Evan Williams

| Owen Anthony

| Dorothy Paget

|align=center| 7

|align=center|2nd. (10 L) Black Hawk 20/1 3rd. (2 L) Royal Mail 100/8

|align=center|646406:46.4

| | 20 March 1941

| Poet Prince

|align=center|

| 9

| Roger Burford

| Ivor Anthony

| David Sherbrooke

|align=center| 10

|align=center|2nd. (3 L) Savon 100/30 3rd. (sh) Red Rower 8/1

|align=center|615606:15.6

| | 21 March 1942

| Medoc II

|align=center|

| 8

| Frenchie Nicholson

| Reg Hobbs

| 7th Earl of Sefton

|align=center| 12

|align=center|2nd. (3 L) Red Rower 3/1F 3rd. (sh) Asterabad 20/1

|align=center|638006:38.0

|- bgcolor="#eeeeee"

| colspan="11" style="text-align:left;" | Races not held in 1943–44 due to World War II

| | 17 March 1945

| Red Rower

|align=center|F

| 11

| Davy Jones

| 2nd Lord Stalbridge

|align=center| 16

|align=center|2nd. (3 L) Schubert 11/2 3rd. ( L) Paladin 100/30

|align=center|616206:16.2

| | 14 March 1946

| Prince Regent

|align=center|F

| 11

| Tim Hyde

| Tom Dreaper (IRE)

| Jimmy Rank

|align=center| 6

|align=center|2nd. (5 L) Poor Flame 5/1 3rd. (4 L) Red 9/2 April

|align=center|647606:47.6

| | 12 April 1947

| Fortina

|align=center|

| 6

| Mr Richard Black

| Hector Christie

| 3rd Baron Grimthorpe

|align=center| 12

|align=center|2nd. (10 L) Happy Home 3/1 3rd. (5 L) Prince Blackthorn 8/1

|align=center|641206:41.2

| | 4 March 1948

| Cottage Rake

|align=center|

| 9

| Aubrey Brabazon

| Vincent O'Brien (IRE)

| Frank Vickerman

|align=center| 12

|align=center|2nd. ( L) Happy Home 6/1 3rd. (10 L) Coloured School Boy 10/1

|align=center|656406:56.4

| | 11 April 1949

| Cottage Rake

|align=center|F

| 10

| Aubrey Brabazon

| Vincent O'Brien (IRE)

| Frank Vickerman

|align=center| 6

|align=center|2nd. (2 L) Cool Customer 13/2 3rd. (6 L) Coloured School Boy 8/1

|align=center|636006:36.0

| | 9 March 1950

| Cottage Rake

|align=center|F

| 11

| Aubrey Brabazon

| Vincent O'Brien (IRE)

| Frank L. Vickerman

|align=center| 6

|align=center|2nd. (10 L) Finnure 5/4 3rd. (8 L) Garde Toi 100/1

|align=center|700607:00.6

| | 25 April 1951

| Silver Fame

|align=center|F

| 12

| Martin Molony

| George Beeby

| 1st Baron Bicester

|align=center| 6

|align=center|2nd. (shd) Greenogue 100/8 3rd. (2 L) Mighty Fine 10/1

|align=center|623406:23.4

| | 6 March 1952

| Mont Tremblant

|align=center|

| 6

| Dave Dick

| Fulke Walwyn

| Dorothy Paget

|align=center| 13

|align=center|2nd. (10 L) Shaef 7/1 3rd. (4 L) Galloway Braes 66/1

|align=center|702307:02.3

| | 5 March 1953

| Knock Hard

|align=center|

| 9

| Tim Molony

| Vincent O'Brien (IRE)

| Moya Keogh

|align=center| 12

|align=center|2nd. (5 L) Halloween 5/2F 3rd. (2 L) Galloway Braes 33/1

|align=center|628406:28.4

| | 1954

| Four Ten

|align=center|

| 8

| Tommy Cusack

| John Roberts

| Alan Strange

|align=center| 9

|align=center|2nd. (4 L) Mariner's Log 20/1 3rd. (4 L) Halloween 100/6

|align=center|712207:12.20

| | 1955

| Gay Donald

|align=center|

| 9

| Tony Grantham

| Jim Ford

| Philip Burt

|align=center| 9

|align=center|2nd. (10 L) Halloween 7/2 3rd. (8 L) Four Ten 3/1F

|align=center|659206:59.20

| | 2003

| Best Mate

|align=center|F

| 8

| Jim Culloty

| Henrietta Knight

| Jim Lewis

| align=center| 15

|align=center|2nd. (10 L) Truckers Tavern 33/1 3rd. ( L) Harbour Pilot 40/1

|align=center|639006:39.10

| | 2004

| Best Mate

|align=center|F

| 9

| Jim Culloty

| Henrietta Knight

| Jim Lewis

| align=center| 10

|align=center|2nd. ( L) Sir Rembrandt 33/1 3rd. ( L) Harbour Pilot 20/1

|align=center|642606:42.60

| | 2005

| Kicking King

|align=center|F

| 7

| Barry Geraghty

| Tom Taaffe (IRE)

| Conor Clarkson

| align=center| 15

|align=center|2nd. (5 L) Take The Stand 25/1 3rd. (8 L) Sir Rembrandt 12/1

|align=center|642906:42.90

| | 2006

| War of Attrition

|align=center|

| 7

| Conor O'Dwyer

| Mouse Morris (IRE)

| Gigginstown House Stud

| align=center| 22

|align=center|2nd. ( L) Hedgehunter 16/1 3rd. (7 L) Forget The Past 9/1

|align=center|631706:31.70

| | 2007

| Kauto Star

|align=center|F

| 7

| Ruby Walsh

| Paul Nicholls

| Clive D. Smith

| align=center| 15

|align=center|2nd. ( L) Exotic Dancer 9/2 3rd. ( L) Turpin Green 40/1

|align=center|640466:40.46

| | 2008

| Denman

|align=center|

| 8

| Sam Thomas

| Paul Nicholls

| Paul Barber / Findlay

| align=center| 12

|align=center|2nd. (7 L) Kauto Star 10/11f 3rd. (shd) Neptune Collonges 25/1

|align=center|647846:47.84

| | 2009

| Kauto Star

|align=center|F

| 9

| Ruby Walsh

| Paul Nicholls

| Clive D. Smith

| align=center| 16

|align=center|2nd. (13 L) Denman 7/1 3rd. ( L) Exotic Dancer 8/1

|align=center|644956:44.95

| | 2010

| Imperial Commander

|align=center|

| 9

| Paddy Brennan

| Nigel Twiston-Davies

| Our Friends in the North

| align=center| 11

|align=center|2nd. (7 L) Denman 4/1 3rd. (23 L) Mon Mome 50/1

|align=center|643906:43.90

| | 2011

| Long Run

|align=center|F

| 6

| Mr Sam Waley-Cohen

| Nicky Henderson

| Robert Waley-Cohen

| align=center| 13

|align=center|2nd. (7 L) Denman 8/1 3rd. (4 L) Kauto Star 5/1

|align=center|629706:29.70

| | 2012

| Synchronised

|align=center|

| 9

| Tony McCoy

| Jonjo O'Neill

| J. P. McManus

| align=center| 14

|align=center|2nd. ( L) The Giant Bolster 50/1 3rd. ( L) Long Run 7/4f

|align=center|636196:36.19

| | 2013

| Bobs Worth

|align=center|F

| 8

| Barry Geraghty

| Nicky Henderson

| The Not Afraid Partnership

| align=center| 9

|align=center|2nd. (7 L) Sir Des Champs 4/1 3rd. ( L) Long Run 7/2

|align=center|705067:05.06

| | 2014

| Lord Windermere

|align=center|

| 8

| Davy Russell

| Jim Culloty (IRE)

| Dr. Ronan Lambe

| align=center| 13

|align=center|2nd. (shd) On His Own 16/1 3rd. ( L) The Giant Bolster 14/1

|align=center|643886:43.88

| | 2015

| Coneygree

|align=center|

| 8

| Nico de Boinville

| Mark Bradstock

| The Max Partnership

| align=center| 16

|align=center|2nd. ( L) Djakadam 10/1 3rd. (2 L) Road To Riches 8/1

|align=center|642506:42.50

| | 2016

| Don Cossack

|align=center|F

| 9

| Bryan Cooper

| Gordon Elliott (IRE)

| Gigginstown House Stud

| align=center| 9

|align=center|2nd. ( L) Djakadam 9/2 3rd. (10 L) Don Poli 9/2

|align=center|635006:35.00

| | 2017

| Sizing John

|align=center|

| 7

| Robbie Power

| Jessica Harrington (IRE)

| Ann & Alan Potts

| align=center| 13

|align=center|2nd. ( L) Minella Rocco 18/1 3rd. (shd) Native River 7/2

|align=center|636106:36.10

| | 2018

| Native River

|align=center|

| 8

| Richard Johnson

| Colin Tizzard

| Brocade Racing

| align=center| 15

|align=center|2nd. ( L) Might Bite 4/1F 3rd. (4 L) Anibale Fly 33/1

|align=center|702607:02.60

| | 2019

| Al Boum Photo

|align=center|

| 7

| Paul Townend

| Willie Mullins (IRE)

| Mrs J Donnelly

| align=center| 16

|align=center|2nd. ( L) Anibale Fly 22/1 3rd. ( L) Bristol de Mai 18/1

|align=center|639066:39.06

| | 2020

| Al Boum Photo

|align=center|F

| 8

| Paul Townend

| Willie Mullins (IRE)

| Mrs J Donnelly

| align=center| 12

|align=center|2nd. (nk) Santini 5/1 3rd. ( L) Lostintranslation 10/1

|align=center|650386:50.38

| | 2021

| Minella Indo

|align=center|

| 8

| Jack Kennedy

| Henry De Bromhead (IRE)

| Barry Maloney

| align=center| 12

|align=center|2nd. ( L) A Plus Tard 100/30 3rd. ( L) Al Boum Photo 9/4F

|align=center|635456:45.35

| | 2022

| A Plus Tard

|align=center|F

| 8

| Rachael Blackmore

|Henry De Bromhead (IRE)

| Cheveley Park Stud

| align=center| 11

|align=center|2nd. (15 L) Minella Indo 6/1 3rd. ( L) Protektorat 11/1

|align=center|641756:41.75

| | 2023

| Galopin Des Champs

|align=center|F

| 7

| Paul Townend

| Willie Mullins (IRE)

| Mrs Audrey Turley

| align=center| 13

|align=center|2nd. (7 L) Bravemansgame 6/1 3rd. ( L) Conflated 22/1

|align=center|645466:45.46

| | 2024

| Galopin Des Champs

|align=center|F

| 8

| Paul Townend

| Willie Mullins (IRE)

| Mrs Audrey Turley

| align=center| 13

|align=center|2nd. ( L) Gerri Colombe 13/2 3rd. (9 L) Corach Rambler 14/1

|align=center|705147:05.14

| | 2025

| Inothewayurthinkin

|align=center|

| 7

| Mark Walsh

| Gavin Cromwell (IRE)

| J. P. McManus

| align=center| 9

|align=center|2nd. (6 L) Galopin Des Champs 8/13F 3rd. (12 L) Gentlemansgame 40/1

|align=center|640006:40.00

| | 2026

| Gaelic Warrior

|align=center| JF

| 8

| Paul Townend

| Willie Mullins (IRE)

| Rich Ricci

| align=center| 10

|align=center|2nd. (8 L) Jango Baie 11/4JF 3rd. (2 L) Inothewayurthinkin 11/1

|align=center|639026:39.02

The race was abandoned in 1931 because of frost, and in 1937 because of flooding.

It was cancelled in 1943 and 1944 because of World War II.

The 1957 winner, Linwell, was trained by Ivor Herbert, a well-known racing journalist and so barred from holding a trainer's licence. after the betting company bought the Government-owned Tote in June 2011, but in late 2015 they lost their sponsorship following Jockey Club's and Arena Racing new initiative to not allow bookmaker sponsorships on their tracks that do not offer any contribution to horse racing from their offshore business. Only two weeks later a new sponsorship deal was announced with Timico, an independent internet service provider whose CEO Tim Radford is a horse owner having top chasers like Somersby and Racing Demon associated with his name. Timico also offered an increase of £25,000 to reach a total of £575,000 prize money for the 2016 Gold Cup renewal. It was the first time that the race had been sponsored by a non-bookmaker since the Tote took over from Piper Champagne in 1980. In July 2018 Cheltenham Racecourse announced Magners Irish Cider as the new Cheltenham Gold Cup sponsor until 2021 with a possible extension to 2022. Magners ended their sponsorship early, after the 2020 race, and the 2021 race carried the name of the charity WellChild. On 24 January 2022 it was announced luxury jeweller Boodles would sponsor the Cheltenham Gold Cup from 2022.

The Cheltenham Gold Cup has had the following sponsors:

No sponsor before 1972
Piper Champagne Cheltenham Gold Cup (1972 – 1979)
Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup (1980 – 2003)
totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup (2004 – 2011)
Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup (2012 – 2015)
Timico Cheltenham Gold Cup (2016 – 2018)