Cheltenham Gold Cup is a steeplechase for horses five-year-old and up over 3 miles 2½ furlongs with 22 fences to be jumped. It is held at Cheltenham Racecourse in mid-March each year.

  • Race Type: Grade 1, Steeplechase, 5YO and up
  • Distance: 3 miles 2½ furlongs (5331 metres)
  • Track: Cheltenham Racecourse, Cheltenham, England
  • Date: Friday, 18 March 2022  (2.00am Saturday AEST)

The first Gold Cup was held in 1819 as a three mile flat-race for three-year-olds and was won by Spectre. It was first run as a jumps race in 1924 with level weights and was won by Red Splash. It is the most valuable non-handicap steeplechase in Great Britain and is regarded as one of Britain’s major sporting events along with Wimbledon, the FA Cup, the British Grand Prix and the British Open.

The race was abandoned in 1931 because of heavy frost and in 1937 because of flooding and the same horse won every race between those 2 years. It was cancelled in 1943 and 1944 because of World War II, and in 2001 because of an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in England. A new trophy is made each year and it contains 10 ounces of gold.

Previous winners of the Cheltenham Gold Cup:

Nine horses have managed to win this race on more than one occasion – Easter Hero in 1929 and 1930, Golden Miller in 1932, 1933, 1934, 1935 and 1936, Cottage Rake in 1948, 1949 and 1950, Arkle in 1964, 1965 and 1966, L’Escargot in 1970 and 1971, Best Mate in 2002, 2003 and 2004 , Kauto Star in 2007 and 2009, Al Boum Photo in 2019 and 2020 and Galopin Des Champs in 2023 and 2024. Kauto Star is the only horse to regain the Gold Cup.
The most successful jockey was Pat Taaffe who had 4 wins. Three of these were on Arkle. Trainer Tom Dreaper was the most successful trainer with 5 winners between 1946 and 1968. In 1983 trainer Michael Dickinson trained the first five horses to finish, which is a remarkable achievement.
Year Winner Second Third
2024 Galopin Des Champs Gerri Colombe Corach Rambler
2023 Galopin Des Champs Bravemansgame Conflated
2022 A Plus Tard Minella Indo Protektorat
2021 Minella Indo A Plus Tard Al Boum Photo
2020 Al Boum Photo Santini Lostintranslation
2019 Al Boum Photo Anibale Fly Bristol De Mai
2018 Native River Might Bite Anibale Fly
2017 Sizing John Minella Rocco Native River
2016 Don Cossack Djakadam Don Poli
2015 Coneygree Djakadam Road To Riches
2014 Lord Windermere On His Own The Giant Bolster
2013 Bobs Worth Sir Des Champ Long Run (FR)
2012 Synchronised (IRE) The Giant Bolster Long Run (FR)
2011 Long Run Denman Kauto Star
2010 ImperialCommander Denman Mon Mome
2009 Kauto Star Denman Exotic Dancer
2008 Denman Kauto Star Neptune Collonges
2007 Kauto Star Exotic Dancer Turpin Green
2006 War Of Attrition Hedgehunter Forget The Past
2005 Kicking King Take The Stand Rembrandt
2004 Best Mate Sir Rembrandt Harbour Pilot
2003 Best Mate Truckers Tavern Harbour Pilot
2002 Best Mate Commanche Court See More Business
2001  * Race not run *
2000 Looks Like Trouble Florida Pearl Strong Promise