The Cheltenham Gold Cup 2024

The very pinnacle of the four-day Cheltenham Festival has to be the Cheltenham Gold Cup. This fixture unfolds at 15:30 on the final day of the festival every year, which, in 2024, will be run on Friday, 15th March at 15:30. With a huge winner’s purse of £625,000, this prestigious race is expected to attract a field of around 10 to 20 runners, all competing for one of the most coveted prizes in the national hunt racing calendar.

This event is run over 3 miles and 2 and a half furlongs (5,294m), with competitors having to get to grips with 22 fences strategically positioned throughout the course. Open to horses aged 5 years or older, the race has seen two 12-year-old horses lift the trophy in the past, which shows that even the oldest horses still have a fighting chance. 

The list of past winners includes legends such as Arkle, Best Mate, Golden Miller, Kauto Star, Denman, and Mill House, who have all been instrumental in creating the legend of the race

So, mark your calendars for the 2024 Cheltenham Gold Cup, where the clash of hooves, the challenging fences, and these beautiful beasts in pursuit of glory will once again captivate horse racing fans from all over the world.

Previous Cheltenham Gold Cup Winners

Over the many years that this race has been a very valuable part of English sporting history, there have been many victors holding aloft the trophy. Since its inaugural race on the 12th of March 1924, where Dick Rees guided Red Splash to victory at 5/1 odds, favourites and outsiders have all managed to earn a place in history. Let’s take a look at the past seven years of this renowned event:

2023 – Galopin Des Champs

Although A Plus Tard was looking to secure a second win, the horse was hampered by a faller and ended up pulling out. This left the field open – and Galopin Des Champs took advantage. Despite not getting off to the best start, he finished strongly to come out on top.

2022 – A Plus Tard 

Last year’s Gold Cup saw A Plus Tard emerge as the winner – making history as jockey Rachael Blackmore became the first-ever female rider to claim victory in the Cheltenham Gold Cup. Trained by Henry de Bromhead, A Plus Tard certainly made history that year.

2020 – Al Boum Photo 

Al Boum Photo secured back-to-back victories in 2020, becoming part of an exclusive group of horses to actually achieve this. Under the guidance of jockey Paul Townend and trainer Willie Mullins, the 100/30 went out as favourite and fended off Santini to seal victory in the Grade One event for his second consecutive year.

2019 – Al Boum Photo

In 2019, Al Boum Photo, trained by Willie Mullins, triumphed at 12/1 odds – and this was Mullins’ first-ever Gold Cup win after a number of close calls in the past few years. Meanwhile, Anibale Fly finished in second place, with Bristol de Mai finishing in third.

2018 – Native River

The 2018 edition was one of the most thrilling races to date, with Native River pulling away in the final straight to claim victory at 5/1 odds. The race, lasting 7:02.60, was the second longest since 1989, thanks to the soft conditions on the day.

2017 – Sizing John 

Sizing John enjoyed a pretty comfortable victory in 2017 at odds of 7/1, having to overcome some pretty tough competition. This was the first Gold Cup entry for both jockey Robbie Power and trainer Jessica Harrington – and was a memorable milestone in the race’s history.

2016 – Don Cossack

Imagine this – Irish and UK bookmaker, Boylesports, has Don Cossack at 3-1 favourite – and he certainly lived up to the title, outpacing both Djakadam and Don Poli. The race, which was the 12th quickest Gold Cup ever, showed off Don Cossack’s dominance as he crossed the finish line with a four-and-a-half-length lead. This was the last time the favourite actually won the race.

2015 – Coneygree

A seriously special race was to happen in 2015 as Coneygree, priced at 7/1, became the first ‘novice’ horse to win in more than 30 years. Jockey Nico de Boinville guided Coneygree to victory, beating incredible competitors such as Djakadam and Road to Riches.

Every one of these horses – and their jockeys, has added its own unique chapter to the Cheltenham Gold Cup’s story.