The Gold Cup Chase, also known as the Bet365 Gold Cup, is a Grade 3 National Hunt Chase held annually in late April at Sandown Park Racecourse. The race is held over a distance of 3 miles and 5 ½ furlongs, featuring 24 fences throughout the course. The Bet365 Gold Cup is a handicap race and is open to horses aged five years and over.
The Chase was introduced to the UK National Hunt calendar in 1957, originally under the name 'Whitbread Gold Cup', after the then-sponsor of the race: Whitbread Brewers. Interestingly this sponsorship would turn out to be the longest continuous program of corporate support for a British sporting event in history (note: for any sport, not just in horse racing). Whitbread sponsored the Gold Cup Chase until 2001. After Whitbread dumped the Gold Cup Chase, brief sponsorships by At The Races and Betfred followed, until Bet365 took over in 2008. Thanks to their new sponsors, the Bet365 Gold Cup currently offers a purse of £160,000.
The leading contenders to run at the Gold Cup Chase include Larbawn, Diamond Edge, Topsham Bay and Ad Hoc, all of whom managed to record two wins at the event. Human legends feature jockey Ron Barry, who rode three winners at the Bet 365 Gold Cup between 1971 and 1974.
Year | Winner | Age | Jockey | Trainer |
2010 | Church Island |
11 | Adrian Heskin |
Michael Hourigan |
2009 | Hennessy |
8 | Tony McCoy |
Carl Llewellyn |
2008 | Monkerhostin |
11 | Richard Johnson |
Philip Hobbs |
2007 | Hot Weld |
8 | Graham Lee |
Ferdy Murphy |
2006 | Lacdoual |
7 | Richard Johnson |
Phillip Hobbs |
2005 | Jack High |
10 | Garrett Cotter |
Ted Walsh |
2004 | Puntal |
8 | Danny Howard |
Martin Pipe |
2003 | Ad Hoc |
9 | Ruby Walsh |
Paul Nicholls |
2002 | Bounce Back |
6 | Tony MacCoy |
Martin Pipe |
2001 | Ad Hoc |
7 | Ruby Walsh |
Paul Nicholls |
2000 | Beau |
7 | Carl Lllewellyn |
Nigel Twiston-Davies |