Gold Cup

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 The Gold Cup, the chasing crown, is a grade 1 race over 3 miles 2 furlongs and 70 yards and 22 fences of the New Course and is open to 5-year-olds and above. Although the first race at Cheltenham known as the Gold Cup was in July 1819, it was a flat race over 3 miles on the Cleeve Hill course and was won by Spectre owned by Mr Bodenham, and the race did continue for a number of years afterwards. However, it has no real connection with the present day pinnacle of National Hunt racing which was first contested on 12th March 1924 over 3 miles 3 furlongs. The race was not staged in 1931 due to frost, nor in 1937 due to flooding, and the Second World War prevented the race being held in both 1943 and 1944.
Early history:- The inaugural running of the Gold Cup was on 12th March 1924 over 3 miles 3 furlongs and was won by Red Splash (5/1) owned by Major Humphrey Wyndham, trained by Fred Withington and ridden by Dick Rees, beating Conjuror II (7/1) and Gerald L (5/1).
Gold Cup 1979 Grade 1 3 miles 2 1/2 furlongs
Pos. Horse Jockey Trainer Owner
1 ALVERTON Jonjo O'Neill M H Easterby The Snailwell Stud Company 5/1 jt fav
2 ROYAL MAIL Philip Blacker Stan Mellor Mr S Burgess 7/1
3 ALDANITI Bob Champion Josh Gifford Mr S Embiricos 40/1
4 CASAMAYOR B R Davies P Bailey Mr R Guest 50/1
5 BROWN LAD G Dowd Jim Dreaper (Ire) Mrs P Burrell 5/1 jt fav
6 GAFFER Bill Smith Fulke Walwyn Mr R Watts 6/1
7 NIGHT NURSE Graham Thorner M H Easterby Mr Reg Spencer 6/1
8 STROMBOLUS John Francome P Bailey Mr Michael Buckley 10/1
9 TIED COTTAGE Tommy Carberry D Moore (Ire) Mr A Robinson 12/1
10 ROYAL FROLIC John Burke Fred Rimell Sir J Hanmer 20/1
11 BAWNOGUES C Smith Martin Tate Mrs H Lawlor 50/1
12 MIGHTYS HONOUR F Beny D Moore (Ire) Mr L Smith 50/1
13 OTTER WAY David Goulding O Carter Mr O Carter 50/1
14 BIT OF MANNY R R Evans Miss Morris Mr P Blackburn 100/1
        Over round 105%
This race took place on Thursday 15th March 1979 when Alverton beat Royal Mail and Aldaniti by 25 lengths and 20 length