Gold Cup
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 1988 | Grade 1 | 3 miles 2 1/2 furlongs | ||
Pos. | Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Owner |
1 | CHARTER PARTY | Richard Dunwoody | David Nicholson | Claire Smith & Jenny Mould 10/1 |
2 | CAVVIES CLOWN | Simon Sherwood | David Elsworth | Mrs J Olivant 6/1 |
3 | BEAU RANGER | Peter Scudmaore | Martin Pipe | White Bros (Taunton) 33/1 |
4 | NUPSALA | A Pommier | Francois Doumen | Mrs Robert Fougedaire 8/1 |
5 | YAHOO | T Morgan | J A C Edwards | Mr Alan Parker 12/1 |
6 | WEST TIP | Micky Hammond | M Oliver | Mr Peter Luff 80/1 |
7 | KILDIMO | Granham Bradley | Toby Balding | Lady Harris 6/1 |
8 | GOLDEN FRIEND | Dermot Browne | Mrs Mercy Rimell | Mr D G Meade 40/1 |
9 | RUN AND SKIP | Peter Hobbs | John Spearing | Mr W Marzouk 50/1 |
10 | STEARSBY | Graham McCourt | Rod Simpson | Mr Terry Ramsden 100/1 |
11 | RHYME 'N' REASON | Brendan Powell snr | David Elsworth | Miss Juliet Reed 11/1 |
12 | CYBRANDIAN | Chris Grant | M H Easterby | Miss C Dyson 40/1 |
13 | PLAYSCHOOL | Paul Nicholls | David Barons | Mr R E W Cottle 100/30 fav |
14 | FOYLE FISHERMAN | Richard Rowe | Josh Gifford | Mr J N Hutchinson 50/1 |
15 | FORGIVE'N FORGET | Mark Dwyer | Jimmy Fitzgerald | Kilroe Civil Engineers 8/1 |
Over round 113% | ||||
This race was held on Thursday 17th March 1988 when Charter Party beat Cavvies Clown and Beau Ranger by 6 lengths and 10 lengths |