Irish Gold Cup Explained

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The Irish Gold Cup (Irish: Corn Óir na hÉireann) is a Grade 1 National Hunt steeplechase in Ireland which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Leopardstown over a distance of about 3 miles (4,828 metres), and during its running there are seventeen fences to be jumped. The race is scheduled to take place each year in February.

The event was first run in 1987, and it was originally titled the Vincent O'Brien Irish Gold Cup. It was named after Vincent O'Brien (1917–2009), who was a successful racehorse trainer. The race was renamed the Hennessy Gold Cup in 1991, when Hennessy began sponsoring and it was often referred to as the "Irish Hennessy", as there was also a long-established chase in Great Britain called the Hennessy Gold Cup. Hennessy's sponsorship ended after the 2015 running and the 2016 event was run as the unsponsored Irish Gold Cup.[1] Unibet sponsored the Irish Gold Cup from 2017 to 2019.[2] In 2017, it was run as the Stan James Irish Gold Cup Chase and in 2018 and 2019 as the Unibet Irish Gold Cup. Since 2020 the race has been sponsored by Paddy Power.

Throughout its history the race has served as a leading trial for the Cheltenham Gold Cup. Four horses have won both events in the same year – Jodami (1993), Imperial Call (1996), Sizing John (2017) and Galopin Des Champs (2023 and 2024).

Records

Most successful horse (4 wins):

Leading jockey (4 wins):

Leading trainer (13 wins):

Winners

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Year
Winner
Age
Jockey
Trainer
1987Forgive 'n Forget10Mark DwyerJimmy FitzGerald
1988Playschool10Paul NichollsDavid Barons
1989Carvill's Hill7Ken MorganJim Dreaper
1990Nick the Brief8Martin LynchJohn Upson
1991Nick the Brief9Robbie SuppleJohn Upson
1992Carvill's Hill10Peter ScudamoreMartin Pipe
1993Jodami8Mark DwyerPeter Beaumont
1994Jodami9Mark DwyerPeter Beaumont
1995Jodami10Mark DwyerPeter Beaumont
1996Imperial Call7Conor O'DwyerFergie Sutherland
1997Danoli9Tommy TreacyTom Foley
1998Dorans Pride9Richard DunwoodyMichael Hourigan
1999Florida Pearl7Richard DunwoodyWillie Mullins
2000Florida Pearl8Paul CarberryWillie Mullins
2001Florida Pearl9Richard JohnsonWillie Mullins
2002Alexander Banquet9Barry GeraghtyWillie Mullins
2003Beef Or Salmon7Timmy MurphyMichael Hourigan
2004Florida Pearl12Richard JohnsonWillie Mullins
2005Rule Supreme9David CaseyWillie Mullins
2006Beef Or Salmon10Paul CarberryMichael Hourigan
2007Beef Or Salmon11Andrew McNamaraMichael Hourigan
2008The Listener9Daryl JacobRobert & Sally Alner
2009Neptune Collonges8Ruby WalshPaul Nicholls
2010Joncol7Alain CawleyPaul Nolan
2011Kempes8David CaseyWillie Mullins
2012Quel Esprit8Ruby WalshWillie Mullins
2013Sir Des Champs7Davy RussellWillie Mullins
2014Last Instalment9Brian O'ConnellPhilip Fenton
2015Carlingford Lough9Tony McCoyJohn Kiely
2016Carlingford Lough10Mark WalshJohn Kiely
2017Sizing John7Robbie PowerJessica Harrington
2018Edwulf9Mr Derek O'ConnorJoseph O'Brien
2019Bellshill9Ruby WalshWillie Mullins
2020Delta Work7Jack KennedyGordon Elliott
2021Kemboy9Danny MullinsWillie Mullins
2022Conflated 8Davy RussellGordon Elliott
20237Paul TownendWillie Mullins
20248Paul TownendWillie Mullins

See also

References

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Notes and References

  1. Web site: O'Connor. Brian. Irish Gold Cup to go ahead at Leopardstown without sponsor. Irish Times. 2 February 2016.
  2. Web site: Barber. Racing Post. Bill. Unibet take over Champion Hurdle sponsorship from Stan James. 21 January 2018. 29 September 2017.