Memorable moments from Gold Cup Day

The Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup. Racing’s most famous trophy. The history and legacy of the trophy. How hard it is to win. The role of honour of winners. The precious metal it’s made of. What it represents to the jump racing fraternity. The Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup rules the highest echelons of jump racing. And has done since 1942. A lifetime obsession to win ‘The Gold Cup’, to claim the title, to be crowned champion chaser of the year, to join the illustrious names on that plinth hat reads like a pantheon of superhorses. The Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup is the one. The only one.

LUCK OF THE IRISH

Gold Cup Day shares the date with St Patricks day this year. And it began perfectly for the Irish when 11-8 favourite Loissemouth came home two and a quarter lengths winner of the opening grade one JCB Triumph Hurdle. It landed Willie Mullins, yet another Festival win whose win tally now sits at an outstanding 94.

FAIVOIR BEATS THE FAVOURITE

The stuff of fairy tales. It’s what keeps us coming back year after year, for the racing pilgrimage that is The Festival. Jockey Bridget Andrews teamed up with her trainer brother-in-law Dan Skelton to land the McCoy Contractors County Handicap Hurdle on Faivoir (33-1). Bridget Andrews said: “Every time I thought I could switch out, I kind of felt like he was enjoying it - he’s that kind of character; stay in, stay brave, although I wasn’t feeling that brave at the time.” 

STAY AWAY FAY WON’T GO AWAY 

Fresh from their success in yesterday's Turner Novices’ Chase with Stage Star, trainer Paul Nicholls and jockey Harry Cobden struck gold to earn their second Grade One Victory of the week when Stay Away Fay was given a masterful ride by Cobden to take the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle. The 18-1 chance travelled well throughout in the ultimate test of stamina and was always up with the pace in the three mile test. But it wasn’t without incident as favourite Corbetts Cross ran out at the final flight sending jockey Mark Walsh crashing to the turf and unable to compete in the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup.  

GALOPIN DES CHAMPS GALLOPS TO VICTORY

The big one. This is the one where champions are born. Legends are made. History is written. Galopin Des Champs claims victory in the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup. The 29th Irish trained winner, it was a third cup winner for both trainer Willie Mullins and jockey Paul Townend following Al Boum Photo in 2019 and 2020. The winning jockey said: “The Gold Cup brings winning to a different level. Cheltenham is very important, but the Gold Cup just has that little bit more spice to it.” That’s a wrap for 2023. The story is written. A star is born. And the chapter comes to a close for another year. Galopin Des Champs, welcome to the most prestigious club in jump racing.