Cheltenham Gold Cup Day

The Cheltenham Festival finishes with its Gold Cup Day – an afternoon containing some of the most anticipated racing events of the week. Many bettors look forward to the Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup to see who will come away from this competition as the year’s winner. There are six other races – including two Grade 1 events and three competitive handicaps – which makes Gold Cup Day a Cheltenham horse racing event not be missed.

Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup

The highlight of the jump racing season is widely considered to be the Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup. This is a Grade 1 National Hunt chase that is open to horses aged five or above. It takes place on the New Course at Cheltenham, where jockeys and horses have to ride over three miles and two-and-a-half furlongs. During the event, there are also twenty-two fences that must be skilfully jumped.

Last season, Long Run – a relative newcomer with trainer Nicky Henderson and amateur jockey Sam Waley-Cohen – was the surprise winner of the coveted title, despite racing against such favourites as Denman, Kauto Star and Imperial Commander. It was Long Run’s first Gold Cup, while the other three experienced runners have won the competition four times between them in the past. Long Run will be attempting to keep his title in Cheltenham Festival 2012, but there are many new horses and riders who are ready to compete for the top position.

The Gold Cup day racing schedule

There are six other horse races happening on the Gold Cup Day, alongside the Betfred Cheltenham Gold Cup. The event kicks off with the JCB Triumph Hurdle and then the Vincent O’Brien County Handicap Hurdle – both races are hurdle runs for over two miles and a furlong. There is also Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle – a Grade 3 competition open to horses aged five and over – and Christie’s Foxhunter Steeple Chase where horses must compete over three miles and two-and-a-half furlongs.

The Gold Cup Day, and Cheltenham Festival, finishes with the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle and the Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Steeple Chase. The Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle is a recent addition to Cheltenham Festival where horses must travel over 2 miles and four-and-a-half furlongs. The Grand Annual Steeple Chase is the last event, and is a Class A Grade 3 handicap chase – perfect for those wanting to make a final bet at the Cheltenham Gold Cup Day.