What is the Cheltenham Gold Cup?
The Cheltenham Gold Cup is the blue riband of jump racing, the race every owner, trainer and jockey wants to win above all others. Run on the final day of the Cheltenham Festival, it brings together the best staying chasers in Britain and Ireland over roughly three and a quarter miles, finishing up Cheltenham's famous uphill run-in. To win the Gold Cup is to be crowned champion of the season.
The race
Unlike the Grand National, the Gold Cup is not a handicap. It is a weight-for-age conditions race, so the field carries set weights and the result is a genuine contest of the best against the best. The Cheltenham hill, the stiff climb to the line, is the great leveller: it rewards stamina and class, and has broken many a challenge that looked to be travelling well three from home.
A race steeped in history
The Gold Cup's roll of honour reads like a history of jump racing. Golden Miller won it five times in the 1930s; Arkle, widely regarded as the greatest chaser of all, dominated in the 1960s; Best Mate took three in a row in the 2000s; and Kauto Star produced one of the sport's most celebrated comebacks to regain his crown. Each renewal adds to that story.
Cheltenham Gold Cup betting
Ante-post markets for the Gold Cup open months in advance, often firming up after the major mid-season trials. Punters weigh up proven form at Cheltenham, stamina for the trip, and the strength of the leading Irish and British yards. For a full breakdown of the field, see our runners and tips coverage in the build-up to the race, and our Cheltenham Festival hub for the rest of the week.