Home > Horse Racing > Events > Paddy Power Gold Cup

The Cheltenham Open (The Paddy Power Gold Cup)

10-12 November 2006

The Cheltenham Open Meeting

The Cheltenham Open Meeting is the first major horseracing meeting of the National Hunt Season, and therefore attracts gamblers wishing to make early horseracing bets. It’s a three-day event, the highlight of which is The Paddy Power Gold Cup, a 2 mile 5 and a half furlong chase that takes place on the second day. However, there are also a number of other feature races for those who fancy a flutter on more than one event.

The first day of the Cheltenham Open is known as “Cheltenham Countryside Race Day”, and offers race-goers displays and trade stands relating to rural activities as well as a full day’s horseracing. The day benefits both the Countryside Alliance and the Greatwood Caring for Retired Racehorses. The main race on the first day of the Cheltenham Open is The Sporting Index Steeplechase.

Following The Paddy Power Gold Cup on the Saturday, race-goers can also then enjoy Sunday’s feature race, the £50,000 Greatwood Handicap Hurdle Race.

The Cheltenham Open - History of The Paddy Power Gold Cup

The Paddy Power Gold Cup has undergone a number of name changes since it became part of the horseracing events calendar in 1960. It began life as The Mackeson Gold Cup, but in 1996 a change in sponsorship resulted in it becoming The Murphy’s Gold Cup.

In 2000, its name changed again to The Thomas Pink Gold Cup, but in 2003 Irish bookmakers Paddy Power signed a five-year sponsorship deal, and it became known as The Paddy Power Gold Cup.

The Cheltenham Open - Previous Winners Of The Paddy Power Gold Cup

The first winner was Fortria in 1960, trained by Tom Dreaper and ridden by Pat Taaffe. Fortria won again with the same jockey in 1962.

Only four other horses have won The Paddy Power Gold Cup more than once, the most recent being Cyfor Malta, trained by Martin Pipe and ridden by Tony McCoy, which won in 1998 and again in 2002. In fact, the trainer/jockey combination of Pipe and McCoy has been the most successful in the history of The Paddy Power Gold Cup, with additional wins in 2000 with Lady Cricket and in 2001 with Shooting Light.

The other horses to have won the Gold Cup on more than one occasion are: Gay Trip (1979 and 1971); Half Free (1984 and 1985) and Bradbury Star (1993 and 1994).

The winner of the 2005 Paddy Power Gold Cup was Our Vic, trained by Martin Pipe and ridden by Timmy Murphy. Celestial Gold in 2004 was the first horse since Bright Highway in 1980 to win both The Paddy Power Gold Cup and The Hennessey Cognac Gold Cup Steeplechase.

The last five winners of the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham were as follows:

Betting on The Paddy Power Gold Cup at the Cheltenham Open

If you are considering placing a bet on the Cheltenham Open, on a horse running in The Paddy Power Gold Cup, it’s worth knowing that it has never been a race where the favourites have done particularly well.

However, nor has it been a race that favours outsiders. The horses with the longest odds to win the race have been Chatham in 1970 and Senor El Betrutti in 1997, both of which returned at 33-1.

Previous Winners of the Greatwood Handicap Hurdle Race

The most recent winners of The Greatwood Handicap Hurdle Race have been: Accordion Etoile (2004); Rigmarole (2003); Rooster Booster (2002); and Westender (2001).

Betting on Horseracing Events – Further Information

The Paddy Power Gold Cup is just one of many events in the horseracing calendar. Check out the other forthcoming events!

If you want to bet on the Paddy Power Gold Cup, or on any of the other races taking place at The Cheltenham Open, but want tips on how to bet on horseracing - visit the Horse Racing – How To Bet section.

Add to del.icio.us