Cheltenham 2022: Day 4, Gold Cup Day

The Cheltenham Festival is a test of stamina and reaching the fourth and final day in front with your bets takes some doing. The beauty of Cheltenham is the atmosphere surrounding the entire meeting, everyone is there for a good time and win or lose, these are great days that people will remember. The biggest of all takes place at the end, with the feature of the entire meeting, the Cheltenham Gold Cup, taking centre stage.

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The Cheltenham Gold Cup is known as the Blue Riband of chasing as is the most prestigious steeplechase in the world. Horses must combine stamina and speed and still have enough in the tank to get up the hill after three miles two furlongs and 22 fences. The race never fails to deliver drama and excitement even if you don’t back the winner. The winner is the champion staying chaser of the season and a horse that will go down in history as a Cheltenham Gold Cup winner.

The day starts with the Triumph Hurdle which brings together the best juvenile hurdlers in the championship race for four-year-olds. The race after the Gold Cup is the Foxhunters Chase for hunters and amateur jockeys. This race is run over the same course and distance as the Gold Cup and is the most important race in the division of the year. After the last race on Gold Cup day the anticipation begins immediately for the first race on day one in a bit less than one year.

You can see all the records and trends for the other three days of the Festival by clicking the links below:

Champion Day | Ladies Day | St Patrick's Thursday

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JCB Triumph Hurdle (1.30pm)

Hurdle Race (Two miles and a furlong – New Course)
Open to horses ages four-years-old

The JCB Triumph Hurdle is traditionally the first race on the fourth and final day of the Cheltenham Festival. The Grade 1 contest is restricted to horses aged four and is the championship hurdle race for juveniles. Historically winners have a poor record in the following season’s Champion Hurdle and Katchit in 2007 and 2008 is the last horse to win both races in consecutive seasons.

2022 RESULT

Vauban - 6/4F - Trained by Willie Mullins, ridden by Paul Townend
Fil Dor - 11/2 - Gordon Elliott, Davy Russell
Pied Piper - 7/2 - Gordon Elliott, Jack Kennedy

The Last 10 Winners of the JCB Triumph Hurdle

2022 - Vauban (6/4F) - Trained by Willie Mullins and ridden by Paul Townend
2021 - Quilixios - (2/1) Henry de Bromhead. Rachael Blackmore
2020 - Burning Victory (12/1) Willie Mullins, Paul Townend
2019 - Pentland Hills (20/1) Nicky Henderson, Nico de Boinville
2018 - Farclas (8/1) Gordon Elliott, Jack Kennedy
2017 - Defi Du Seuil (5/2F) Phillip Hobbs, Richard Johson
2016 – Ivanovich Gorbatov (9/2F) Aidan O’Brien, Barry Geraghty
2015 – Peace And Co (2/1F) Nicky Henderson, Barry Geraghty
2014 - Tiger Roll (10/1) Gordon Elliot, Davy Russell
2013 – Our Conor (4/1) Dessie Hughes, Bryan Cooper

Factfile

The first five home in the 2022 race were all trained by either Willie Mullins (with three) or Gordon Elliott (two)
Barry Geraghty has ridden the most winners with five successes.

The Vincent O'Brien County Handicap Hurdle (2.10pm)

Hurdle Race (Two miles and a furlong – New Course)
Open to horses ages five-years-old and older

This race is usually one of the most open handicap hurdles over the shorter distance in the season. It was first run in 1920 and has been named after the trainer who had 23 wins at the Cheltenham Festival. In the past the race has been the last one on the final day but was moved to the second spot on the card in 2009. Only one favourite in the last ten years has won this race.

2022 RESULT

State Man - 11/4F - Trained by Willie Mullins and ridden by Paul Townend
First Street - 16/1 - Nicky Henderson, Nico de Boinville
Colonel Mustard - 13/2 - Mrs Lorna Fowler, Connor Orr
West Cork - 13/2 - Dan Skelton, Harry Skelton

The Last 10 Winners of the Vincent O’Brien County Handicap Hurdle

2022 - State Man (11/4F) - Trained by Willie Mullins and ridden by Paul Townend
2021 - Belfast Banter - (33/1) -Peter Fahey, K C Sexton
2020 - Saint Moi (11/2) Willie Mullins, Barry Geraghty
2019 - Ch'tibello (12/1) Dan Skelton, Harry Skelton
2018 - Mohaayed (33/1) Dan Skelton, Bridget Andrews
2017 - Arctic Fire (20/1) Willie Mullins, Paul Townend
2016 – Superb Story (8/1) Dan Skelton, Harry Skelton
2015 – Wicklow Brave (25/1) Willie Mullins, Paul Townend
2014 - Lac Fontana (11/1) Paul Nicholls, Daryl Jacob
2013 – Ted Veale (10/1) Tony Martin, Bryan Cooper

Factfile

Three of the last five winners have carried under 11 stone.
Dan Skelton has trained three of the last seven winners.
One favourite has won in the past ten years.

The Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle (2.50)

Hurdle Race (Three miles – New Course)
Open to horses ages four-years-old

This race is the championship novice hurdle for stayer’s and attracts the best young horses suited to an extended trip. The race was first run in 2005, the year that the meeting was extended to four days. It now has a traditional spot on the card as the race before the Cheltenham Gold Cup. Bobs Worth won this novice event in 2011 and won the Gold Cup two years later.

2022 RESULT

Mr Nice Guy - 18/1 - Trained by Willie Mullins, ridden by Sean O'Keefe
Minella Cocooner - 9/2 - Willie Mullins, Paul Townend
Bardenstown Lad - 20/1 - John McConnell, Sean Bowen
Ballygrifincottage - 28/1 - Dan Skelton, Harry Skelton

The Last 10 Winners of the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle

2022 - Mr Nice Guy - (18/1) - Trained by Willie Mullins, ridden by Sean O'Keefe
2021 - Vanillier - (14/1) Gavin Cromwell, M P Walsh
2020 - Monkfish (5/1) Willie Mullins, Paul Townend
2019 - Minella Indo (50/1) Henry de Bromhead, Rachael Blackmore
2018 - Kilbricken Storm (33/1) Colin Tizzard, Harry Cobden
2107 - Penhill (16/1) Willie Mullins, Paul Townend
2016 – Unowhatimeanharry (11/1) Harry Fry, Noel Fehily
2015 – Martello Tower (14/1) Margaret Mullins, Adrian Heskin
2014 - Very Wood (33/1) Noel Meade, Paul Carberry
2013 – At Fishers Cross (11/8F) Rebecca Curtis, AP McCoy

Factfile

Three of the last four winners have all been six-year-olds.
Willie Mullins is the top trainer with three wins.
Eight of the last nine winners have had double figures odds.

Guide to the Cheltenham Gold Cup (3.30pm)

Steeple Chase (Three miles and two and a half furlongs – New Course)
Open to horses ages four-years-old and older

The Gold Cup is known as the Blue Riband of steeple chasing and the most prestigious race of the four day meeting. It was first run in 1819 but at the time the race was run over three miles on the flat. In 1924 the race first appeared on the calendar in its current format. The Cheltenham Gold Cup after the Grand National is the race anybody connected with the sport would like to win rather than any other. The race is always run on the last day of the festival.

2022 RESULT

A Plus Tard - 3/1F - Trained by Henry de Bromhead and ridden by Rachael Blackmore
Minella Indo - 7/1- Henry de Bromhead, Robbie Power
Protektorat - 10/1- Dan Skelton, Harry Skelton

The Last 10 Winners of the Cheltenham Gold Cup

2022 - A Plus Tard - (3/1F) - Trained by Henry de Bromhead and ridden by Rachael Blackmore
2021 - Minella Indo - (9/1) Henry de Bromhead. G W Kennedy
2020 - Al Boum Photo (10/3) Willie Mullins, Paul Townend
2019 - Al Boum Photo (12/1) Willie Mullins, Paul Townend
2018 - Native River (9/2) Colin Tizzard, Richard Johnson
2017 - Sizing John (7/1) Jessica Harrington, Robbie Power
2016 – Don Cossack (9/4F) Gordon Elliott, Barry Cooper
2015 - Coneygree (7/1) Mark Bradstock, Nico de Boinville
2014 - Lord Windermere (33/1) Jim Culloty, Davy Russell
2013 – Bobs Worth (11/4F) Nicky Henderson, Barry Geraghty

Factfile

Four of the last five winners have been aged eight years old.
Six of the last seven winners have been trained in Ireland.
There has only been two winning favourite in the last six runnings.
Henry de Bromhead has trained the first two home for the past two years.
2022 saw Rachael Blackmore become the first female jockey to win the Gold Cup.

Foxhunters’ Chase (4.10pm)

Steeple Chase (Three miles and two and a half furlongs – New Course)
Open to horses ages five-years-old and older

The Foxhunters’ Chase dates back to 1904 and traditionally is the race on the card immediately after the Gold Cup. The race is often called the ‘amateur Gold Cup’ because it brings together the best horses from the hunter chasers scene. The Foxhunters’ is run over the same distance and number of fences as the Gold Cup and horses not far below the best level have been successful in the past.

2022 RESULT

Billaway - 13/8F - Trained by Willie Mullins, ridden by Mr P W Mullins
Winged Leader - 9/2 - D Christie, Mr B O'Neill
Mighty Stowaway - 33/1 - Gordon Elliott, Mr J J Codd

The Last 10 Winners of the Foxhunters’ Chase

2022 - Billaway - (13/8F) - Trained by Willie Mullins, ridden by Mr P W Mullins
2021 - Porlock Bay - 16/1) - Will Biddick, Lorcan Williams
2020 - It Came to Pass (66/1) - Eugene M O'Sullivan, Miss M O'Sullivan
2019 - Hazel Hill (7/2F) - Philip Rowley, Mr Alex Edwards
2018 - Pacha Du Polder (18/1) Paul Nicholls. Miss H C Tucker
2017 - Pacha Du Polder (16/1) Paul Nicholls, Bryony Frost
2016 – On The Fringe (13/8F) Enda Bolger, Nina Carberry
2015 – On The Fringe (6/1) Enda Bolger, Nina Carberry
2014 - Tammys Hill (15/2) Liam Lennon, James Smyth
2013 – Salsify (2/1F) Roger Sweeney, Colman Sweeney

Fact File

Factfile

The last three winners have both been aged ten years old.
Not since 2014 has there been a winner younger than ten years old.
Paul Nicholls has trained two of the last six winners, making it four wins in all.

Mrs Paddy Power Mares' Chase (4.50pm)

This Grade 2 race is open to mares that are aged five years or older and takes place on the New Course over 2 miles 4 furlongs and 127 yards. There are 17 fences to get over. This is a new race and was first held last year and was won by Colreevy (9/4F) trained by Willie Mullins and ridden by Paul Townend.

2022 RESULT

Elimay - 9/4 - Trained by Willie Mullins, ridden by Mark Walsh
Pink Legend - 33/1 - Venetia Williams, Charlie Deutsch
Scarlet and Dove - 28/1 - J P O'Brien, B J Cooper
Zambella - 10/1 - Nigel Twiston-Davies, Daryl Jacob

The Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys Handicap Hurdle (5.30pm)

Hurdle Race (Two miles and four furlongs – New Course)
Open to horses ages four-years-old and older

The race was added to the festival programme in 2009 and is named after the 15-times National Hunt champion trainer who retired in 2006. Martin Pipe trained 34 winners at the Cheltenham Festival and his son David has maintained the family tradition by training winners at the meeting and Comply Or Die who won the Grand National in 2008. The David Pipe named event race is the last hurdle race of the meeting which culminates with a steeple chase.

2022 RESULT

Banbridge - 12/1 - Trained by J P O'Brien, ridden by M M McDonagh
Cobblers Dream - 12/1 - Ben Case, Jack Andrews
Hollow Games - 9/2 - Gordon Elliott, Jordan Gainford
Freedom to Dream - 20/1 - Peter Fahey, Liam Harrison

The Last 10 winners of the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys Handicap Hurdle

2022 - Banbridge (12/1) - Trained by J P O'Brien and ridden by M M McDonagh
2021 - Galopin Des Champs -8/1) Willie Mullins, S F O'Keefe
2020 - Indefeatigable (25/1) - Paul Webber , Rex Dingle
2019 - Early Doors (5/1) - JP O'Brien, Jonjo O'Neill
2018 - Blow by Blow (10/1) - Gordon Elliott. D Meyler
2017 - Champagne Classic (12/1) Gordon Elliott, JJ Slevin
2016 – Ibis De Rheu (14/1) Paul Nicholls, Jack Sherwood
2015 – Killultagh Vic (7/1) Willie Mullins, Luke Dempsey
2014 - Don Poli (12/1) Willie Mullins, Mikey Fogarty
2013 – Salubrious (16/1) Paul Nicholls, Harry Derham

Factfile

Only one favourite has won this race since 2009.
Willie Mullins has trained the winner four times since 2011.
Every winner has carried more than 11 stones.
No horse has won this race more than once.