Cheltenham Gold Cup

The Cheltenham Gold Cup is the oldest feature race run at the Cheltenham Festival and is regarded as the most prestigious Grade 1 steeplechase in national hunt racing. To learn more about one of the most important races in the United Kingdom, read more below:

Cheltenham Gold Cup Guide

The Cheltenham Gold Cup is a Grade 1 steeplechase run over a distance of 3 miles 2½ furlongs on the Cheltenham New Course during the annual Cheltenham Festival. The race is generally recognised as the highlight of the Cheltenham Festival, and attracts many of the highest rated chasers in national hunt racing.

The Cheltenham Gold Cup is run by 5 year old and above racehorses. A win in the race is considered to be one of the pinnacles of achievement in national hunt racing, and it is not unusual for a racehorse that achieves repeat wins to become celebrity in its own right.

Cheltenham Gold Cup Legends

The Cheltenham Gold Cup is an integral part of the national hunt heritage, and some of the winners of this race are amongst the most famous sporting legends in the United Kingdom. Three times winners Arkle and Best Mate are two of the most beloved national hunt champions, while the likes of five times Gold Cup winner Golden Miller are unlikely to grace Cheltenham Racecourse ever again.

Cheltenham Gold Cup Betting

Betting markets for the Cheltenham Festival are open all year round, as punters attempt to take advantage of high ante-post prices. The Gold Cup is one the biggest betting events in British racing, which means punters betting on the race have access to a number of promotional betting specials, place specials and free bet specials in the days and hours prior to the race.

Due to the fact that racehorses do not carry weights the Cheltenham Gold Cup betting markets tend to favour horses that have shown form in Grade 1 chases earlier in the season. The shorter-priced runners do tend to perform well in the race, although victory by the favourite is by no means a given. In the last decade 7 and 8 year olds have dominated in the Cheltenham Gold Cup winning 7 out of 10 races.

If you’d like to bet on the Cheltenham Gold Cup, we recommend Paddy Power, Ireland’s most popular bookmaker. Signing up for a Paddy Power account will automatically qualify you for a wide range of bonuses and betting specials that will help you to get the most out of your Cheltenham Festival betting experience.