The Cheltenham Gold Cup first was run in 1819 at Cleeve Hill, which overlooks the current Cheltenham Racecourse. Amazingly, it was first run as a flat race over three miles.
The Gold Cup was then run as a jumps race for the first time in 1924. But, even when it was added to the Cheltenham Festival, it was overshadowed by both the National Hunt Chase and the County Handicap Hurdle. It was also initially run on the Old Course.
History was made in the 1930s, when Golden Miller won each race between 1932 and 1936. He also won the Grand National in 1934.
Following the Second World War, the profile of the Gold Cup was raised when Cottage Rake won the race three times between 1948 and 1950 for Vincent O’Brien.
Then, the legendary Arkle won the race three times in the 1960s. For his third victory, he went off at 1/10, the shortest price to date. Another landmark followed in 1983, when trainer Michael Dickinson trained the first five home.
Fast forward to 1990 and 100/1 shot Norton’s Coin won the race. This was the longest ever price for a winner of the race. Then, in 2009, Kauto Star became the first ever horse to regain the Gold Cup after winning it in 2007. He overcame stablemate and 2008 conqueror, Denman, and was named as “the best Gold Cup-winning figure since the Arkle era”.
In recent years, the Gold Cup has been dominated by trainer-jockey duo Willie Mullins and Paul Townend. They’ve won three out of the last five Cheltenham Gold Cups, including last year, when Galopin Des Champs claimed victory.