Punchestown Gold Cup
The Punchestown Gold Cup is a Grade 1 National Hunt steeplechase in Ireland which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Punchestown over a distance of about 3 miles and ½ furlong (3 miles and 120 yards, or 4,938 metres), and during its running there are seventeen fences to be jumped. The race is scheduled to take place each year during the Punchestown Festival in late April or early May.
| Grade 1 race | |
| Location | Punchestown Co. Kildare, Ireland |
|---|---|
| Race type | Steeplechase |
| Sponsor | Coral |
| Website | Punchestown |
| Race information | |
| Distance | 3m 120y (4,938 metres) |
| Surface | Turf |
| Track | Right-handed |
| Qualification | Five-years-old and up |
| Weight | 11 st 5 lb (5yo); 11 st 10 lb (6yo+) Allowances 7 lb for mares |
| Purse | €300,000 (2019) 1st: €177,000 |
| 2019 | ||
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| Kemboy | Al Boum Photo | The Storyteller |
| Previous years | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | ||
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| Bellshill | Djakadam | Road To Respect |
| 2017 | ||
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| Sizing John | Djakadam | Coneygree |
| 2016 | ||
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| Carlingford Lough | Djakadam | Don Poli |
| 2015 | ||
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| Don Cossack | Djakadam | Road To Riches |
| 2014 | ||
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| Boston Bob | First Lieutenant | Long Run |
| 2013 | ||
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| Sir Des Champs | Long Run | First Lieutenant |
| 2012 | ||
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| China Rock | Follow The Plan | Quel Esprit |
| 2011 | ||
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| Follow The Plan | Vic Venturi | Rare Bob |
| 2010 | ||
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| Planet Of Sound | War Of Attrition | Cooldine |
| 2009 | ||
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| Notre Pere | Schindlers Hunt | Scotsirish |
| 2008 | ||
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| Neptune Collonges | Snowy Morning | Mossbank |
| 2007 | ||
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| Neptune Collonges | Kingscliff | In Compliance |
| 2006 | ||
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| War Of Attrition | Beef Or Salmon | Hi Cloy |
| 2005 | ||
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| Kicking King | Rule Supreme | Pizarro |
| 2004 | ||
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| Beef Or Salmon | Harbour Pilot | First Gold |
| 2003 | ||
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| First Gold | Rince Ri | Native Upmanship |
The present version of the race was introduced in 1999, when it replaced a previous version for novice chasers only. It was formerly sponsored by Heineken, and it used to be known as the Heineken Gold Cup. It was backed by Diageo between 2005 and 2011, and from 2011 to 2014 sponsored by Tote Ireland. From 2014 to 2016 the race was sponsored by Bibby Financial Services and since 2017 Coral has been the sponsor.
The Punchestown Gold Cup usually features horses which ran previously in the Cheltenham Gold Cup. The last to win both races in the same year was Sizing John in 2017.
Records
Most successful horse (2 wins):
- Neptune Collonges – 2007, 2008
Leading jockey since 1999 (6 wins):
- Ruby Walsh – Imperial Call (1999), Commanche Court (2000), Neptune Collonges (2007, 2008), Boston Bob (2014), Kemboy (2019)
Leading trainer since 1999 (5 wins):
- Willie Mullins - Florida Pearl (2002), Sir Des Champs (2013), Boston Bob (2014), Bellshill (2018), Kemboy (2019)
Winners since 1999
- The 2001 running took place at Fairyhouse
Earlier winners
- 1960 – Oberstown
- 1961 – Jungle Cry
- 1962 – Coniston
- 1963 – Arkle
- 1964 – Fort Leney
- 1965 – Clusium
- 1966 – Crown Prince
- 1967 – White Abbess
- 1968 – Herring Gull
- 1969 – Kings Sprite
- 1970 – Glencaraig Lady
- 1971 – Dim Wit
- 1972 – Ebony Lad
- 1973 – Tartan Ace
- 1974 – Lough Inagh
- 1975 – Fort Fox
- 1976 – No Hill
- 1977 – Artistic Prince
- 1978 – Jack of Trumps
- 1979 – Jack's the Buoy
- 1980 – Pillar Brae
- 1981 – Owens Image
- 1982 – Single-U-Jay
- 1983 – Whistling Senator
- 1984 – By the Way
- 1985 – Cerimau
- 1986 – Over the Last
- 1987 – Darkorjon
- 1988 – Vulgan's Pass
- 1989 – Carvill's Hill
- 1990 – Mixed Blends
- 1991 – Local Whisper
- 1992 – Second Schedual
- 1993 – Fissure Seal
- 1994 – Merry Gale
- 1995 – Butches Boy
- 1996 – Billygoat Gruff
- 1997 – Noyan
- 1998 – Mahler
References
- pedigreequery.com – Punchestown Gold Cup – Punchestown.
- racenewsonline.co.uk – Racenews Archive (April 25, 2003).