The major springtime festivals may be some way off when the National Hunt campaign kicks off in October each year, but the early season provides a steady stream of highlights, consisting of Graded contests and big field handicap affairs. Falling into the latter category is this event, which takes place at the home of the National Hunt game in November.
Making its debut at Cheltenham in 1960, the Paddy Power Gold Cup is one of the most popular betting heats of the Autumn months. Open to runners aged four years and older and held over a trip of 2m4½f around the Old Course, the contest demands speed, stamina, and the ability to safely navigate the 16 fences standing between the runners and a share of the £160,000 (2023) in total prize money.
Variously known as the Mackeson Gold Cup, the Murphy’s Gold Cup, the Thomas Pink Gold Cup and the BetVictor Gold Cup over the years, Paddy Power returned for a second stint as sponsor in 2020. Whilst run as a handicap, the race often falls to a horse capable of success at a much higher level, with previous winners including dual Champion Chaser Fortria and subsequent Cheltenham Gold Cup hero Imperial Commander.
2025 - Panic Attack
Dan Skelton's long-term plan for Panic Attack paid off as the mare produced an impressive seasonal reappearance to win by a cozy four lengths. She travelled comfortably in midfield before moving into contention around the final turn, where five runners were closely grouped. Favourite Vincenzo took the lead approaching the last but made a mistake, allowing Panic Attack to land in front and quickly pull clear up the hill. From this point there was simply no catching Harry Skelton’s mount.
- 1st - Panic Attack 6/1, Jockey: Harry Skelton, Trainer: Dan Skelton
- 2nd - Vincenzo 100/30F, Jockey: Dylan Johnston, Trainer: Sam Thomas
- 3rd - Hoe Joly Smoke 9/1, Jockey: Kielan Woods, Trainer: Dan Skelton
2024 - Il Ridoto
Il Ridoto secured the Paddy Power Gold Cup at the third attempt, giving conditional jockey Freddie Gingell another major success. The 10/1 shot travelled prominently as Editeur Du Gite led before a mistake at the water jump ended his challenge. Lets Go Champ then took over pole position, with favourite Ginny's Destiny and Ga Law also in contention. However, Il Ridoto moved ahead as the trio struggled to keep pace, sending him into an unassailable lead. Ga Law carried on to maintain second place but Ginny’s Destiny was pulled up two fences out.
- 1st - Il Ridoto 10/1, Jockey: Freddie Gingell, Trainer: Paul Nicholls
- 2nd - Ga Law 9/2, Jockey: Gavin Sheehan, Trainer: Jamie Snowden
- 3rd - Lets Go Champ 15/2, Jockey: Mike O’Connor, Trainer: Henry De Bromhead
2023 - Stage Star
Stage Star survived a late scare to win this race for Paul Nicholls and Harry Cobden. The well-backed favourite was prominent throughout, initially alongside top-weight The Real Whacker, before Fugitif joined them on the final circuit. Notlongtillmay travelled strongly behind the leaders and looked a serious threat, but Stage Star pulled clear after the second-last fence. He then made a bad mistake at the final obstacle, allowing his rivals a chance, but Cobden kept him balanced and he recovered to win by a comfortable margin.
- 1st – Stage Star 4/1F - Jockey: Harry Cobden, Trainer: Paul Nicholls
- 2nd – Notlontillmay 7/1 - Jockey: Adam Wedge, Trainer: Laura Morgan
- 3rd – Il Ridoto 12/1 - Jockey: Freddie Gingell, Trainer: Paul Nicholls
2022 - Ga Law
Ga Law snatched a thrilling victory from French Dynamite in the closing strides after appearing in trouble at the top of the hill. Sent off at odds of 5/1, Jamie Snowden's runner made several jumping errors and was off the bridle as the field turned for home. French Dynamite had moved past Storm Control and looked capable of holding on, but Jonathan Burke's mount began to find his stride after the last. Ga Law gradually closed the gap up the hill and got his head in front in the dying strides to win by less than a length.
- 1st – Ga Law 5/1 - Jockey: Jonathan Burke, Trainer: Jamie Snowden
- 2nd – French Dynamite 5/1 - Jockey: Darragh O’Keeffe, Trainer: Mouse Morris
- 3rd – Midnight River 15/2 - Jockey: Harry Skelton, Trainer: Dan Skelton
2021 - Midnight Shadow
Midnight Shadow held on by three-quarters of a length in a dramatic renewal. Coole Cody looked poised to repeat his previous year's success, but crumpled on landing after the second-last fence while out in front. That left the 9/1 eventual winner well clear of the chasing pack, although he still had work to do after making a mistake at the last and tiring up the hill. Almost all rivals began making up ground late on, none more so than Protektorat, but the favourite just ended up running out of room.
- 1st – Midnight Shadow 9/1 - Jockey: Ryan Mania, Trainer: Sue Smith
- 2nd – Protektorat 11/2F - Jockey: Harry Skelton, Trainer: Dan Skelton
- 3rd – Lalor 7/1 - Jockey: Harry Cobden, Trainer: Paul Nicholls
2020 - Coole Cody
A gutsy display from Coole Cody saw him win this Gold Cup, which was back to being sponsored by Paddy Power. The race began a little chaotically as Siruh Du Lac unseated Tom Scudamore at the opening fence, but Coole Cody’s game plan remained unchanged. He led comfortably early on despite a couple of jumping errors and at one point was enjoying a lead of at least ten lengths. The advantage narrowed as the field closed on the run downhill, and Spiritofthegames looked a serious threat after the final two fences. However, Coole Cody found enough to hold on as he made all at Cheltenham.
- 1st – Coole Cody 10/1 - Jockey: Tom O’Brien, Trainer: Evan Williams
- 2nd – Spiritofthegames 14/1 - Jockey: Harry Skelton, Trainer: Dan Skelton
- 3rd – Al Dancer 5/1F - Jockey: Sam Twiston-Davies, Trainer: Nigel Twiston-Davies
2019 - Happy Diva
Happy Diva made amends for her unlucky exit in the previous year's race, when she had been brought down despite travelling strongly. This time, Kerry Lee's mare and jockey Richard Patrick stayed out of trouble and mounted a challenge in the closing stages. Favourite Slate House had looked dangerous after making ground from the rear, but fell at the second-last fence, leaving Happy Diva with work still to do. She responded well as Brelan D'As and Barry Geraghty closed up the hill, holding on by a neck.
- 1st – Happy Diva 14/1 - Jockey: Richard Patrick, Trainer: Kerry Lee
- 2nd – Brelan D’As 20/1 - Jockey: Barry Geraghty, Trainer: Paul Nicholls
- 3rd – Warthog 33/1 - Jockey: David Noonan, Trainer: David Pipe
2018 - Baron Alco
In an incident-packed race, Baron Alco kept out of trouble to win by two lengths from Frodon and Bryony Frost. Jamie Moore's mount raced close to the front and jumped accurately while several rivals fell or unseated their riders. He took over the pacemaking duties and gradually established control, with Frodon the only serious challenger approaching the finish. Despite carrying top weight, Frodon stayed on gamely but could not get past. Only six of the 18 runners completed the race: four unseated riders, three fell, two were brought down, and the rest pulled up.
- 1st – Baron Alco 8/1 - Jockey: Jamie Moore, Trainer: Gary Moore
- 2nd – Frodon 16/1 - Jockey: Bryony Frost, Trainer: Paul Nicholls
- 3rd – Guitar Pete 12/1 - Jockey: Brian Hughes, Trainer: Nicky Richards
2017 - Splash Of Ginge
An unfancied 25/1 outsider, Splash Of Ginge landed the 2017 race for Nigel Twiston-Davies after a late change of jockey. Tom Bellamy took the ride after Jamie Bargary chose stablemate Foxtail Hill, who faded in the final half mile. Carrying a low weight, Splash Of Ginge moved into contention alongside Starchitect rounding the turn for home. Starchitect jumped the final two fences poorly, whereas Splash Of Ginge negotiated them well, helping him maintain his advantage up Cheltenham's famous hill and hold off his rival by a neck.
- 1st – Splash Of Ginge 25/1 - Jockey: Tom Bellamy, Trainer: Nigel Twiston-Davies
- 2nd – Starchitect 10/1 - Jockey: Tom Scudamore, Trainer: David Pipe
- 3rd – Le Prezien 6/1 - Jockey: Barry Geraghty, Trainer: Paul Nicholls
2016 - Taquin Du Seuil
Taquin Du Seuil came from behind to deny Village Vic in the closing stages to claim just a second win in over two-and-a-half years. Richard Johnson looked set to make all on Village Vic, who still led after jumping the last, but Aidan Coleman's mount rallied strongly on the run-in. Taquin Du Seuil had been towards the rear earlier in the race but moved into contention with three fences remaining and caught the leader 50 yards from the line to win by a neck in a thrilling finale to the 2016 edition of this famous contest.
- 1st – Taquin Du Seuil 8/1 - Jockey: Aidan Coleman, Trainer: Jonjp O’Neill
- 2nd – Village Vic 20/1 - Jockey: Richard Johnson, Trainer: Philip Hobbs
- 3rd – Buywise 12/1 - Jockey: Paul Moloney, Trainer: Evan Williams
2015 - Annacotty
- 1st – Annacotty 12/1 - Jockey: Ian Popham, Trainer: Alan King
- 2nd – Buywise 10/1 - Jockey: Paul Moloney, Trainer: Evan Williams
- 3rd – Sound Investment 20/1 - Jockey: Sam Twiston-Davies, Trainer: Paul Nicholls
2014 - Caid Du Berlais
- 1st – Caid Du Berlais 10/1 - Jockey: Sam Twiston-Davies, Trainer: Paul Nicholls
- 2nd – Johns Spirit 8/1 - Jockey: Richie McLernon, Trainer: Jonjo O’Neill
- 3rd – Present View 5/1F - Jockey: Brendan Powell, Trainer: Jamie Snowden