Punchestown Gold Cup

Punchestown Gold Cup
Grade 1 race
LocationPunchestown
County Kildare, Ireland
Race typeSteeplechase
SponsorCoral
WebsitePunchestown
Race information
Distance3m 120y (4,938 metres)
SurfaceTurf
TrackRight-handed
QualificationFive-years-old and up
Weight11 st 7 lb (5yo);
11 st 12 lb (6yo+)
Allowances
7 lb for mares
Purse€250,000 (2021)
1st: €147,500
Punchestown Gold Cup
2024
Dark blue, yellow panel, red cap Yellow and brown quartered, halved sleeves, yellow cap Emerald green, black seams, striped sleeves, black star on cap
Fastorslow Galopin Des Champs Hewick
Previous years
2023
Dark blue, yellow panel, red cap Yellow and brown quartered, halved sleeves, yellow cap Orange, dark blue star, dark blue stars on sleeves, dark blue cap
Fastorslow Galopin Des Champs Bravemansgame
2022
Red, white sash, royal blue cap Dark green, white chevron, light green sleeves, dark green and white check cap Yellow and black check, yellow sleeves, black star on cap
Allaho Clan Des Obeaux Al Boum Photo
2021
White, royal blue epaulettes, white sleeves, red spots, royal blue cap Yellow and black check, yellow sleeves, black star on cap Emerald green and orange hooped, white cap
Clan Des Obeaux Al Boum Photo Fakir D'Oudairies
2020-2011
2019
Royal blue, light blue star, white sleeves, royal blue stars, white cap, royal blue star Yellow and black check, yellow sleeves, black star on cap Dark blue, yellow diamond and sleeves, yellow cap, red diamond
Kemboy Al Boum Photo The Storyteller
2018
Beige and black halved, black chevrons on sleeves, beige cap Pink, light green spots, pink sleeves and cap MAROON, WHITE star and armlets, ROYAL BLUE cap
Bellshill Djakadam Road To Respect
2017
Emerald green, yellow chevron and sleeves, red cap Pink, light green spots, pink sleeves and cap Red, white chevrons on sleeves, white cap
Sizing John Djakadam Coneygree
2016
Emerald green and orange hooped, white cap Pink, light green spots, pink sleeves and cap Maroon, white star and armlet, maroon cap, white star
Carlingford Lough Djakadam Don Poli
2015
Maroon, white star and armlet, white cap Pink, light green spots, pink sleeves and cap Maroon, white star and armlet, maroon cap, white star
Don Cossack Djakadam Road To Riches
2014
Beige and black halved, black chevrons on sleeves, beige cap Maroon, white star and armlet, maroon cap, white star Brown, orange sleeves, quartered cap
Boston Bob First Lieutenant Long Run
2013
Maroon, white star and armlet, maroon cap, white star Brown, orange sleeves, quartered cap Maroon, White star, armlets and cap
Sir Des Champs Long Run First Lieutenant
2012
Yellow and red chevrons, hooped cap Orange, dark blue braces, halved sleeves, dark blue spots on cap Black, light blue sleeves, red cap
China Rock Follow The Plan Quel Esprit
2011
Orange, dark blue braces, halved sleeves, dark blue spots on cap Black, yellow diamond, yellow diamonds on sleeves, yellow diamond on cap Royal blue, red seams, royal blue sleeves and cap
Follow The Plan Vic Venturi Rare Bob
2010-2003
2010
Purple and white (halved), sleeves reversed, light blue cap Maroon, white star and armlet, maroon cap, white star Red, white hooped sleeves, red cap, white spots
Planet Of Sound War Of Attrition Cooldine
2009
Pink, white hoop, royal blue cap Red, white chevron, white chevrons on sleeves, quartered cap Light green, pink spots, light green sleeves, quartered cap
Notre Pere Schindlers Hunt Scotsirish
2008
YELLOW, Red star, Yellow sleeves and White armlet, Yellow cap and Red star YELLOW, black braces, yellow and white quartered cap MAROON, white star and armlet, maroon cap, white star
Neptune Collonges Snowy Morning Mossbank
2007
YELLOW, Red star, Yellow sleeves and White armlet, Yellow cap and Red star Purple, White hoop, White sleeves, Purple armlets, Emerald Green cap DARK BLUE, yellow panel, check cap
Neptune Collonges Kingscliff In Compliance
2006
MAROON, white star and armlet, maroon cap, white star YELLOW, emerald green seams, green cap White, Red hoop, striped sleeves, White cap
War Of Attrition Beef Or Salmon Hi Cloy
2005
PURPLE, white diamond and sleeves, purple cap Emerald green, white chevron, black cap Royal blue and yellow diabolo, yellow diamonds on sleeves, red cap
Kicking King Rule Supreme Pizarro
2004
YELLOW, emerald green seams, green cap Red, black sash, red cap, black spots Emerald green and yellow hooped, white cap
Beef Or Salmon Harbour Pilot First Gold
2003
Emerald green and yellow hoops, white cap MAROON and WHITE STRIPES, maroon and yellow check cap Dark blue
First Gold Rince Ri Native Upmanship
 

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.

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 Ladbrokes 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
  • Fastorslow – 2023, 2024

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 (6 wins):

  • Willie Mullins – Florida Pearl (2002), Sir Des Champs (2013), Boston Bob (2014), Bellshill (2018), Kemboy (2019), Allaho (2022)

Winners since 1999

Year
 Winner
 Age
 Jockey
 Trainer
1999 Imperial Call 10 Ruby Walsh Raymond Hurley
2000 Commanche Court 7 Ruby Walsh Ted Walsh
2001 Moscow Express [a] 9 Barry Geraghty Frances Crowley
2002 Florida Pearl 10 Barry Geraghty Willie Mullins
2003 First Gold 10 Thierry Doumen François Doumen
2004 Beef Or Salmon 8 Timmy Murphy Michael Hourigan
2005 Kicking King 7 Barry Geraghty Tom Taaffe
2006 War Of Attrition 7 Conor O'Dwyer Mouse Morris
2007 Neptune Collonges 6 Ruby Walsh Paul Nicholls
2008 Neptune Collonges 7 Ruby Walsh Paul Nicholls
2009 Notre Pere 8 Andrew Lynch Jim Dreaper
2010 Planet of Sound 8 Richard Johnson Philip Hobbs
2011 Follow the Plan 8 Tom Doyle Oliver McKiernan
2012 China Rock 9 Barry Geraghty Mouse Morris
2013 Sir Des Champs 7 Davy Russell Willie Mullins
2014 Boston Bob 9 Ruby Walsh Willie Mullins
2015 Don Cossack 8 Paul Carberry Gordon Elliott
2016 Carlingford Lough 10 Barry Geraghty John Kiely
2017 Sizing John 7 Robbie Power Jessica Harrington
2018 Bellshill 8 David Mullins Willie Mullins
2019 Kemboy 7 Ruby Walsh Willie Mullins
no race 2020 [b]
2021 Clan des Obeaux 9 Sam Twiston-Davies Paul Nicholls
2022 Allaho 8 Paul Townend Willie Mullins
2023 Fastorslow 7 JJ Slevin Martin Brassil
2024 Fastorslow 8 JJ Slevin Martin Brassil
  1. ^ The 2001 running took place at Fairyhouse
  2. ^ The 2020 running was cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic in the Republic of Ireland

Earlier winners

See also

References