Irish Gold Cup
The Irish Gold Cup (Irish: Corn Óir na hÉireann) is a Grade 1 National Hunt steeplechase in Ireland which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Leopardstown over a distance of about 3 miles (4,828 metres), and during its running there are seventeen fences to be jumped. The race is scheduled to take place each year in February.
2020 | ||
Delta Work | Kemboy | Presenting Percy |
Previous years | ||
---|---|---|
2019 | ||
Bellshill | Road To Respect | The Storyteller |
2018 | ||
Edwulf | Outlander | Djakadam |
2017 | ||
Sizing John | Empire Of Dirt | Don Poli |
2016 | ||
Carlingford Lough | Road To Riches | Fine Rightly |
2015 | ||
Carlingford Lough | Foxrock | Lord Windermere |
2014 | ||
Last Instalment | Tidal Bay | First Lieutenant |
2013 | ||
Sir Des Champs | Flemenstar | Joncol |
2012 | ||
Quel Esprit | Roberto Goldback | Treacle |
2011 | ||
Kempes | Glencove Marina | Joncol |
2010-2001 | ||
---|---|---|
2010 | ||
Joncol | Cooldine | Schindlers Hunt |
2009 | ||
Neptune Collonges | Notre Pere | Chelsea Harbour |
2008 | ||
The Listener | Turko | Snowy Morning |
2007 | ||
Beef Or Salmon | The Listener | Hi Cloy |
2006 | ||
Beef Or Salmon | Hedgehunter | Native Upmanship |
2005 | ||
Rule Supreme | Beef Or Salmon | Cloudy Bays |
2004 | ||
Florida Pearl | Le Coudray | Rince Ri |
2003 | ||
Beef Or Salmon | Colonel Braxton | Harbour Pilot |
2002 | ||
Alexander Banquet | Behrajan | Rince Ri |
2001 | ||
Florida Pearl | Alexander Banquet | Dorans Pride |
2000-1991 | ||
---|---|---|
2000 | ||
Florida Pearl | Dorans Pride | Rince Ri |
1999 | ||
Florida Pearl | Escartefigue | Addington Boy |
1998 | ||
Dorans Pride | Dun Belle | Anabatic |
1997 | ||
Danoli | Jodami | Imperial Call |
1996 | ||
Imperial Call | Master Oats | Monsieur Le Cure |
1995 | ||
Jodami | Merry Gale | Nuaffe |
1994 | ||
Jodami | Deep Bramble | Force Seven |
1993 | ||
Jodami | Chatam | General Idea |
1992 | ||
Carvill's Hill | Garamycin | Gold Options |
1991 | ||
Nick The Brief | Olan Lad | Roc De Prince |
1990-1989 | ||
---|---|---|
1990 | ||
Nick The Brief | Carvill's Hill | Maid Of Money |
1989 | ||
Carvill's Hill | Weather The Storm | Lastofthebrownies |
The event was first run in 1987, and it was originally titled the Vincent O'Brien Irish Gold Cup. It was named after Vincent O'Brien (1917–2009), who was a successful racehorse trainer. The race was renamed the Hennessy Gold Cup in 1991, when Hennessy began sponsoring and it was often referred to as the "Irish Hennessy", as there was also a long-established chase in Great Britain called the Hennessy Gold Cup. Hennessy's sponsorship ended after the 2015 running and the 2016 event was run as the unsponsored Irish Gold Cup.[1] Unibet sponsored the Irish Gold Cup from 2017 to 2019.[2] In 2017, it was run as the Stan James Irish Gold Cup Chase and in 2018 and 2019 as the Unibet Irish Gold Cup. Since 2020 the race has been sponsored by Paddy Power.
Throughout its history the race has served as a leading trial for the Cheltenham Gold Cup. Three horses have won both events in the same year – Jodami (1993), Imperial Call (1996) and Sizing John (2017).
Records
Most successful horse (4 wins):
- Florida Pearl – 1999, 2000, 2001, 2004
Leading jockey (4 wins):
- Mark Dwyer – Forgive 'n Forget (1987), Jodami (1993,1994,1995)
Leading trainer (10 wins):
- Willie Mullins - Florida Pearl (1999,2000,2001,2004), Alexander Banquet (2002), Rule Supreme (2005), Kempes (2011), Quel Esprit (2012), Sir Des Champs (2013), Bellshill (2019), Kemboy (2021)
Winners
- Amateur jockeys indicated by "Mr".
Year |
Winner |
Age |
Jockey |
Trainer |
---|---|---|---|---|
1987 | Forgive 'n Forget | 10 | Mark Dwyer | Jimmy FitzGerald |
1988 | Playschool | 10 | Paul Nicholls | David Barons |
1989 | Carvill's Hill | 7 | Ken Morgan | Jim Dreaper |
1990 | Nick the Brief | 8 | Martin Lynch | John Upson |
1991 | Nick the Brief | 9 | Robbie Supple | John Upson |
1992 | Carvill's Hill | 10 | Peter Scudamore | Martin Pipe |
1993 | Jodami | 8 | Mark Dwyer | Peter Beaumont |
1994 | Jodami | 9 | Mark Dwyer | Peter Beaumont |
1995 | Jodami | 10 | Mark Dwyer | Peter Beaumont |
1996 | Imperial Call | 7 | Conor O'Dwyer | Fergie Sutherland |
1997 | Danoli | 9 | Tommy Treacy | Tom Foley |
1998 | Dorans Pride | 9 | Richard Dunwoody | Michael Hourigan |
1999 | Florida Pearl | 7 | Richard Dunwoody | Willie Mullins |
2000 | Florida Pearl | 8 | Paul Carberry | Willie Mullins |
2001 | Florida Pearl | 9 | Richard Johnson | Willie Mullins |
2002 | Alexander Banquet | 9 | Barry Geraghty | Willie Mullins |
2003 | Beef or Salmon | 7 | Timmy Murphy | Michael Hourigan |
2004 | Florida Pearl | 12 | Richard Johnson | Willie Mullins |
2005 | Rule Supreme | 9 | David Casey | Willie Mullins |
2006 | Beef or Salmon | 10 | Paul Carberry | Michael Hourigan |
2007 | Beef or Salmon | 11 | Andrew McNamara | Michael Hourigan |
2008 | The Listener | 9 | Daryl Jacob | Robert & Sally Alner |
2009 | Neptune Collonges | 8 | Ruby Walsh | Paul Nicholls |
2010 | Joncol | 7 | Alain Cawley | Paul Nolan |
2011 | Kempes | 8 | David Casey | Willie Mullins |
2012 | Quel Esprit | 8 | Ruby Walsh | Willie Mullins |
2013 | Sir Des Champs | 7 | Davy Russell | Willie Mullins |
2014 | Last Instalment | 9 | Brian O'Connell | Philip Fenton |
2015 | Carlingford Lough | 9 | Tony McCoy | John Kiely |
2016 | Carlingford Lough | 10 | Mark Walsh | John Kiely |
2017 | Sizing John | 7 | Robbie Power | Jessica Harrington |
2018 | Edwulf | 9 | Mr Derek O'Connor | Joseph O'Brien |
2019 | Bellshill | 9 | Ruby Walsh | Willie Mullins |
2020 | Delta Work | 7 | Jack Kennedy | Gordon Elliott |
2021 | Kemboy | 9 | Danny Mullins | Willie Mullins |
See also
- List of Irish National Hunt races
- Recurring sporting events established in 1987 – this race is included under its original title, Vincent O'Brien Irish Gold Cup.
References
- O'Connor, Brian. "Irish Gold Cup to go ahead at Leopardstown without sponsor". Irish Times. Retrieved 2 February 2016.
- Barber, Bill (29 September 2017). "Unibet take over Champion Hurdle sponsorship from Stan James". Racing Post. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
- pedigreequery.com – Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup – Leopardstown.