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.

Irish Gold Cup
2020
Delta Work Kemboy Presenting Percy

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 – Florida Pearl, 4 wins (1999, 2000, 2001, 2004)
  • Most successful jockey – Mark Dwyer, 4 wins (1987, 1993, 1994, 1995)
  • Most successful trainer – Willie Mullins, 10 wins (1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2019)

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

See also

References
  1. O'Connor, Brian. "Irish Gold Cup to go ahead at Leopardstown without sponsor". Irish Times. Retrieved 2 February 2016.
  2. Barber, Bill (29 September 2017). "Unibet take over Champion Hurdle sponsorship from Stan James". Racing Post. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
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