Punchestown Gold Cup


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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 5400 yd), 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)

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 [sic]
 * 1993 – Fissure Seal
 * 1994 – Merry Gale
 * 1995 – Butches Boy
 * 1996 – Billygoat Gruff
 * 1997 – Noyan
 * 1998 – Mahler