December Gold Cup
Premier Handicap race
LocationCheltenham Racecourse
Cheltenham, England
Inaugurated1963
Race typeSteeplechase
SponsorVirgin Bet
WebsiteCheltenham
Race information
Distance2m 4f 127y (4,139 metres)
SurfaceTurf
TrackLeft-handed
QualificationFour-years-old and up
WeightHandicap
Purse£130,000 (2022)
1st: £74,035
December Gold Cup
2021
Red, yellow sash, striped sleeves and star on cap Purple, yellow stripe, striped cap Emerald green, beige braces, yellow sleeves, orange cap
Coole Cody Zanza Midnight Shadow
Previous years
2020
Emerald green, red hoop, white and red hooped sleeves, white cap, black diamonds Emerald green, beige braces, yellow sleeves, orange cap Dark blue, pink hoops, chevrons on sleeves, dark blue cap
Chatham Street Lad Midnight Shadow Benatar
2019
Dark green, red cross belts, dark green and beige striped sleeves, dark green cap, red star Red, white sash, emerald green sleeves, emerald green and red check cap Beige, beige and dark green diabolo on sleeves, black cap
Warthog Spiritofthegames Robin Des Foret
2018
Royal blue, white chevron, hooped sleeves, white cap Royal blue, white hoop and sleeves Dark blue, yellow diamond and sleeves, royal blue cap, red diamond
Frodon Cepage Guitar Pete
2017
Dark blue, yellow diamond and sleeves, royal blue cap, red diamond Dark green, white chevron, light green sleeves, dark green and white check cap Royal blue, pink hoop
Guitar Pete Clan Des Obeaux King's Odyssey
2016
Royal blue, white chevron, hooped sleeves, white cap Royal blue, white hoop and sleeves Black and light blue (quartered), black sleeves, white cap
Frodon Aso Village Vic
2015
Black and light blue (quartered), black sleeves, white cap Light blue, pink chevrons, light blue sleeves, light blue cap, pink star Light blue, black star, black sleeves, light blue stars, light blue cap, black star
Village Vic Champagne West Tenor Nivernais
2014
Dark blue and maroon stripes, pink sleeves and cap Royal blue, pink hoop Dark blue, white sleeves, dark blue diamonds, white cap, dark blue diamonds
Niceonefrankie Barrakilla Edgardo Sol
2013
Red, white disc, diabolo on sleeves Emerald green, yellow hoops, emerald green cap, white star Emerald green, yellow hoops, white cap
Double Ross Cantlow Colour Squadron
2012
Yellow, red star, yellow sleeves, white armlets, yellow cap, red star Royal blue, white hoops, maroon sleeves and cap Red and purple (quartered), yellow sleeves, red cap
Unioniste Walkon Golden Chieftain
2011
Emerald green, yellow hoops, white cap Orange, black star, black and orange striped sleeves Pink, pink and white quartered cap
Quantitativeeasing Medermit Roudoudou Ville
2010-2001
2010
Black and white (halved), red sleeves and cap Royal blue, emerald green sleeves, white cap, emerald green spots Emerald green, yellow hoops, white cap
Poquelin Great Endeavour Sunnyhillboy
2009
Black and white (halved), red sleeves and cap Black and orange stripes, black sleeves, orange stars, orange cap Beige, brown hooped sleeves, orange cap
Poquelin Razor Royale Skippers Brig
2007
White, Royal Blue sash, White sleeves, Red armlets, Red cap Yellow, blue hoop, checked sleeves, quartered cap Emerald green, white stars, emerald green cap, white star
Tamarinbleu Le Volfoni Patman Du Charmil
2006
Mauve and pink check, white sleeves, pink cap Emerald green, white stars, emerald green cap, white star Royal blue, beige cross belts
Exotic Dancer Knowhere Taranis
2005
Maroon and pink check Royal blue and yellow (halved), royal blue sleeves, yellow cap Light blue and royal blue diabolo, light blue sleeves and cap
Sir Oj Le Passing Lacdoudal
2004
Pink and yellow diamonds, yellow sleeves and cap Red, white cross belts, hooped sleeves and star on cap Emerald green and yellow quartered, white sleeves and cap
Monkerhostin Thisthatandtother Europa
2003
Mauve and pink check, white sleeves, pink cap Emerald green and yellow hoops, white cap Beige, Brown hooped sleeves, Orange cap
Iris Royal Risk Accessor Telemoss
2002
Brown, red stars, brown sleeves, red cap, brown star Light blue and maroon stripes, light blue sleeves, hooped cap Emerald green and yellow hoops, white cap
Fondmort Foly Pleasant Youlneverwalkalone
2000-1991
2000
Emerald green and yellow hoops, white cap Royal Blue, White seams, armlets and cap Orange, black star, striped sleeves, star on cap
Go Roger Go Robbo Connor Macleod
1999
Green, white checked sleeves Black, Pink cross belts, Black sleeves, Pink stars Dark green, white chevron, light green sleeves, dark green and white check cap
Legal Right Nordance Prince Irbee
1998
Red, white spots, white sleeves, red cap, white spots Red, white sash, green sleeves, white armlets, green cap Yellow, dark green chevron and sleeves, dark green and yellow hooped cap
Northern Starlight Simply Dashing Mr Strong Gale
1997
Purple, emerald green cross of lorraine, emerald green cap Royal blue, emerald green sleeves, white cap, emerald green spots Emerald green, purple cross belts, purple cap
Senor El Betrutti Challenger du Luc Bells Life
1996
Red and White diamonds, Royal Blue sleeves, Royal Blue cap, Red diamond Blue, red epaulets, red sleeves, white chevrons, blue cap, red star Blue, white spots and sleeves, yellow cap
Addington Boy Go Universal Northern Hide
1994
Green, yellow sleeves, white cap Green, red diamond, diamonds on sleeves and cap Emerald green, white sleeves, emerald green and white check cap
Dublin Flyer Nuaffe Southolt
1993
Black, white hoops, black sleeves, white diabolo, hooped cap Dark Blue, Yellow stripe, Yellow sleeves, Dark Blue armlets and star on Yellow cap Purple, White sleeves, Purple and White quartered cap
Fragrant Dawn Young Hustler Freeline Finishing
1992
Maroon, white sleeves, orange and white quartered cap RUST, green sash and cuffs, quartered cap Emerald green, white stars, emerald green cap, white star
Another Coral Second Schedual Tipping Tim
1991
Green, pink cap Maroon, white sleeves, orange and white quartered cap Tan, black and green hooped sleeves, black cap
Kings Fountain Another Coral Ida's Delight
1990-1987
1989
Red and Royal Blue (quartered), red sleeves, Quartered cap Green, white cross belts, navy blue sleeves and cap Black, yellow cross-belts and armlets
Clever Folly Welsh Oak Barnbrook Again
1988
Yellow, black spots and sleeves, white cap White, black stripe, striped sleeves and cap White, red seams, quartered cap
Pegwell Bay Beau Ranger Oregon Trail
1987
Blue, white seams, quartered cap Red and Royal Blue (quartered), red sleeves, Quartered cap Black and Yellow diamonds, checked sleeves, Yellow cap
Bishops Yarn Music Be Magic Raise An Argument
 

The December Gold Cup (run since 2023 as the Virgin Bet December Gold Cup) is a Premier Handicap National Hunt steeplechase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run on the New Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 2 miles and 4½ furlongs (2 miles 4 furlongs and 127 yards, or 4,139 metres), and during its running there are seventeen fences to be jumped. It is a handicap race, and it is scheduled to take place each year in December.

The event was first run in 1963. It was originally sponsored by Massey Ferguson and known as the Massey Ferguson Gold Cup. The race continued with this title until 1980, but since then it has had various sponsors and consequently several title changes. The 2005 running was named the Robin Cook Memorial Gold Cup. This was in memory of Robin Cook (1946–2005), a former Foreign Secretary who was a keen racing enthusiast. Boylesports supported the race from 2006 to 2009 as the Boylesports.com Gold Cup. The 2010 race was run as the Vote A P Gold Cup as part of a successful campaign to encourage racegoers to vote for Tony McCoy in the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award. In 2011 the racehorse owner Andy Stewart began backing the race to promote the Spinal Research charity, following a spinal injury suffered by his son Paul in 2008. The race was run as the Spinal Research The Atlantic 4 Gold Cup in 2011, the Paul Stewart IronSpine Charity Challenge Gold Cup in 2012 and was then named the Stewart Family Thank You Gold Cup in 2013. From 2014 to 2020 it was run as the Caspian Caviar Gold Cup and in 2021 it was titled the Racing Post Gold Cup. The race has become commonly known in the racing media as the December Gold Cup.[1] and in 2022 Ais took over sponsorship and the word December appeared in the official race title. Virgin Bet have sponsored the race since 2023. The race was give Grade 3 status when the National Hunt Pattern was revised in 1989 and was re-classified as a Premier Handicap from the 2022 running when Grade 3 status was renamed by the BHA.[2]

The race is often contested by horses which ran previously in the Paddy Power Gold Cup (also formerly known by other titles). Three have won both races in the same season – Pegwell Bay, Senor El Betrutti and Exotic Dancer.

Records

Most successful horse (2 wins) :

  • Poquelin – (2009),(2010)
  • Frodon - (2016, 2018)

Leading jockey (3 wins):

  • Richard Johnson – Legal Right (1999), Monkerhostin (2004) Village Vic (2015)

Leading trainer (5 wins):

  • Paul Nicholls – Poquelin (2009, 2010), Unioniste (2012), Frodon (2016, 2018)

Winners

Year Winner Age Weight Jockey Trainer
1963 Limeking 6 10–12 Toss Taaffe Danny Morgan
1964 Flying Wild 8 10-06 Tommy Carberry Dan Moore
1965 Flyingbolt 6 12-06 Pat Taaffe Tom Dreaper
1966 The Laird 5 10-09 Jeff King Bob Turnell
no race 1967 [lower-alpha 1]
1968 Tassilo 10 10-01 Aly Branford Fulke Walwyn
1969 Titus Oates 7 11–13 Ron Barry Gordon W. Richards
1970 Simian 8 11-08 David Moore Auriol Sinclair
1971 Leap Frog 7 12-01 Val O'Brien Tom Dreaper
1972 Arctic Bow 7 10–12 Andrew Turnell Bob Turnell
1973 Pendil 8 12-07 Richard Pitman Fred Winter
1974 Garnishee 10 10-06 David Mould Harry Thomson Jones
1975 Easby Abbey 8 11-10 Ron Barry Peter Easterby
no race 1976 [lower-alpha 2]
1977 Even Melody 8 11-02 Colin Hawkins Neville Crump
1978 The Snipe 8 10-00 Anthony Webber John Webber
1979 Father Delaney 7 10–10 Alan Brown Peter Easterby
1980 Bueche Giorod 9 10-00 Bryan Smart Jenny Pitman
no race 1981 [lower-alpha 3]
1982 Observe 6 10–11 John Francome Fred Winter
1983 Fifty Dollars More 8 11-10 Richard Linley Fred Winter
1984 Beau Ranger 6 09-10 John Hurst John Thorne
1985 Combs Ditch 9 11-09 Colin Brown David Elsworth
1986 Oregon Trail 6 10-07 Ronnie Beggan Simon Christian
1987 Bishops Yarn 8 10-07 Richard Guest Toby Balding
1988 Pegwell Bay 7 10–13 Brendan Powell Tim Forster
1989 Clever Folly 9 10-04 Neale Doughty Gordon W. Richards
no race 1990 [lower-alpha 3]
1991 Kings Fountain 8 11–10 Anthony Tory Kim Bailey
1992 Another Coral 9 11-04 Richard Dunwoody David Nicholson
1993 Fragrant Dawn 9 10-02 Declan Murphy Martin Pipe
1994 Dublin Flyer 8 10-02 Brendan Powell Tim Forster
no race 1995 [lower-alpha 4]
1996 Addington Boy 8 11–10 Tony Dobbin Gordon W. Richards
1997 Senor El Betrutti 8 11-03 Graham Bradley Susan Nock
1998 Northern Starlight 7 10-01 Tony McCoy Martin Pipe
1999 Legal Right 6 10–13 Richard Johnson Jonjo O'Neill
2000 Go Roger Go 8 11-00 Norman Williamson Edward O'Grady
no race 2001 [lower-alpha 4]
2002 Fondmort 6 10-05 Mick Fitzgerald Nicky Henderson
2003 Iris Royal [lower-alpha 5] 7 10–13 Mick Fitzgerald Nicky Henderson
2004 Monkerhostin 7 10-02 Richard Johnson Philip Hobbs
2005 Sir Oj 8 10-00 Paul Carberry Noel Meade
2006 Exotic Dancer 6 11-04 Tony Dobbin Jonjo O'Neill
2007 Tamarinbleu 7 11-08 Denis O'Regan David Pipe
no race 2008 [lower-alpha 6]
2009 Poquelin 6 11-08 Ruby Walsh Paul Nicholls
2010 Poquelin 7 11-07 Ian Popham Paul Nicholls
2011 Quantitativeeasing 6 10-07 Barry Geraghty Nicky Henderson
2012 Unioniste 4 10-00 Harry Derham Paul Nicholls
2013 Double Ross 7 10-08 Sam Twiston-Davies Nigel Twiston-Davies
2014 Niceonefrankie 8 11-05 Aidan Coleman Venetia Williams
2015 Village Vic 8 10-00 Richard Johnson Philip Hobbs
2016 Frodon 4 10-10 Sam Twiston-Davies Paul Nicholls
2017 Guitar Pete 7 10-02 Ryan Day Nicky Richards
2018 Frodon 6 11-12 Bryony Frost Paul Nicholls
2019 Warthog 7 10-03 David Noonan David Pipe
2020 Chatham Street Lad 8 10-10 Darragh O'Keeffe Michael Winters
2021 Coole Cody 10 10-12 Adam Wedge Evan Williams
no race 2022 [lower-alpha 4]
2023 Fugitif 8 11-03 Gavin Sheehan Richard Hobson
  1. ↑ The 1967 running was abandoned due to a foot-and-mouth disease epidemic
  2. ↑ The race was cancelled in 1976 because of frost
  3. 1 2 It was abandoned in both 1981 and 1990 because of snow
  4. 1 2 3 The 1995, 2001 and 2022 races were cancelled because of frost
  5. ↑ The 2003 edition was run on Cheltenham's Old Course over 2 miles and 4½ furlongs
  6. ↑ It was abandoned in 2008 due to waterlogging

See also

References

  1. ↑ Kerr, Tom. "Double Ross holds off Cantlow for Cup win". Racing Post. Archived from the original on 14 December 2013. Retrieved 5 January 2014.
  2. ↑ "Jump Pattern Committee update 22/23 season". British Horseracing Authority. Retrieved 12 August 2022.
  • Race Recordings 1979 – 2003
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