Who will lift the Gold Cup at Cheltenham Festival?

It's the final day of racing at the Cheltenham Festival- and today racegoers are celebrating 100 years of the Gold Cup.

Last year's winner Galopin des Champs will face 11 rivals to defend his title.

Managing director of the Jockey Club, Ian Renton, said: "It's a brilliant event, the Gold Cup dates back to 1924 - it is fantastic to be able to be celebrating its centenary and a lot of things have changed in those 100 years.

""It is the race that every owner, trainer, jockey and stable staff want to win. It is seen as the blue ribbon of Steeple Chasing.

"So we'll have nearly 70,000 people here. It is a really fantastic race this year, with last year's winner Galopin des Champs back to try and defend his crown."

DAY FOUR - Gold Cup Day

The focus of the day will be The Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup, as the name suggests. Over three miles and two furlongs long, this is the premier race of the event. It will begin at 15:30, and the winner will take home the Gold Cup.

13:30 - Triumph Hurdle

14.10 - County Hurdle

14.50 - Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle

15.30 (Feature Race of the Day) - Gold Cup

16.10 - St James's Place Hunters' Chase

16.50 - Mares Chase

17.30 - Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle

100 years of the Gold Cup

Although a race known as the Cheltenham Gold Cup had existed in the past as a three-mile Flat race in the 19th century, the Cheltenham Gold Cup as we know it was born in 1924.

Over the years there have been some memorable moments:

1924 - The very first Gold Cup, won by Red Splash.

1932-1936 - Golden Miller won the race 5 years back to back in the 1930s

2002-2004 - It was 3 wins over 3 years for legendary horse Best Mate, who was later inducted into the Cheltenham Racecourse Hall of Fame in 2007.

2022 - The first female jockey to win the Gold Cup, Rachael Blackmore, rode to victory on A Plus Tard.

2023 - Last year saw Galopin Des Champs win the Gold Cup, and he'll be back to defend his title this year.

In the Cheltenham Gold Cup’s history, only eight horses have won more than once, most recently Al Boum Photo in 2019 and 2020.

Kauto Star, who won in 2007 and 2009 and was the only horse to ever regain the Gold Cup.

The others were Best Mate (2002, 2003. 2004), L’Escargot (1970, 1971), Arkle (1964, 1965, 1966), Cottage Rake (1948, 1949, 1950), Golden Miller (1932, 1933, 1934, 1935, 1936) and Easter Hero (1929, 1930).

Golden Miller holds the record for the most Gold Cup victories, with five consecutive wins from 1932 to 1936.

The most successful trainer has been Tom Dreaper, who won five Gold Cups with three separate horses - Prince Regent (1946), Arkle (1964, 1965 and 1966) and Fort Leney (1968).

Paul Nicholls is the most successful current trainer with four wins with three separate horses - See More Business (1999), Kauto Star (2007 & 2009) and Denman (2008).

The most successful jockey has been Pat Taaffe, who recorded four victories on Arkle (1964, 1965 & 1966) and Fort Leney (1968).

Paul Townend is the only current rider to have been successful more than once, having partnered Al Boum Photo to both his victories (2019 & 2020).

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