The Cheltenham Gold Cup is a Grade 1 National Hunt horse race that takes place annually at Cheltenham Racecourse in England. It is run over a distance of 3 miles and 2½ furlongs, and is considered one of the most prestigious National Hunt races in the world.
The race was first run in 1924 and has since become one of the most anticipated events in the National Hunt racing calendar. It is seen as a major test of stamina and is often watched by a capacity crowd at Cheltenham Racecourse. The race is open to horses aged five years and over, and the field is usually made up of the best horses in the sport.
What is the 2022 Cheltenham Gold Cup Date?
The 2022 Cheltenham Gold Cup will be held on Friday 18th March 2022. The race will be the 94th running of the event and will be the highlight of the four-day Cheltenham Festival, which runs from Tuesday 15th March to Friday 18th March.
History of the Cheltenham Gold Cup
The Cheltenham Gold Cup was first run in 1924, when it was won by Red Splash ridden by jockey Frank Smith. The race was originally run over a distance of 2 miles and 5 furlongs, but in 1968 it was changed to its current distance of 3 miles and 2½ furlongs.
The race has been won by some of the greatest horses in National Hunt racing, including Arkle, L’Escargot, Desert Orchid, Best Mate and Kauto Star. The most successful jockey in the history of the race is Pat Taaffe, who rode five winners between 1956 and 1966.
Notable Winners of the Cheltenham Gold Cup
Arkle (1964, 1965, 1966) – Arkle is widely regarded as one of the greatest steeplechasers of all time. He won the Cheltenham Gold Cup three times in 1964, 1965 and 1966, and is the only horse to have won the race three times. He went on to win the Grand National in 1965, becoming the only horse to win both races in the same year.
L’Escargot (1970, 1971) – L’Escargot was a French-bred horse who won the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 1970 and 1971. He was ridden by jockey Pat Taaffe and was trained by Dan Moore. He went on to win the Grand National in 1975, becoming the first horse to win both races in the same year since Arkle.
Desert Orchid (1989) – Desert Orchid was a popular grey horse who won the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 1989. He was trained by David Elsworth and ridden by jockey Richard Dunwoody. He finished second in the race on three occasions, and also won the King George VI Chase four times.
Prize Money for the Cheltenham Gold Cup
The total prize money for the Cheltenham Gold Cup is £625,000, with the winner taking home £357,500. The second placed horse will take home £137,500, and the third placed horse will receive £68,750. All other finishers in the race will receive prize money, with tenth place receiving £5,000.
The Cheltenham Festival
The Cheltenham Gold Cup is the highlight of the four-day Cheltenham Festival, which is held from Tuesday 15th March to Friday 18th March 2022. The other major races at the Festival include the Champion Hurdle, the Queen Mother Champion Chase and the Stayers’ Hurdle.
The Cheltenham Festival is the most prestigious National Hunt meeting in the world and attracts the best horses, jockeys and trainers in the sport. It is a major event in the British sporting calendar, and is watched by a capacity crowd at Cheltenham Racecourse.
Betting on the Cheltenham Gold Cup
Betting on the Cheltenham Gold Cup is a popular pastime and the race is one of the most heavily bet on events of the year. The odds are usually released a few weeks before the race, and the favourite will usually be well-backed.
There are many different types of bets available on the Cheltenham Gold Cup, including win, each-way and forecast bets. Punters can also bet on the winning distance, the winning jockey and the winning trainer.
How to Watch the Cheltenham Gold Cup
The Cheltenham Gold Cup will be broadcast live on terrestrial television in the UK and Ireland. It will also be streamed live online via the Cheltenham Racecourse website and the At The Races website.
The race will also be broadcast in many other countries around the world. Fans in the US can watch the race on NBC Sports, while fans in Australia can watch it on Sky Racing.
Notable Contenders for 2022 Cheltenham Gold Cup
It is still too early to predict the contenders for the 2022 Cheltenham Gold Cup, but here are some of the horses who could be in contention:
- Al Boum Photo – The 2020 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner could return to defend his title.
- Clan Des Obeaux – The former King George VI Chase winner could be a major contender.
- Nicky Henderson – The seven-time Champion Trainer has a strong team of contenders for the 2022 Gold Cup.
- Paul Nicholls – The 11-time Champion Trainer could have a number of contenders for the race.
Conclusion
The 2022 Cheltenham Gold Cup will be held on Friday 18th March 2022 and is one of the most prestigious National Hunt races in the world. It is a major test of stamina and is watched by a capacity crowd at Cheltenham Racecourse.
The race has been won by some of the greatest horses in National Hunt racing, including Arkle, L’Escargot, Desert Orchid, Best Mate and Kauto Star. The total prize money for the race is £625,000, and it is the highlight of the four-day Cheltenham Festival.
Betting on the race is a popular pastime, and the race will be broadcast live on terrestrial television in the UK and Ireland and streamed online. It is too early to predict the contenders for the 2022 Cheltenham Gold Cup, but Al Boum Photo, Clan Des Obeaux, Nicky Henderson and Paul Nicholls could all be in contention.