2024 | ||
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Go Dante | Faivoir | Jipcot |
Previous years | ||
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2023 | ||
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Iceo | Knickerbockerglory | Playful Saint |
2022 | ||
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Surprise Package | Lively Citizen | Hacker Des Places |
2021 | ||
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Langer Dan | Miss Heritage | Mack The Man |
1990-1988 | ||
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1990 | ||
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Moody Man | Penny Forum | Joyful Noise |
1989 | ||
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Travel Mystery | Little Toro | Afaristoun |
1988 | ||
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Sprowston Boy | Jimbalou | Capa |
The Imperial Cup is a National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Sandown Park over a distance of about 2 miles (1 mile, 7 furlongs and 216 yards, or 3,215 metres), and during its running there are eight hurdles to be jumped. It is a handicap race, and it is scheduled to take place each year in March.
The Imperial Cup was first run in 1907, and in its early years it was considered to be the most important hurdle race of the season. A notable winner during this period was Trespasser, who recorded three successive victories in the race from 1920 to 1922. It continued to be the most prestigious hurdling event until the launch of the Champion Hurdle in 1927.
The race is run on a Saturday in March, three days before the start of the Cheltenham Festival. The sponsors of the Imperial Cup have offered a financial bonus prize to the owner of the winning horse since 1992, awarded if the horse goes on to win any race at the following week's Festival. Winners of this bonus have included Olympian (who won the Coral Cup at Cheltenham), Blowing Wind (County Hurdle) and Gaspara (Fred Winter Hurdle). . The 2016 running was unsponsored and no bonus was offered. [1] The bonus returned in 2017 when new sponsors Matchbook offered a £50,000 prize, [2] which they increased to £100,000 for the 2018 running. [3] The race was upgraded from Listed to Grade Three status by the British Horseracing Board from its 2014 running. [4] It was re-classified as a Premier Handicap from the 2023 running when Grade 3 status was renamed by the British Horseracing Authority. [5] Since 2024 it has been run as a Class 2 handicap.
Most successful horse since 1947 (2 wins):
Leading jockey since 1947 (5 wins):
Leading trainer since 1947 (6 wins):
Year | Winner | Age | Weight | Jockey | Trainer |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1907 | Carnegie | 6 | 11–04 | James O'Brien | J Westlake |
1908 | Perseus II | 8 | 11–11 | Mr Stuart Bell | James Bell |
1909 | Abandoned due to snow | ||||
1910 | Black Plum | 6 | 11–05 | Frank Mason | P Whitaker |
1911 | Bendy Tree | 4 | 11–04 | James Hare | J H Batho |
1912 | Meridian | 5 | 11–05 | Bill Escott | Harry Escott |
1913 | Rathlea | 8 | 10–12 | Ernest Piggott | E Martin |
1914 | Vermouth | 4 | 10–10 | George Duller | James Bell |
no race 1915–19 | |||||
1920 | Trespasser | 4 | 12–00 | George Duller | James Bell |
1921 | Trespasser | 5 | 12–07 | George Duller | James Bell |
1922 | Trespasser | 6 | 12–07 | George Duller | James Bell |
1923 | North Waltham | 6 | 12–04 | Georges Parfrement | P Whitaker |
1924 | Noce d'Argent | 4 | 11–02 | Frank Wootten | Stanley Wootten |
1925 | Scotch Pearl | 4 | 10–07 | Fred Rees | Walter Nightingall |
1926 | Peeping Tom | 4 | 10–07 | George Duller | James Bell |
1927 | Zeno | 4 | 10–12 | Billy Speck | Walter Nightingall |
1928 | Royal Falcon | 5 | 11–06 | Ted Leader | F Leech |
1929 | Hercules | 6 | 11–05 | George Duller | James Bell |
1930 | Rubicon II | 4 | 11–03 | George Duller | P Donaghue |
1931 | Residue | 7 | 12–03 | Georges Pellerin | Owen Anthony |
1932 | Last Of The Dandies | 5 | 11–04 | Bill Hollick | W Payne |
1933 | Flaming | 6 | 11–04 | George Bostwick | Ivor Anthony |
1934 | Lion Courage | 6 | 10–07 | Gerry Wilson | W R Read |
1935 | Negro | 6 | 11–06 | Billy Speck | George Wilson |
1936 | Negro | 7 | 11–03 | Staff Ingham | George Wilson |
1937 | Le Maestro | 6 | 11–00 | Jack Fawkus | Gwyn Evans |
1938 | Bimco | 5 | 10–12 | Ernest Vinall | H Turner |
1939 | Mange Tout | 5 | 11–08 | Gerry Wilson | George Duller |
no race 1940–46 | |||||
1947 | Tant Pis | 5 | 09-10 | Frenchie Nicholson | J Goldsmith |
1948 | Anglesey | 6 | 11-08 | Johnnie Gilbert | Staff Ingham |
1949 | Secret Service | 6 | 11–11 | Johnnie Gilbert | Fulke Walwyn |
1950 | Secret Service | 7 | 11–10 | Tommy Cusack | Fulke Walwyn |
1951 | Master Bidar | 6 | 10–11 | Rene Emery | Ron Smyth |
1952 | High Point | 6 | 10-04 | Harry Sprague | Ginger Dennistoun |
1953 | High Point | 7 | 10-07 | Harry Sprague | Ginger Dennistoun |
1954 | The Pills | 6 | 10-05 | Jack Dowdeswell | P Rice-Stringer |
1955 | Bon Mot II | 6 | 10–11 | Michael Haynes | Stanley Wootton |
1956 | Peggy Jones | 6 | 10–10 | Alan Oughton | S Palmer |
1957 | Camugliano | 7 | 10–10 | Rene Emery | H T Smith |
1958 | Flaming East | 9 | 10-05 | John Lawrence [a] | Ricky Vallance |
1959 | Langton Heath | 5 | 10-09 | Raymond Martin | Tom Griffiths |
1960 | Farmer's Boy | 7 | 11-07 | David Nicholson | W Stephenson |
1961 | Fidus Achates | 6 | 10-04 | Clive Chapman | M James |
1962 | Irish Imp | 5 | 10–12 | Geordie Ramshaw | Ron Smyth |
1963 | Antiar | 5 | 11-02 | David Mould | Peter Cazalet |
1964 | Invader | 6 | 11-04 | Buck Jones | Syd Dale |
1965 | Kildavin | 7 | 10-07 | Jeff King | John Sutcliffe, jnr |
1966 | Royal Sanction | 7 | 10-01 | Richard Pitman | Fred Winter |
1967 | Sir Thopas | 6 | 11-08 | Johnny Haine | Bob Turnell |
1968 | Persian Empire | 5 | 11-04 | Brough Scott | Colin Davies |
1969 | Abandoned because of waterlogged state of course | ||||
1970 | Solomon II | 6 | 11-01 | Bob Davies | David Barons |
1971 | Churchwood | 7 | 11-03 | Doug Barrott | M Goswell |
1972 | Spy Net | 5 | 10-00 | Geoff Lawson | Syd Dale |
1973 | Lanzarote | 5 | 12-04 | Richard Pitman | Fred Winter |
1974 | Flash Imp | 5 | 10-09 | Jeff King | Ron Smyth |
1975 | Abandoned because of waterlogged state of course | ||||
1976 | Nougat | 6 | 10-06 | Gerry Enright | Josh Gifford |
1977 | Acquaint | 6 | 11-02 | Nicky Henderson [a] | Fred Winter |
1978 | Winter Melody | 7 | 11-03 | Bill Smith | Jack Hanson |
1979 | Flying Diplomat | 3 | 10-06 | Tim Thomson Jones [a] | A Smith |
1980 | Prayukta | 5 | 11-00 | John Francome | Fred Winter |
1981 | Ekbalco | 5 | 11-03 | David Goulding | Roger Fisher |
1982 | Holemoor Star | 5 | 11-07 | Martin O'Halloran | Miss S. Morris |
1983 | Desert Hero | 9 | 09-08 | Roger Chapman | Fulke Walwyn |
1984 | Dalbury | 6 | 09-12 | Peter Corrigan | Peter Haynes |
1985 | Floyd | 5 | 10-03 | Colin Brown | David Elsworth |
1986 | Insular | 6 | 09-10 | Eamon Murphy | Ian Balding |
1987 | Inlander | 6 | 10-03 | Steve Smith Eccles | Reg Akehurst |
1988 | Sprowston Boy | 5 | 10–11 | Seamus McCrystal | Paul Kelleway |
1989 | Travel Mystery | 6 | 10-00 | Peter Scudamore | Martin Pipe |
1990 | Moody Man | 5 | 10–13 | Peter Hobbs | Philip Hobbs |
1991 | Precious Boy | 5 | 10-06 | Lorcan Wyer | Mike O'Neill |
1992 | King Credo | 7 | 10-04 | Adrian Maguire | Steve Woodman |
1993 | Olympian | 6 | 10-00 | Peter Scudamore | Martin Pipe |
1994 | Precious Boy | 8 | 11-07 | Lorcan Wyer | Michael Meagher |
1995 | Collier Bay | 5 | 10-02 | Tom Grantham | Jim Old |
1996 | Amancio | 5 | 10-08 | Mick Fitzgerald | Guy Harwood |
1997 | Carlito Brigante | 5 | 10-00 | Jamie Osborne | Paul Webber |
1998 | Blowing Wind | 5 | 11–10 | Tony McCoy | Martin Pipe |
1999 | Regency Rake | 7 | 10-07 | Adrian Maguire | Arthur Moore |
2000 | Magic Combination | 7 | 10-00 | David Casey | Barney Curley |
2001 | Ibal | 5 | 09-09 | Ben Hitchcott [a] | Dina Smith |
2002 | Polar Red | 5 | 11-01 | Tony McCoy | Martin Pipe |
2003 | Korelo | 5 | 11-06 | Tony McCoy | Martin Pipe |
2004 | Scorned | 9 | 10-03 | Barry Fenton | Andrew Balding |
2005 | Medison | 5 | 10-01 | Timmy Murphy | Martin Pipe |
2006 | Victram | 6 | 09-12 | Andrew Lynch | Adrian McGuinness |
2007 | Gaspara | 4 | 10-05 | Tony McCoy | David Pipe |
2008 | Ashkazar | 4 | 10–12 | Timmy Murphy | David Pipe |
2009 | Dave's Dream | 6 | 10–13 | Barry Geraghty | Nicky Henderson |
2010 | Qaspal | 6 | 10-03 | Tony McCoy | Philip Hobbs |
2011 | Alarazi | 7 | 10-03 | Dominic Elsworth | Lucy Wadham |
2012 | Paintball | 5 | 10-07 | Noel Fehily | Charlie Longsdon |
2013 | First Avenue | 8 | 10-05 | Nathan Adams | Laura Mongan |
2014 | Baltimore Rock | 5 | 10–12 | Tom Scudamore | David Pipe |
2015 | Ebony Express | 6 | 10-07 | Will Kennedy | Dr Richard Newland |
2016 | Flying Angel | 5 | 10-07 | Ryan Hatch | Nigel Twiston-Davies |
2017 | London Prize | 6 | 11-02 | Tom O'Brien | Ian Williams |
2018 | Mr Antolini | 8 | 10-01 | Jamie Bargary | Nigel Twiston-Davies |
2019 | Malaya | 5 | 10-02 | Harry Cobden | Paul Nicholls |
2020 | Abandoned because of waterlogged state of course | ||||
2021 | Langer Dan | 5 | 10-10 | Harry Skelton | Dan Skelton |
2022 | Surprise Package | 5 | 11-01 | James Bowen | Peter Fahey |
2023 | Iceo | 5 | 11-03 | Harry Cobden | Paul Nicholls |
2024 | Go Dante | 8 | 11-04 | Sean Bowen | Olly Murphy |
Thoroughbred racing is a sport and industry involving the racing of Thoroughbred horses. It is governed by different national bodies. There are two forms of the sport – flat racing and jump racing, the latter known as National Hunt racing in the UK and steeplechasing in the US. Jump racing can be further divided into hurdling and steeplechasing.
National Hunt Racing, also known as Jump Racing, is a form of horse racing particular to many European countries, including, but not limited to: France, Great Britain and Ireland. Jump Racing requires horses to jump over fences and ditches.
The Cheltenham Gold Cup is a Grade 1 National Hunt horse race run on the New Course at Cheltenham Racecourse in England, over a distance of about 3 miles 2½ furlongs, and during its running there are 22 fences to be jumped. The race takes place each year during the Cheltenham Festival in March.
The Champion Hurdle is a Grade 1 National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run on the Old Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 2 miles and ½ furlong, and during its running there are eight hurdles to be jumped. The race is the last leg of the Triple Crown of Hurdling and is scheduled to take place each year on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival in March.
The Coral Welsh Grand National is a Premier Handicap National Hunt steeplechase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Chepstow, Wales, over a distance of about 3 miles and 6½ furlongs, and during its running there are twenty-three fences to be jumped. It is a handicap race, and it is scheduled to take place each year on 27 December.
Gordon Elliott is a County Meath-based National Hunt racehorse trainer. After riding as an amateur jockey, he took out a trainer's licence in 2006. He was 29 when his first Grand National entry, the 33 to 1 outsider Silver Birch, won the 2007 race. In 2018 and 2019 he won the Grand National with Tiger Roll, ridden by Davy Russell and owned by Gigginstown House Stud, the first horse since Red Rum to win the race twice. In 2018 he also won the Irish Grand National, with General Principle. On two occasions, in 2017 and 2018, he was the top trainer at the Cheltenham Festival.
Nicholas John Henderson is a British racehorse trainer. He has been British jump racing Champion Trainer six times.
David Pipe is a British horse racing trainer based in Somerset, England. He is the son of 15 time champion trainer Martin Pipe.
The Lanzarote Hurdle is a National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Kempton Park over a distance of about 2 miles and 5 furlongs, and during its running there are ten hurdles to be jumped. It is a handicap race, and it is scheduled to take place each year in January.
The International Hurdle is a Grade 2 National Hunt hurdle race 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 1 furlong, and during its running there are eight hurdles to be jumped. The race is scheduled to take place each year in January.
The Scottish Champion Hurdle is a Grade 2 National Hunt hurdle race in Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Ayr, South Ayrshire, over a distance of about 2 miles, and during its running there are nine hurdles to be jumped. It is a limited handicap race, and it is scheduled to take place each year in April.
The County Handicap Hurdle is a Premier Handicap National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run on the New Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 2 miles and 1 furlong, and during its running there are eight hurdles to be jumped. It is a handicap race, and it is scheduled to take place each year during the Cheltenham Festival in March.
The Coral Cup is a Premier Handicap National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run on the Old Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 2 miles and 5 furlongs, and during its running there are ten hurdles to be jumped. It is a handicap race, and it is scheduled to take place each year during the Cheltenham Festival in March.
The TrustATrader Plate Handicap Chase is a Premier Handicap National Hunt steeplechase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run on the New Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 2 miles and 4½ furlongs, and during its running there are seventeen fences to be jumped. It is a handicap race, and is scheduled to take place each year during the Cheltenham Festival in March.
The Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle, known for sponsorship purposes as the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle, is a Premier Handicap National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years. It is run on the Old Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 2 miles and ½ furlong, and during its running there are eight hurdles to be jumped. It is a handicap race for juvenile hurdlers, and it is scheduled to take place each year during the Cheltenham Festival in March.
The Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Chase is a Premier Handicap National Hunt steeplechase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run on the Old Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 2 miles, and during its running there are fourteen fences to be jumped. It is a handicap race, and it is scheduled to take place each year during the Cheltenham Festival in March.
The Festival Trophy is a Premier Handicap National Hunt steeplechase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run on the Old Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 3 miles and 1 furlong, and during its running there are twenty fences to be jumped. It is a handicap race, and it is scheduled to take place each year on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival in March.
The National Hunt Challenge Cup is a National Hunt steeplechase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run on the Old Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 3 miles 6 furlongs, and during its running there are twenty-three fences to be jumped. The race is a handicap race for novice chasers, and it is scheduled to take place each year during the Cheltenham Festival in March.
The Centenary Novices' Handicap Chase, known for sponsorship purposes as the Paddy's Reward Club Novices' Handicap Chase, is a Listed National Hunt steeplechase in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Sandown Park over a distance of about 2 miles and 4 furlongs, and during its running there are sixteen fences to be jumped. It was a handicap race for novice chasers with a handicap rating between 0 and 145, and it takes place each year in March.
The Pertemps Network Final is a Premier Handicap National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run on the New Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about 3 miles, and during its running there are twelve hurdles to be jumped. It is a handicap race, and it is scheduled to take place each year during the Cheltenham Festival in March.