Classic Cheltenham Gold Cup Races

It’s impossible to ignore The Gold Cup at Cheltenham, although there’s always a desire for certain races at the Festival, and its biggest test has created a number of memorable renewals. We look at the modern Gold Cups, with hard-fought battles, record-breaking rides and astonishing upsets, showing how The Gold Cup is the biggest test of a stay chaser.

Best recent Cheltenham Gold Cups

Native River-2018
The 2018 Gold Cup was a tough battle where both Native River and Might Bite went toe to toe throughout. They ended up slugging it out, all the way from mid race to the final fence, when Might Bite looked like he might be going for The Gold Cup and had the lead for most of the way, but the sheer power and stamina of Native River was the key to overcoming the challenging Cheltenham hill. Richard Johnson rode Native River for trainer Colin Tizzard and the winner was awarded success by 4½ lengths, one of the strongest stayer’s efforts of modern times.

A Plus Tard-2022
A Plus Tard’s 2022 victory was nothing short of spectacular. The first female jockey, Rachael Blackmore, rode The Gold Cup victor with great timing, and the horse is trained by Henry de Bromhead. A year earlier in 2021, A Plus Tard finished second to his stablemate Minella Indo but went on to record a remarkable victory over his stablemate, winning by 15 lengths in arguably one of the best Gold Cup performances that the modern era has seen.

Galopin Des Champs-2023 and 2024
Galopin Des Champs proved himself to be the leading Gold Cup horse of the 2020s with an excellent first Gold Cup win. He went on to beat Bravemansgame by seven lengths, proving he could handle the pace, the hill and The Gold Cup. A year later, he returned to defend The Gold Cup crown and produced a fine second winning effort, making it back-to-back victories in the race for himself, Willie Mullins, Paul Townend and owner Audrey Turley, and looking like a modern great.

Inothewayurthinkin-2025
The 2025 Gold Cup race proved to be a true shock, as the winner, Inothewayurthinkin, ended the winning hopes of the favorite, Galopin Des Champs. Ridden by Mark Walsh and trained by Gavin Cromwell, he streaked home by six lengths against all expectations, giving the owner J. P. McManus another huge win, and producing another Gold Cup race where nobody knew what to expect.

Gaelic Warrior-2026
Gaelic Warrior produced a devastating display to claim The Gold Cup. Ridden by Paul Townend and trained by Willie Mullins, he finished off the race well and was a clear winner over Jango Baie, eventually winning by eight lengths. In winning, the rider, Paul Townend recorded his 5th success in the race and the trainer Mullins drew level with Tom Dreaper for the most wins, at 5.