Thousands of racing fans will descend on Cheltenham Racecourse for the season’s first flagship event on the UK & Ireland’s jumps schedule, the November Meeting. The three-day meet includes a 16-race card and will attract some of the best horses, trainers and jockeys the sport has to offer.
The main race at the meeting is the Gold Cup, which pits horses four years and older against each other in a Premier Handicap National Hunt chase worth upwards of £160,000. For those interested in placing a bet on Cheltenham – at the time of writing – Ga Law, French Dynamite and Fan De Blues are the joint favourites at 7/1.
While all three horses enter the race in good form – past winners have shown that reigning supreme in the Gold Cup is no easy task. With stiff fences, an uphill climb over the last half mile and an unpredictable ground under foot – you need an almost faultless run from your thoroughbred if you’re to win the esteemed race.
With that in mind, read on as we dissect the last three winners of the November Meeting’s Gold Cup.
Midnight Shadow – 2021
In what was one of the most dramatic finishes in the race’s storied history, the Sue Smith-trained Midnight Shadow was victorious by three quarters of a length from the second-placed Protektorat. After establishing an early lead, the then-eight-year-old settled nicely into fourth and maintained that position for a large portion of the race.
Jockey Ryan Mania made his push with three fences remaining, quickly closing the gap on the leader and last year’s winner Coole Cody. It was neck-and-neck between the two – before Coole Cody fell at the second last fence – giving Midnight Shadow a considerable lead as they headed towards the final fence. He managed to clear the last jump and romped home up the straight to win his maiden Gold Cup.
Coole Cody – 2020
Although it was unfortunate to see Coole Cody fall at the second last fence in the 2021 Gold Cup – it’s important to remember that the Evan Williams-trained horse had tasted victory in the same race just a year prior. Coole Cody entered the 2020 fixture in strong form, having secured two second-placed finishes and a win in his three races prior to his run at the Gold Cup.
His rich vein of form was noticeable when it came time to race in the Cheltenham event, with the nine-year-old putting forth an incredibly brave and gritty display. Hitting the lead immediately, Coole Cody led from start to finish, staving off a late challenge from Spiritofthegames and Al Dancer to win by three-and-a-quarter lengths.
Happy Diva – 2019
After an unlucky exit from the Gold Cup a year earlier, which saw him fall four fences from the finish – the Kerry Lee-trained Happy Diva secured redemption in the same race in 2019 in nail-biting fashion – holding off a valiant effort down the stretch from runner-up Brelan DA’s to win by a neck.
Happy Diva would run again in the Gold Cup in 2020 – however – she was unable to go back-to-back, falling with two fences remaining.
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