The Punchestown Gold Cup is a Grade 1 National Hunt steeplechase in Ireland which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Punchestown over a distance of about 3 miles and ½ furlong (3 miles and 120 yards, or ), and during its running there are seventeen fences to be jumped. The race is scheduled to take place each year during the Punchestown Festival in late April or early May.
The present version of the race was introduced in 1999, when it replaced a previous version for novice chasers only. It was formerly sponsored by Heineken, and it used to be known as the Heineken Gold Cup. It was backed by Diageo between 2005 and 2011, and from 2011 to 2014 sponsored by Tote Ireland. From 2014 to 2016 the race was sponsored by Bibby Financial Services and since 2017 Ladbrokes Coral has been the sponsor.
The Punchestown Gold Cup usually features horses which ran previously in the Cheltenham Gold Cup. The last to win both races in the same year was Gaelic Warrior in 2026.
Records Most successful horse (2 wins): Neptune Collonges – 2007, 2008 Fastorslow – 2023, 2024
Leading jockey since 1999 (6 wins): Ruby Walsh – Imperial Call (1999), Commanche Court (2000), Neptune Collonges (2007, 2008), Boston Bob (2014), Kemboy (2019)
Leading trainer since 1999 (8 wins): Willie Mullins – Florida Pearl (2002), Sir Des Champs (2013), Boston Bob (2014), Bellshill (2018), Kemboy (2019), Allaho (2022), Galopin Des Champs (2025), Gaelic Warrior (2026)
Winners since 1999 Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer 1999 Imperial Call 10 Ruby Walsh Raymond Hurley 2000 Commanche Court 7 Ruby Walsh Ted Walsh 2001 Moscow Express 9 Barry Geraghty Frances Crowley 2002 Florida Pearl 10 Barry Geraghty Willie Mullins 2003 First Gold 10 Thierry Doumen François Doumen 2004 Beef Or Salmon 8 Timmy Murphy Michael Hourigan 2005 Kicking King 7 Barry Geraghty Tom Taaffe 2006 War Of Attrition 7 Conor O'Dwyer Mouse Morris 2007 Neptune Collonges 6 Ruby Walsh Paul Nicholls 2008 Neptune Collonges 7 Ruby Walsh Paul Nicholls 2009 Notre Pere 8 Andrew Lynch Jim Dreaper 2010 Planet of Sound 8 Richard Johnson Philip Hobbs 2011 Follow the Plan 8 Tom Doyle Oliver McKiernan 2012 China Rock 9 Barry Geraghty Mouse Morris 2013 Sir Des Champs 7 Davy Russell Willie Mullins 2014 Boston Bob 9 Ruby Walsh Willie Mullins 2015 Don Cossack 8 Paul Carberry Gordon Elliott 2016 Carlingford Lough 10 Barry Geraghty John Kiely 2017 Sizing John 7 Robbie Power Jessica Harrington 2018 Bellshill 8 David Mullins Willie Mullins 2019 Kemboy 7 Ruby Walsh Willie Mullins no race 2020 2021 Clan des Obeaux 9 Sam Twiston-Davies Paul Nicholls 2022 Allaho 8 Paul Townend Willie Mullins 2023 Fastorslow 7 JJ Slevin Martin Brassil 2024 Fastorslow 8 JJ Slevin Martin Brassil 2025 Galopin Des Champs 9 Paul Townend Willie Mullins 2026 Gaelic Warrior 8 Paul Townend Willie Mullins
Earlier winners
1960 – Oberstown 1961 – Jungle Cry 1962 – Coniston 1963 – Arkle 1964 – Fort Leney 1965 – Clusium 1966 – Crown Prince 1967 – White Abbess 1968 – Herring Gull 1969 – Kings Sprite 1970 – Glencaraig Lady 1971 – Dim Wit 1972 – Ebony Lad 1973 – Tartan Ace 1974 – Lough Inagh 1975 – Fort Fox 1976 – No Hill 1977 – Artistic Prince 1978 – Jack of Trumps 1979 – Jack's the Buoy 1980 – Pillar Brae 1981 – Owens Image 1982 – Single-U-Jay 1983 – Whistling Senator 1984 – By the Way 1985 – Cerimau 1986 – Over the Last 1987 – Darkorjon 1988 – Vulgan's Pass 1989 – Carvill's Hill 1990 – Mixed Blends 1991 – Local Whisper 1992 – Second 1993 – Fissure Seal 1994 – Merry Gale 1995 – Butches Boy 1996 – Billygoat Gruff 1997 – Noyan 1998 – Mahler
See also Horse racing in Ireland List of Irish National Hunt races
References Racing Post: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
pedigreequery.com – Punchestown Gold Cup – Punchestown. racenewsonline.co.uk – Racenews Archive (April 25, 2003).