The 2012 Cheltenham Gold Cup (known as the Betfred Gold Cup for sponsorship reasons) was the 84th annual running of the Cheltenham Gold Cup horse race held at Cheltenham Racecourse on 16 March 2012.
Fourteen horses ran and the steeplechase was won by 8/1 shot Synchronised, who was trained by Jonjo O'Neill and ridden by Tony McCoy. Synchronised completed the course in a time of 6 minutes 36.19 seconds and won by a distance of 2¼ lengths from second-placed The Giant Bolster.
Kauto Star was attempting to win the Gold Cup for the third time and made a prominent start, but was weakened by a poor jump at the eighth fence and pulled-up by jockey Ruby Walsh before the tenth of the 22 fences.
The Gold Cup was sponsored by Betfred for the first time. Betfred had purchased The Tote, sponsors of the race since 1980, in June 2011.
Details Sponsor: Betfred Winner's prize money: £284,750 Going: Good, good to soft in places Number of runners: 14 Winner's time: 6 mins 36.19 secs
Full result
Fourteen ran in the race; the Irish-trained Quel Esprit made the card but did not run. Ten completed the course, three were pulled-up by their jockeys during the race, and one, What A Friend, fell at the second fence.
PositionHorseJockeyTrainer†SPDistance/FatePrize money1Synchronised (IRE)Tony McCoyJonjo O'NeillWon by 2¼ lengths£284,7502The Giant BolsterTom ScudamoreDavid Bridgwater¾ length£106,8503Long Run (FRA)Mr. Sam Waley-CohenNicky Henderson fav5 lengths£53,5004Burton Port (IRE)Barry GeraghtyNicky Henderson1½ lengths£26,6505Time For Rupert (IRE)Denis O'ReganPaul Webber10 lengths£13,4006Knockara Beau (IRE)Jan FaltejsekGeorge Charlton11 lengths£6,7007Midnight ChaseDougie CostelloNeil Mulholland17 lengths8China Rock (IRE)Andrew LynchMouse Morris (IRE)15 lengths9The Midnight Club (IRE)Paul TownendWillie Mullins (IRE)7 lengths10CarruthersMattie BatchelorMark BradstockLast to completeDNFDiamond HarryNoel FehilyNick WilliamsPulled up, 18th fenceDNFWeird Al (IRE)Jason MaguireDonald McCainPulled up, 18th fenceDNFKauto Star (FRA)Ruby WalshPaul NichollsPulled up, 10th fenceDNFWhat A FriendDaryl JacobPaul NichollsFell, 2nd fence Amateur jockeys indicated by "Mr". † Trainers are based in Great Britain unless indicated.
Winner's details Further details of the winner, Synchronised, ridden by jockey Tony McCoy:
Foaled: 7 March 2003, in Ireland Sire: Sadler's Wells; Dam: Mayasta Trainer: Jonjo O'Neill Owner: J. P. McManus Breeder: Mrs. Noreen McManus
See also Horseracing in Great Britain List of British National Hunt races 2012 Grand National
References