Chester Cup

The Chester Cup is a flat handicap horse race in Great Britain open to horses aged four years or older. It is run over a distance of 2 miles, 2 furlongs and 140 yards () at Chester in May.

History The event was established in 1824, and it was originally called the Tradesmen's Cup. It was initially a limited handicap with a minimum weight of .

For a period the race was known as the Tradesmen's Plate. During this time it was open to horses aged three or older.

The race was renamed the Chester Trades' Cup in 1874. From this point it was often referred to as the Chester Cup, and that became its usual title in 1884.

The Chester Cup was formerly contested over 2 miles, 2 furlongs and 77 yards. It was abandoned in 1969, and extended by 20 yards in 1970.

The distance of the race was changed to 2 miles, 2 furlongs and 117 yards in 1992. It was increased to its present length in 1994.

Records

Most successful horse (2 wins):

Leamington – 1857, 1859 Dalby – 1865, 1866 Pageant – 1877, 1878 Dare Devil – 1892, 1893 Chivalrous – 1922, 1923 Sea Pigeon – 1977, 1978 Top Cees – 1995, 1997 Rainbow High – 1999, 2001 Anak Pekan – 2004, 2005

Leading jockey (4 wins): Sam Darling – Independence (1831), Colwick (1832), Pickpocket (1833), Cardinal Puff (1839) Lester Piggott – Sandiacre (1958), Aegean Blue (1966), Major Rose (1968), John Cherry (1976)

Leading trainer (4 wins): Barry Hills – Arapahos (1980), Rainbow High (1999, 2001), Daraahem (2009)

Winners since 1890 Weights given in stones and pounds. Year Winner Age Weight Jockey Trainer SP Time 1890 Tyrant 5 7-00 Seth Chandley W Walters F 4:07.40 1891 Vasistas 5 8-03 George Barrett John Porter F 4:07.00 1892 Dare Devil 4 7-05 Thomas Mullen William I'Anson jr 4:08.60 1893 Dare Devil 5 8-01 Jim Fagan William I'Anson jr 1894 Quaesitum 4 8-00 Tommy Loates F Cole F 1895 Kilsallaghan 5 7-09 Fred Finlay James Jewitt 4:05.20 1896 The Rush 4 8-05 Otto Madden J Waugh 4:08.60 1897 Count Schomberg 5 8-10 Samuel Loates William Leader JF 4:07.00 1898 Up Guards 4 6-13 Seth Chandley A Sydney 4:06.40 1899 Uncle Mac 5 7-07 Fred Finlay Fred Lynham 4:10.40 1900 Roughside 7 7-05 Tod Sloan Sandever 4:12.00 1901 David Garrick 4 8-10 Lester Reiff George Blackwell 4:06.20 1902 Carabine 4 7-05 Monty Aylin J Hornsby 4:03.60 1903 Vendale 4 6-06 Charlie Trigg William Duke 1904 Sandboy 4 6-02 William Griggs William Robinson 3:56.20 1905 Imari 4 7-04 William Saxby Samuel Pickering 4:02.80 1906 Feather Bed 4 6-09 Arthur Templeman J East F 4:01.80 1907 Querido 4 8-00 John Reiff R Carter Jr. F 4:00.00 1908 Glacis 4 7-08 Frank Wootton George Lambton 4:13.00 1909 Santo Strato 4 9-00 Otto Madden John Watson F 3:58.80 1910 Elizabetta 4 6-11 Stanley Wootton Alec Taylor Jr. 4:06.40 1911 Willonyx 4 8-02 Billy Higgs Sam Darling 4:04.20 1912 Rathlea 7 7-05 Charlie Foy Tom Coulthwaite 3:57.80 1913 The Guller 4 6-06 James Ledson J Osborne 4:13.80 1914 Aleppo 5 8-04 Charlie Foy Alec Taylor Jr. F 3:58.80 1915 Hare Hill 5 7-10 Steve Donoghue William Robinson 4:07.00 1916 no race 1916–18 1919 Tom Pepper 4 7-04 Joe Shatwell John Rogers 4:00.00 1920 Our Stephen 4 7-01 Arthur Balding V Hobbs 4:14.601921Meeting Abandoned due to a National Coal Strike 1922 Chivairous 4 7-05 George Smith Harry Cottrill 4:02.00 1923 Chivairous 5 8-11 Michael Beary Harry Cottrill 4:04.80 1924 Rugeley 4 6-04 Henry Leach Ralph Moreton 4:14.00 1925 Spithead 6 8-07 Tommy Weston George Lambton 4:10.80 1926 Hidennis 5 7-00 Joseph Caldwell Harvey Leader 4:10.80 1927 Dark Japan 4 8-11 Charlie Smirke Richard Dawson JF 4:09.60 1928 St Mary's Kirk 5 7-00 William Alford Atty Persse 3:59.80 1929 First Flight 4 7-07 Freddie Fox Fred Leader 4:15.00 1930 Mountain Lad 5 7-11 Freddy Lane Richard Gooch 4:09.80 1931 Brown Jack 7 9-06 Michael Beary Ivor Anthony 4:03.80 1932 Bonny Brighteyes 4 7-03 Joe Dines Matthew Peacock 4:25.00 1933 Dick Turpin 4 7-10 Gordon Richards Martin Hartigan 4:04.20 1934 Blue Vision 7 7-11 Freddie Fox Ivor Anthony 4:05.00 1935 Damascus 4 7-01 Humphrey Foster George Lambton 4:00.00 1936 Cho-sen 4 7-02 Joe Dines Billy Higgs 4:05.40 1937 Faites Vos Jeux 6 7-04 Peter Maher Harry Cottrill 4:00.60 1938 Mr Grundy 4 7-05 Clifford Richards Joe Lawson 3:59.60 1939 Winnebar 5 7-12 Gordon Richards Fred Templeman 4:03.40 1940 no race 1940–45 1946 Retsel 4 7-09 Clifford Richards George Todd 4:01.60 1947 Asmodee II 4 9-01 Tommy Burn William Halsey 4:19.60 1948 Billett 4 8-03 Billy Nevett Harry Wragg 3:59.20 1949 John Moore 5 6-10 Jock Carson H Weatherill 4:04.40 1950 Heron Bridge 6 9-07 Tommy Burns D Rogers F 4:10.60 1951 Wood Leopard 4 7-05 Jack Egan Jack Colling 4:11.20 1952 Le Tellier 7 8-11 Geoff Littlewood Geoffrey Barling 4:19.00 1953 Eastern Emperor 5 9-02 Bill Rickaby Jack Jarvis F 4:01.60 1954 Peperium 4 8-06 Edgar Britt Charles Elsey 4:03.20 1955 Prescription 4 8-09 Bill Rickaby Jack Jarvis 4:14.50 1956 Golovine 6 8-02 Peter Robinson Harry Wragg F 4:03.40 1957 Curry 6 8-00 Josh Gifford Sam Armstrong 3:59.20 1958 Sandiacre 6 8-05 Lester Piggott W Dutton 4:07.00 1959 Agreement 5 9-04 Harry Carr Cecil Boyd-Rochfort F 4:08.40 1960 Trelawney 4 7-11 Frankie Durr Syd Mercer 3:59.60 1961 Hoy 5 8-00 Geoff Lewis Syd Dale 4:24.20 1962 Golden Fire 4 7-09 David Yates Doug Marks 4:10.20 1963 Narratus 5 7-05 David Yates Dave Thom 4:06.80 1964 Credo 4 8-03 Paul Cook Paddy Prendergast F 4:03.60 1965 Harvest Gold 6 7-11 Frankie Durr Tommy Robson 4:16.40 1966 Aegean Blue 4 8-07 Lester Piggott Fulke Johnson Houghton 4:13.20 1967 Mahbub Aly 6 8-06 Paul Cook Dick Hern 4:15.80 1968 Major Rose 6 8-07 Lester Piggott Ryan Price F 4:17.00 1969Abandoned due to waterlogging 1970 Altogether 4 7-05 Walter Bentley W Murray 4:06.20 1971 Random Shot 4 8-01 Frankie Durr Arthur Budgett 4:01.00 1972 Eric 5 7-00 Alan Cressy Vernon Cross 4:12.00 1973 Crisalgo 5 7-07 Walter Bentley J A Turner 4:08.01 1974 Attivo 4 7-05 Roger Wernham Cyril Mitchell 4:06.78 1975 Super Nova 5 7-07 Ernie Johnson Charlie Hall 4:01.92 1976 John Cherry 5 9-04 Lester Piggott Jeremy Tree 4:24.95 1977 Sea Pigeon 7 8-08 Mark Birch Peter Easterby 4:09.89 1978 Sea Pigeon 8 9-07 Mark Birch Peter Easterby 4:04.47 1979 Charlotte's Choice 4 8-04 Willie Carson Bill Wightman 4:13.40 1980 Arapahos 5 9-05 Steve Cauthen Barry Hills 4:06.13 1981 Donegal Prince 5 8-04 Paddy Young Paul Kelleway 4:09.50 1982 Dawn Johnny 5 8-08 Walter Swinburn Michael Stoute 4:03.95 1983Abandoned due to waterlogging 1984 Contester 4 8-02 Geoff Baxter Peter Cundell 4:03.13 1985 Morgans Choice 8 7-11 Willie Carson John Hill 4:07.47 1986 Western Dancer 5 9-00 Paul Cook Con Horgan 4:10.49 1987 Just David 4 9-08 Michael Roberts Alec Stewart 3:57.26 1988 Old Hubert 7 7-08 Taffy Thomas Alan Bailey 4:34.58 1989 Grey Salute 6 8-07 Pat Eddery John Jenkins 3:57.99 1990 Travelling Light 4 9-01 Alan Munro Lynda Ramsden F 4:10.18 1991 Star Player 5 8-10 Frankie Dettori John Baker 4:13.41 1992 Welshman 6 7-08 Jimmy Quinn Michael Blanshard 3:57.96 1993 Rodeo Star 7 7-13 Nicky Carlisle Nigel Tinkler 4:02.51 1994 Doyce 5 7-10 Gary Bardwell Robert Williams 4:03.18 1995 Top Cees 5 8-08 Kieren Fallon Lynda Ramsden 4:03.35 1996 Merit 4 7-10 Jimmy Quinn Paul Cole 4:06.63 1997 Top Cees 7 8-11 Jimmy Fortune Lynda Ramsden 4:23.18 1998 Silence in Court 7 9-00 Allan Mackay Alan Bailey 4:06.63 1999 Rainbow High 4 9-00 Michael Hills Barry Hills F 4:00.64 2000 Bangalore 4 7-10 Gary Bardwell Amanda Perrett 4:03.00 2001 Rainbow High 6 9-13 Richard Hughes Barry Hills 4:01.23 2002 Fantasy Hill 6 8-09 Pat Eddery John Dunlop 4:00.20 2003 Hugs Dancer 6 8-11 Dean McKeown James Given 4:04.89 2004 Anak Pekan 4 8-02 Philip Robinson Michael Jarvis F 4:10.90 2005 Anak Pekan 5 9-06 Philip Robinson Michael Jarvis 4:14.60 2006 Admiral 5 8-01 John Egan Tim Pitt 4:03.34 2007 Greenwich Meantime 7 9-02 Paul Hanagan Richard Fahey 3:58.89 2008 Bulwark 6 9-04 Jim Crowley Ian Williams 4:06.57 2009 Daraahem 4 9-00 Richard Hills Barry Hills 4:04.01 2010 Mamlook 6 8-12 Richard Hughes David Pipe F 4:03.74 2011 Overturn 7 8-13 Eddie Ahern Donald McCain 3:59.39 2012 Ile de Re 6 8-11 Jim Crowley Donald McCain 4:10.20 2013 Address Unknown 6 9-00 Jamie Spencer Richard Fahey 4:05.31 2014 Suegioo 5 9-04 Ryan Moore Marco Botti 4:07.85 2015 Trip To Paris 4 8-09 Graham Lee Ed Dunlop 4:12.87 2016 No Heretic 8 8-13 Jamie Spencer Nicky Henderson 4:10.48 2017 Montaly 6 9-06 Oisin Murphy Andrew Balding 4:03.37 2018 Magic Circle 6 9-03 Fran Berry Ian Williams 4:02.90 2019 Making Miracles 4 9-00 Franny Norton Mark Johnston 4:33.09 no race 2020 2021 Falcon Eight 6 9-10 Frankie Dettori Dermot Weld 4:07.11 2022 Cleveland 4 9-00 Ryan Moore Aidan O'Brien 4:04.13 2023 Metier 7 9-01 Saffie Osborne Harry Fry 4:15.48 2024 Zoffee 8 8–07 Harry Davies Hugo Palmer 3:59.16 2025 East India Dock 4 8-08 Harry Davies James Owen F 4:05.76 2026 A Piece Of Heaven 8 9-06 Dylan Browne McMonagle Joseph O'Brien 7/1 4:01:19

Earlier winners

1824: Doge of Venice 1825: Hymettus 1826: Brutandorf 1827: Grenadier 1828: Fylde 1829: Halston 1830: Felt 1831: Independence 1832: Colwick 1833: Pickpocket 1834: The Cardinal 1835: Birdlime 1836: Tanworth 1837: General Chasse 1838: King Cole 1839: Cardinal Puff 1840: Dey of Algiers 1841: Cruiskeen 1842: Alice Hawthorn 1843: Millepede 1844: Red Deer 1845: Intrepid 1846: Corranna 1847: St Lawrence 1848: Peep-o-Day-Boy 1849: Malton 1850: Mounseer 1851: Nancy 1852: Joe Miller 1853: Goldfinder 1854: Epaminondas 1855: Scythian 1856: One Act 1857: Leamington 1858: Vanity 1859: Leamington 1860: St Albans 1861: Ben Webster 1862: Tim Whiffler 1863: Asteroid 1864: Flash in the Pan 1865: Dalby 1866: Dalby 1867: Beeswing 1868: Paul Jones 1869: Knight of the Garter 1870: Our Mary Ann 1871: Glenlivat 1872: Inveresk 1873: Field Marshal 1874: Organist 1875: Freeman 1876: Tam o'Shanter 1877: Pageant 1878: Pageant 1879: Reefer 1880: Fashion 1881: Windsor 1882: Prudhomme 1883: Biserta 1884: Havock 1885: Merry Prince 1886: Eastern Emperor 1887: Carlton 1888: Kinsky 1889: Mill Stream

Chester Cup

Bron en licentie