The Irish Gold Cup (Irish: Corn Óir na hÉireann) is a Grade 1 National Hunt steeplechase in Ireland which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run at Leopardstown over a distance of about 3 miles (4,828 metres), and during its running there are seventeen fences to be jumped. The race is scheduled to take place each year in February.
The event was first run in 1987, and it was originally titled the Vincent O'Brien Irish Gold Cup. It was named after Vincent O'Brien (1917–2009), who was a successful racehorse trainer. The race was renamed the Hennessy Gold Cup in 1991, when Hennessy began sponsoring and it was often referred to as the "Irish Hennessy", as there was also a long-established chase in Great Britain called the Hennessy Gold Cup. Hennessy's sponsorship ended after the 2015 running and the 2016 event was run as the unsponsored Irish Gold Cup. Unibet sponsored the Irish Gold Cup from 2017 to 2019. In 2017, it was run as the Stan James Irish Gold Cup Chase and in 2018 and 2019 as the Unibet Irish Gold Cup. Since 2020 the race has been sponsored by Paddy Power.
Throughout its history the race has served as a leading trial for the Cheltenham Gold Cup. Four horses have won both events in the same year – Jodami (1993), Imperial Call (1996), Sizing John (2017) and Galopin Des Champs (2023 and 2024).
Records Most successful horse (4 wins): Florida Pearl – 1999, 2000, 2001, 2004
Leading jockey (4 wins): Mark Dwyer – Forgive 'n Forget (1987), Jodami (1993,1994,1995)
Leading trainer (15 wins): Willie Mullins - Florida Pearl (1999, 2000, 2001, 2004), Alexander Banquet (2002), Rule Supreme (2005), Kempes (2011), Quel Esprit (2012), Sir Des Champs (2013), Bellshill (2019), Kemboy (2021), Galopin Des Champs (2023, 2024, 2025), Fact To File (2026)
Winners Amateur jockeys indicated by "Mr". Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer 1987 Forgive 'n Forget 10 Mark Dwyer Jimmy FitzGerald 1988 Playschool 10 Paul Nicholls David Barons 1989 Carvill's Hill 7 Ken Morgan Jim Dreaper 1990 Nick the Brief 8 Martin Lynch John Upson 1991 Nick the Brief 9 Robbie Supple John Upson 1992 Carvill's Hill 10 Peter Scudamore Martin Pipe 1993 Jodami 8 Mark Dwyer Peter Beaumont 1994 Jodami 9 Mark Dwyer Peter Beaumont 1995 Jodami 10 Mark Dwyer Peter Beaumont 1996 Imperial Call 7 Conor O'Dwyer Fergie Sutherland 1997 Danoli 9 Tommy Treacy Tom Foley 1998 Dorans Pride 9 Richard Dunwoody Michael Hourigan 1999 Florida Pearl 7 Richard Dunwoody Willie Mullins 2000 Florida Pearl 8 Paul Carberry Willie Mullins 2001 Florida Pearl 9 Richard Johnson Willie Mullins 2002 Alexander Banquet 9 Barry Geraghty Willie Mullins 2003 Beef Or Salmon 7 Timmy Murphy Michael Hourigan 2004 Florida Pearl 12 Richard Johnson Willie Mullins 2005 Rule Supreme 9 David Casey Willie Mullins 2006 Beef Or Salmon 10 Paul Carberry Michael Hourigan 2007 Beef Or Salmon 11 Andrew McNamara Michael Hourigan 2008 The Listener 9 Daryl Jacob Robert & Sally Alner 2009 Neptune Collonges 8 Ruby Walsh Paul Nicholls 2010 Joncol 7 Alain Cawley Paul Nolan 2011 Kempes 8 David Casey Willie Mullins 2012 Quel Esprit 8 Ruby Walsh Willie Mullins 2013 Sir Des Champs 7 Davy Russell Willie Mullins 2014 Last Instalment 9 Brian O'Connell Philip Fenton 2015 Carlingford Lough 9 Tony McCoy John Kiely 2016 Carlingford Lough 10 Mark Walsh John Kiely 2017 Sizing John 7 Robbie Power Jessica Harrington 2018 Edwulf 9 Mr Derek O'Connor Joseph O'Brien 2019 Bellshill 9 Ruby Walsh Willie Mullins 2020 Delta Work 7 Jack Kennedy Gordon Elliott 2021 Kemboy 9 Danny Mullins Willie Mullins 2022 Conflated 8 Davy Russell Gordon Elliott 2023 Galopin Des Champs 7 Paul Townend Willie Mullins 2024 Galopin Des Champs 8 Paul Townend Willie Mullins 2025 Galopin Des Champs 9 Paul Townend Willie Mullins2026Fact To File9Mark WalshWillie Mullins
See also List of Irish National Hunt races Recurring sporting events established in 1987 – this race is included under its original title, Vincent O'Brien Irish Gold Cup.
References
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pedigreequery.com – Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup – Leopardstown.