The Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup trophy will once again go on a tour of the local community ahead of next month’s renewal of the Blue Riband of jump racing, which takes place on the fourth and final day of The Cheltenham Festival (Friday 17th March).
In 2022 more than 2,000 people got the chance to see the magnificent trophy in locations ranging from Hartpury College and Leckhampton Court Hospice to NATO's Allied Rapid Reaction Force barracks. The only proviso is that the trophy can only be touched with bare hands by those who have won the race – everyone else must wear gloves!
After lying in a bank vault for many years, Cheltenham was reunited with the original Gold Cup trophy at the end of 2018 and it is now the race’s perpetual trophy. Commissioned and purchased from Simmons of Cheltenham, the 1924 trophy was created by S Blanckensee & Son Ltd of Birmingham. It weighs 644 grams of nine carat gold and is plated in 18 carat gold to give it a rich colour.
One public event where everyone has the chance to see the trophy is at The Nook in Cheltenham on Wednesday 15th February.
The Cheltenham Memories Night, hosted by local racehorse trainer Richard Phillips, will feature Jonjo O’Neill, who won the Cheltenham Gold Cup as a jockey on Alverton (1979) and Dawn Run (1986) and also trained the 2012 winner Synchronised. Also on the panel are broadcaster Cornelius Lysaght, former trainer Jim Old and journalist Steve Jones. Tickets, which costing £25, can be purchased online at https://shop.thenookcheltenham.co.uk/
There are also two events which media are welcome to attend:
Thursday 16th February
Time: 1.00pm
WellChild Office
16 Royal Crescent
Cheltenham GL50 3DA
WellChild, the national charity for seriously ill children, is the official charity partner of The Cheltenham Festival.
Representatives from the office of Cheltenham’s MP, Alex Chalk, are expected to be in attendance and there will be photo opportunities.
Tuesday 21st February
Time: 12.30pm onwards
Cotswold Riding For The Disabled
Cheltenham Racecourse
Prestbury Park
Cheltenham GL50 4SH
Cotswold RDA will host event an open afternoon featuring a musical riding show and a talk from Cheltenham Racecourse about the history of the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup. The arena/stables will be open and refreshments will be available. There will also be photo opportunities with the trophy.
It is essential for any media wishing to attend either or both of these two media events to RSVP to:
Dara McKenna
National Communications Executive
The Jockey Club
dara.mckenna@thejockeyclub.co.uk
07890 891674
