Hennessy Press Pack_6pp 07/11/2014 16:02 Page 1 Hennessy Gold Cup Fascinating Facts Channel 4 Racing 1. Only 1 amateur rider has ever 8. The Hennessy Gold Cup has 19. 19 horses ran in the first ever won the race – John Lawrence, been won by an 8 year old ten Hennessy Gold Cup in 1957, won who later became Lord Oaksey, times. by Mandarin. on Taxidermist in 1958. Lord 9. The Hennessy Gold Cup 20. Last year’s winner, Triolo Oaksey also bred and part- trophy is made of 9 carat gold D’Alene, started at 20/1; the only owned Carruthers, the 2011 and is valued at around £40,000. other 20/1 winner was Man of the winner. West in 1968. 10. 10 horses have won the 2. There have only been 2 ten Hennessy Gold Cup carrying the 21. There are 21 obstacles in the year old winners of the Hennessy minimum weight of 10 stone. Hennessy Gold Cup – 16 plain Gold Cup – Diamond Edge in fences, 4 open ditches and a 1981 and Mandarin in 1961. 11. Only one 11 year old has won water jump. the Hennessy Gold Cup – 3. There have been 3 dual Rondetto in 1967. He remains the 22. There are 22 years since Paul winners of the Hennessy Gold Cup Channel 4’s coverage of the Hennessy Gold Cup oldest winner of the race. Nicholls last won the Hennessy and all were jump racing legends Gold Cup as a jockey (Playschool – Mandarin, Arkle and Denman. 12. There has been no winner of on Saturday 29th November in 1987) and a trainer (Denman in There have also been 3 female- the Hennessy Gold Cup priced at 2009). trained winners of the race – 12/1 since Zeta’s Son in 1976. begins with the Morning Line from 8am. Burrough Hill Lad (Jenny Pitman, 23. 23 seven year olds have won 13. There were 13 runners in the 1984), Teeton Mill (Venetia the Hennessy Gold Cup, more Hennessy Gold Cup in 1992 – but Williams, 1998) and Gingembre than double any other age. it was unlucky for punters as the Racing is on air from 1.30pm to 4pm, (Lavinia Taylor, 2002). race was won by Sibton Abbey at 24. The maximum field size for the 4. 4 trainers and 4 jockeys have 40/1, the biggest price winner in Hennessy Gold Cup is now set at presented by Clare Balding, Nick Luck and the team. won the Hennessy Gold Cup in the history of the race. 24. There were also 24 years consecutive years. The trainers between trainer Fulke Walwyn’s 14. In 2001, What’s Up Boys was are: Nicky Henderson (2012/13), first and last winners of the race – the only 14/1 winner in the history David Barons 1986/87), Tom Mandarin in 1957 and Diamond of the Hennessy Gold Cup – and Dreaper (1964/65) and Fulke Edge in 1981. there were 14 runners. Walwyn (1957/58). The jockeys 25. In the history of the Hennessy are: Barry Geraghty (2012/13), 15. The longest winning margin in Gold Cup, there have been 25 Paul Nicholls (1986/87), John the Hennessy Gold Cup is 15 occasions on which the winner’s Francome (1983/84) and Pat lengths by Knucklecracker (1960), name started with A, B, C or D. Taaffe (1964/65). Arkle (1965), Spanish Steps (1969) and Teeton Mill (1998). 5. The Hennessy Gold Cup has been won by 5 greys – Stalbridge 16. There have been 16 winning Colonist (1966), One Man (1994), favourites in the 54 runnings of the Suny Bay (1997), Teeton Mill 1998) Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury. Hennessy Gold Cup 2014 and What’s Up Boys (2001). For more information and images please contact: 17. There have been 17 runners in 6. There were only 6 runners in the Hennessy Gold Cup only Naomi Lawson, Senior PR Manager, Great British Racing Newbury Racecourse the 1966 Hennessy Gold Cup, once, when the 7 year old Kings E: [email protected] T: 07881 266359 29th November 2014 which was won by Stalbridge Road won at 7/1 carrying 10st 7lb. Colonist, carrying 35lb less than Live on Channel 4 18. There have been 18 runners Hannah Walker, Senior Publicity Manager, Channel 4 Racing runner up, Arkle. three times in the Hennessy Gold E: [email protected] T: 07971 598287 7. Legendary local trainer Fulke Cup – all since 2007 when Walwyn won the Hennessy Gold Denman beat 17 opponents for Andy Clifton, Head of Communications, Newbury Racecourse Cup 7 times. his first win in the race. E: [email protected] T: 07876 330090 PRESS PACK Hennessy Press Pack_6pp 07/11/2014 16:02 Page 2 50 Year Arkle Anniversary Channel 4 presenter Mick Fitzgerald on Barry Geraghty & Nicky Henderson It must have been pretty magical Sprinter Sacre, but Nicky won't be Festival in 2012 - especially when he ARKLE WINNING THE HENNESSY for you to win that race. After the worried about what price he is, he'll realised what was at stake for injury you probably thought you be more concerned about the Conor Murphy [Henderson’s IN GLORIOUS TECHNICOLOUR, had to show people you still had the welfare of his horses and he'll know assistant head lad had him as part LEFT, THANKS TO COLOUR ability… that if he manages to keep those of a £50 accumulator which made two sound and running to their him a millionaire] and everyone For the first time in my life and capabilities then he has a real live else who had backed it - was one RESTORATION BY especially in my career I was chance of being champion trainer. of the best rides I've ever seen. DYNAMICHROME speechless afterwards, I was quite emotional because it was a real When you retired, Barry Geraghty His record in the three big Festivals relief winning the race because it took over as number one jockey to last season – Cheltenham, Aintree meant so much to me and Nicky Nicky. Did you help with the and Punchestown – was Arkle and everyone at his yard. When decision to appoint Barry? exceptional. you’re based at Lambourn you Date of Birth: 19th April 1957 Not at all. Barry probably fitted the Well, Barry's got an awful lot of faith want to win the big prizes locally Birthplace: Ballymacoll Stud, bill because his pedigree was pretty in his own ability as a rider. Some and there are no bigger prizes County Meath impressive and when you look at might say it's arrogance, but it's not. locally in jump racing than the Trainer: Tom Dreaper It's confidence and it's what Barry Hennessy. Jockey: Pat Taaffe brings to the table. He's a big-race Owner: Anne, Duchess of This year, Nicky's going for three in jockey who’s not afraid to make Westminster a row in the Hennessy. He's got last decisions based on what's Timeform Rating: 212 year's winner Triolo D'Alene in the happening in the race regardless Victories/Starts: 27/35 entries, but also Hadrian’s of what type of race it is or what Purchase Price: 1,150gns (roughly Approach who’s perhaps of more prize money's on offer. He's almost £22,000 today) interest this time. like a go-to man for the punters. They know what they’re getting, Definitely. When Barry had to they know he's not going to panic choose between the two last year This year marks 50 years since Arkle receiving gifts and fan mail from his was beaten into third after slipping and they know he's a very solid he went for the horse he thought recorded his first of two victories in adoring supporters simply at the third last fence. Arkle made This interview is freely available for re-print in full or in part. rider. The more I watch him, the could cope better with the race the Hennessy Gold Cup (1964 & addressed to “Arkle, Ireland”. amends by winning the next two more evident that becomes. You The Hennessy Gold Cup raceday is live on Channel 4 from 1.30pm rather than which horse was 1965). Arkle is widely recognised as renewals of the Hennessy Gold Cup look at Ryan Moore on the Flat: he His greatest rival on the track was naturally the better or more one of the greatest steeplechasers as well as triumphing in a collection on Saturday 29th November rides the Cox Plate, Melbourne the Fulke Walywn-trained Mill House, talented animal, whereas I think as to have ever graced the turf. His of other top chasing prizes Cup, Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe the who was one of only six horses to How important a landmark is the It's been won by Cheltenham Gold which Nicky Henderson really the season progressed Hadrian’s dominance of the chasing division throughout an illustrious career. same as if it’s a 0-90 handicap at beat him over fences. They first Hennessy in the jump racing Cup winners in the past and horses wanted to win. It meant an awful lot Approach jumped a little bit better. in the 1960s made him a household Leicester, Kempton or Lingfield. came across each other in the 1963 calendar? of real distinction. At the end of your to us because we'd come close a I also think he's more experienced name, and even led to him how young he was when he was And that is the key to being a Hennessy Gold Cup, where Arkle career, when you turn round and few times but we'd never really horse now and his win in the bet365 It is huge.