Imperial Cup

For the unit of measurement, see Cup (unit).

Imperial Cup Handicap Hurdle
2025
Go Dante Wreckless Eric Afadil
Previous years
2024
Go Dante Faivoir Jipcot
2023
Iceo Knickerbockerglory Playful Saint
2022
Surprise Package Lively Citizen Hacker Des Places
2021
Langer Dan Miss Heritage Mack The Man
2020-2011
2019
Malaya Monsieur Lecoq Call Me Lord
2018
Mr Antolini Call Me Lord Whatswrongwithyou
2017
London Prize Fixe Le Kap Darebin
2016
Flying Angel Solstice Star Spice Fair
2015
Ebony Express Rayvin Black Gassin Golf
2014
Baltimore Rock Gassin Golf Vibrato Valtat
2013
First Avenue Tanerko Emery Kazlian
2012
Paintball Nampour Sire De Grugy
2011
Alarazi Via Galilei Pateese
2010-2001
2010
Qaspal Oldrik Pepe Simo
2009
Dave's Dream Seven Is My Number Prince Taime
2008
Ashkazar Fredensborg Albinus
2007
Gaspara Flying Falcon Magnesium
2006
Victram Dusky Warbler Verasi
2005
Medison Fenix Monte Cinto
2004
Scorned Bold Bishop Fenix
2003
Korelo Newhall Lawz
2002
Polar Red Impek Scots Grey
2001
Ibal Valiramix Rooster Booster
2000-1991
2000
Magic Combination The Gatherer Brigade Charge
1999
Regency Rake Coulthard Dr Jazz
1998
Blowing Wind Sadler's Realm Nahrawali
1997
Carlito Brigante Doctoor Express Gift
1996
Amancio Silver Groom Chief's Song
1995
Collier Bay Star Player Kingsfold Pet
1994
Precious Boy Riva Leotard
1993
Olympian Gymcrak Stardom Spinning
1992
King Credo Rodeo Star Spinning
1991
Precious Boy Ketti Badrakhani
1990-1988
1990
Moody Man Penny Forum Joyful Noise
1989
Travel Mystery Little Toro Afaristoun
1988
Sprowston Boy Jimbalou Capa
 

The Imperial Cup is a National Hunt hurdle race in Great Britain which is open to horses aged four years or older. It is run at Sandown Park over a distance of about 2 miles (1 mile, 7 furlongs and 216 yards, or 3,215 metres), and during its running there are eight hurdles to be jumped. It is a handicap race, and it is scheduled to take place each year in March.

The Imperial Cup was first run in 1907, and in its early years it was considered to be the most important hurdle race of the season. A notable winner during this period was Trespasser, who recorded three successive victories in the race from 1920 to 1922. It continued to be the most prestigious hurdling event until the launch of the Champion Hurdle in 1927.

The race is run on a Saturday in March, three days before the start of the Cheltenham Festival. The sponsors of the Imperial Cup have offered a financial bonus prize to the owner of the winning horse since 1992, awarded if the horse goes on to win any race at the following week's Festival. Winners of this bonus have included Olympian (who won the Coral Cup at Cheltenham), Blowing Wind (County Hurdle) and Gaspara (Fred Winter Hurdle). . The 2016 running was unsponsored and no bonus was offered.[1] The bonus returned in 2017 when new sponsors Matchbook offered a £50,000 prize,[2] which they increased to £100,000 for the 2018 running.[3] The race was upgraded from Listed to Grade Three status by the British Horseracing Board from its 2014 running.[4] It was re-classified as a Premier Handicap from the 2023 running when Grade 3 status was renamed by the British Horseracing Authority.[5] Since 2024 it has been run as a Class 2 handicap.

In 2025 the owners of Sandown Park, The Jockey Club, re-instated the bonus offering £100,000 to any horse who could win this prestigious race, then go on to win at The Cheltenham Festival.

Records

Most successful horse since 1947 (2 wins):

  • Secret Service - 1949, 1950
  • High Point – 1952, 1953
  • Precious Boy – 1991, 1994
  • Go Dante - 2024, 2025

Leading jockey since 1947 (5 wins):

  • Tony McCoy – Blowing Wind (1998), Polar Red (2002), Korelo (2003), Gaspara (2007), Qaspal (2010)

Leading trainer since 1947 (6 wins):

  • Martin Pipe – Travel Mystery (1989), Olympian (1993), Blowing Wind (1998), Polar Red (2002), Korelo (2003), Medison (2005)

Winners

Year
 Winner
 Age
 Weight
 Jockey
 Trainer
1907 Carnegie 6 11–04 James O'Brien J Westlake
1908 Perseus II 8 11–11 Mr Stuart Bell James Bell
1909Abandoned due to snow
1910 Black Plum 6 11–05 Frank Mason P Whitaker
1911 Bendy Tree 4 11–04 James Hare J H Batho
1912 Meridian 5 11–05 Bill Escott Harry Escott
1913 Rathlea 8 10–12 Ernest Piggott E Martin
1914 Vermouth 4 10–10 George Duller James Bell
1939 no race 1915–19
1920 Trespasser 4 12–00 George Duller James Bell
1921 Trespasser 5 12–07 George Duller James Bell
1922 Trespasser 6 12–07 George Duller James Bell
1923 North Waltham 6 12–04 Georges Parfrement P Whitaker
1924 Noce d'Argent 4 11–02 Frank Wootten Stanley Wootten
1925 Scotch Pearl 4 10–07 Fred Rees Walter Nightingall
1926 Peeping Tom 4 10–07 George Duller James Bell
1927 Zeno 4 10–12 Billy Speck Walter Nightingall
1928 Royal Falcon 5 11–06 Ted Leader F Leech
1929 Hercules 6 11–05 George Duller James Bell
1930 Rubicon II 4 11–03 George Duller P Donaghue
1931 Residue 7 12–03 Georges Pellerin Owen Anthony
1932 Last Of The Dandies 5 11–04 Bill Hollick W Payne
1933 Flaming 6 11–04 George Bostwick Ivor Anthony
1934 Lion Courage 6 10–07 Gerry Wilson W R Read
1935 Negro 6 11–06 Billy Speck George Wilson
1936 Negro 7 11–03 Staff Ingham George Wilson
1937 Le Maestro 6 11–00 Jack Fawkus Gwyn Evans
1938 Bimco 5 10–12 Ernest Vinall H Turner
1939 Mange Tout 5 11–08 Gerry Wilson George Duller
1939 no race 1940–46
1947 Tant Pis 5 09-10 Frenchie Nicholson J Goldsmith
1948 Anglesey 6 11-08 Johnnie Gilbert Staff Ingham
1949 Secret Service 6 11–11 Johnnie Gilbert Fulke Walwyn
1950 Secret Service 7 11–10 Tommy Cusack Fulke Walwyn
1951 Master Bidar 6 10–11 Rene Emery Ron Smyth
1952 High Point 6 10-04 Harry Sprague Ginger Dennistoun
1953 High Point 7 10-07 Harry Sprague Ginger Dennistoun
1954 The Pills 6 10-05 Jack Dowdeswell P Rice-Stringer
1955 Bon Mot II 6 10–11 Michael Haynes Stanley Wootton
1956 Peggy Jones 6 10–10 Alan Oughton S Palmer
1957 Camugliano 7 10–10 Rene Emery H T Smith
1958 Flaming East 9 10-05 John Lawrence[a] Ricky Vallance
1959 Langton Heath 5 10-09 Raymond Martin Tom Griffiths
1960 Farmer's Boy 7 11-07 David Nicholson W Stephenson
1961 Fidus Achates 6 10-04 Clive Chapman M James
1962 Irish Imp 5 10–12 Geordie Ramshaw Ron Smyth
1963 Antiar 5 11-02 David Mould Peter Cazalet
1964 Invader 6 11-04 Buck Jones Syd Dale
1965 Kildavin 7 10-07 Jeff King John Sutcliffe, jnr
1966 Royal Sanction 7 10-01 Richard Pitman Fred Winter
1967 Sir Thopas 6 11-08 Johnny Haine Bob Turnell
1968 Persian Empire 5 11-04 Brough Scott Colin Davies
1969Abandoned because of waterlogged state of course
1970 Solomon II 6 11-01 Bob Davies David Barons
1971 Churchwood 7 11-03 Doug Barrott M Goswell
1972 Spy Net 5 10-00 Geoff Lawson Syd Dale
1973 Lanzarote 5 12-04 Richard Pitman Fred Winter
1974 Flash Imp 5 10-09 Jeff King Ron Smyth
1975Abandoned because of waterlogged state of course
1976 Nougat 6 10-06 Gerry Enright Josh Gifford
1977 Acquaint 6 11-02 Nicky Henderson[a] Fred Winter
1978 Winter Melody 7 11-03 Bill Smith Jack Hanson
1979 Flying Diplomat 3 10-06 Tim Thomson Jones[a] A Smith
1980 Prayukta 5 11-00 John Francome Fred Winter
1981 Ekbalco 5 11-03 David Goulding Roger Fisher
1982 Holemoor Star 5 11-07 Martin O'Halloran Miss S. Morris
1983 Desert Hero 9 09-08 Roger Chapman Fulke Walwyn
1984 Dalbury 6 09-12 Peter Corrigan Peter Haynes
1985 Floyd 5 10-03 Colin Brown David Elsworth
1986 Insular 6 09-10 Eamon Murphy Ian Balding
1987 Inlander 6 10-03 Steve Smith Eccles Reg Akehurst
1988 Sprowston Boy 5 10–11 Seamus McCrystal Paul Kelleway
1989 Travel Mystery 6 10-00 Peter Scudamore Martin Pipe
1990 Moody Man 5 10–13 Peter Hobbs Philip Hobbs
1991 Precious Boy 5 10-06 Lorcan Wyer Mike O'Neill
1992 King Credo 7 10-04 Adrian Maguire Steve Woodman
1993 Olympian 6 10-00 Peter Scudamore Martin Pipe
1994 Precious Boy 8 11-07 Lorcan Wyer Michael Meagher
1995 Collier Bay 5 10-02 Tom Grantham Jim Old
1996 Amancio 5 10-08 Mick Fitzgerald Guy Harwood
1997 Carlito Brigante 5 10-00 Jamie Osborne Paul Webber
1998 Blowing Wind 5 11–10 Tony McCoy Martin Pipe
1999 Regency Rake 7 10-07 Adrian Maguire Arthur Moore
2000 Magic Combination 7 10-00 David Casey Barney Curley
2001 Ibal 5 09-09 Ben Hitchcott[a] Dina Smith
2002 Polar Red 5 11-01 Tony McCoy Martin Pipe
2003 Korelo 5 11-06 Tony McCoy Martin Pipe
2004 Scorned 9 10-03 Barry Fenton Andrew Balding
2005 Medison 5 10-01 Timmy Murphy Martin Pipe
2006 Victram 6 09-12 Andrew Lynch Adrian McGuinness
2007 Gaspara 4 10-05 Tony McCoy David Pipe
2008 Ashkazar 4 10–12 Timmy Murphy David Pipe
2009 Dave's Dream 6 10–13 Barry Geraghty Nicky Henderson
2010 Qaspal 6 10-03 Tony McCoy Philip Hobbs
2011 Alarazi 7 10-03 Dominic Elsworth Lucy Wadham
2012 Paintball 5 10-07 Noel Fehily Charlie Longsdon
2013 First Avenue 8 10-05 Nathan Adams Laura Mongan
2014 Baltimore Rock 5 10–12 Tom Scudamore David Pipe
2015 Ebony Express 6 10-07 Will Kennedy Dr Richard Newland
2016 Flying Angel 5 10-07 Ryan Hatch Nigel Twiston-Davies
2017 London Prize 6 11-02 Tom O'Brien Ian Williams
2018 Mr Antolini 8 10-01 Jamie Bargary Nigel Twiston-Davies
2019 Malaya 5 10-02 Harry Cobden Paul Nicholls
2020Abandoned because of waterlogged state of course
2021 Langer Dan 5 10-10 Harry Skelton Dan Skelton
2022 Surprise Package 5 11-01 James Bowen Peter Fahey
2023 Iceo 5 11-03 Harry Cobden Paul Nicholls
2024 Go Dante 8 11-04 Sean Bowen Olly Murphy
2025 Go Dante 9 10-08 Sean Bowen Olly Murphy
  1. ^ a b c d amateur jockey

See also

References

  1. ^ Riley, Stuart. "Festival bonus unlikely for Imperial Cup winner". Racing Post. Archived from the original on 9 March 2016. Retrieved 8 March 2016.
  2. ^ "£50,000 Cheltenham bonus back in play for Imperial Cup winner". Racing UK. Retrieved 6 March 2017.
  3. ^ "O'Brien targets Winter Derby with six-strong entry". Racing Post. 24 January 2018. Retrieved 1 February 2018.
  4. ^ "British Horseracing Authority Announces Upgrades to Jump Pattern Races for 2013/14". Archived from the original on 2 August 2013. Retrieved 28 August 2013.
  5. ^ "Jump Pattern Committee update 22/23 season". British Horseracing Authority. Retrieved 6 February 2023.
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