Paddy Power Gold Cup: Most Successful Jockeys

The Gold Cup is one of the standout races at the November Meeting each year at Cheltenham Racecourse, and here we take a look back at some of the most successful jockeys to ever compete in it to date.

There are a number of enthralling races to come at the rapidly approaching 2024 renewal of the highly prestigious November Meeting at the historic Cheltenham Racecourse. The action will be taking place over the course of three days, from Friday 15th November to Sunday 17th November 2024.

Amongst the standout races are the Shloer Steeplechase on the opening day, the Paddy Power Gold Cup on day two, as well as the Unibet Greatwood Hurdle Race, which takes place on the third and final day of racing at Cheltenham this weekend.

Here, we are going to be taking a closer look at the 2024 edition of the Paddy Power Gold Cup, where we will be taking a look back at the Jockeys who have won this prestigious race the most times in its history so far, as of the time of writing.

The Paddy Power Gold Cup was first run at the November Meeting all the way back in 1960 when Fortria, ridden by Pat Taaffe and trained by Tom Dreaper came out on top as the winners of the inaugural running of this race. Dreaper went on to win once more with Fortria in 1962.

3 – Pat Taaffe, Terry Biddlecombe, Sam Twiston-Davies & Norman Williamson – 2 Wins

We start with the jockeys who have won the Paddy Power Gold Cup a total of 2 times throughout their respective careers to date. At the moment, four jockeys have done so, which are Pat Taaffe, Terry Biddlecombe, Sam Twiston-Davies, and Norman Williamson.

Starting with Taaffe, he was previously mentioned as the first winner of this race back in 1960 with Fortria before then going on to seal a second victory with Fortria in 1962.

Terry Biddlecombe’s first win in the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham Racecourse was in 1969 with Gay Trip. He then went on to seal his second career victory in this race, also with Gay Trip, in 1971.

Sam Twiston-Davies sealed his inaugural Paddy Power Gold Cup in 2010 with Little Josh before going on to emerge victorious once more four years later in 2014 when he rode Caid Du Berlais to victory on that occasion.

Finally, Norman Williamson is another Jockey to have won this race on a total of two occasions over the years with him first doing so with Multum in Parvo in 1990. He then won again almost ten years later at the turn of the century in 1999 with The Outback Way.

2 – Timmy Murphy & Richard Dunwoody – 3 Wins

At the moment, two jockeys have won the November Meeting’s Paddy Power Gold Cup on three occasions in total, and they are Timmy Murphy and Richard Dunwoody.

Starting with Murphy, his opening win was with Celestial Gold in 2004, before winning it for a second year in succession onboard Our Vic in 2005. His third and most recent success in this prestigious race took place back in 2011 with Great Endeavour.

Richard Dunwoody was able to seal his first-ever victory in the Paddy Power Gold Cup with Very Promising in 1986 with David Nicholson as trainer. Nicholson was once again the trainer for Dunwoody’s second victory in this race at Cheltenham Racecourse with Another Coral a total of 5 years later in 1991.

His third Gold Cup win at the famous November Meeting came almost at the end of that decade and the 20th Century in 1996 when he rode Challenger du Luc to the win on that occasion.

1 – Tony McCoy – 4 Wins

One jockey currently stands out amongst his peers when it comes to wins in the famous Paddy Power Gold Cup at the annual November Meeting at the historic Cheltenham Racecourse over the years of his career – and that is Tony McCoy, who has won it no less than four times.

He was first able to taste success in this race with Cyfor Malta, trained by Martin Pipe near the end of the 1990s in 1998. McCoy was then able to follow this up with another victory in the Gold Cup at the first November Meeting of the 21st Century back in 2000 with Lady Cricket, who was trained by Pipe once more.

A second successive win and a third win overall for McCoy and Martin Pipe came in 2001 with Shooting Light. Tony McCoy’s fourth Paddy Power Gold Cup victory was five years later in 2006 with a Jonjo O’Neill trained Exotic Dancer.

Excitement and anticipation are growing rapidly ahead of the 2024 November Meeting’s return to the iconic Cheltenham Racecourse on Friday 15th November 2024, taking place over three days. The racing comes to an exciting conclusion on Sunday 17th November.

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