Countdown to the Cheltenham Gold Cup
Check out the latest runners for the Thomas Pink Gold Cup, plus find out who won the HHO Cheltenham tickets competition
This year’s Cheltenham Open meeting (15-17 November), including the Thomas Pink Gold Cup, will see more than 50,000 racegoers flock to the home of National Hunt racing for the first classic meeting of the jumps calendar.
The Open 2002 has attracted massive entries from the UK and Ireland, plus the Czech Republic and Norway. More than 20 top horses are expected to travel over from Ireland to compete for a share of the prize-money, which has risen to over £500,000 for the first time.
Simon Claisse, clerk of the course at Cheltenham, says: “The level of entries looks to be a recent record and we are especially pleased to have received so many entries from Ireland and the rest of Europe.”
Competition winners
Winners of our recent Cheltenham competitionwill be joining racegoers watching the first classic steeplechase of the season, the £100,000 Thomas Pink Gold Cup, on Saturday.
The overall winner is Jane Buchan from Braintree, Essex who has won tickets for herself and three friends. The runners-up are Pippa Barber of Peterborough, Cambs and Janet Smith from Port Sunlight, Wirral who won a pair of tickets each.
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Thomas Pink Gold Cup runners
Don’t miss our expert online £100,000 Thomas Pink Gold Cup preview on Friday 15 November for our racing correspondent’s view on who’s a good bet, but in the mean time here are the 20 horses which remain in the race at the five-day stage.
| Horse’s name | Age | Trainer’s name |
| Lady Cricket | 8yrs | Martin Pipe |
| Foly Pleasant | 8yrs | Henrietta Knight |
| Cyfor Malta | 9yrs | Martin Pipe |
| Exit Swinger | 7yrs | Martin Pipe |
| Turgeonev | 7yrs | Tim Easterby |
| Fondmort | 6yrs | Nicky Henderson |
| Poliantas | 5yrs | Paul Nicholls |
| Its Time For A Win | 10yrs | Willie Mullins IRE |
| Killultagh Storm | 8yrs | Willie Mullins IRE |
| Red Ark | 9yrs | Norman Mason |
| Korakor | 8yrs | Ian Williams |
| Wave Rock | 7yrs | Philip Hobbs |
| Chicuelo | 6yrs | Martin Pipe |
| Mr Baxter Basics | 11yrs | Venetia Williams |
| Perfect Fellow | 8yrs | Henrietta Knight |
| Batswing | 7yrs | Brian Ellison |
| Risk Accessor | 7 | Christy Roche IRE |
| Halexy | 7 | Venetia Williams |
| Kings Valley | 8 | Noel Meade IRE |
| Royal Jake | 8 | Noel Meade IRE |
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Carol is an experienced journalist and editor, who is also a passionate amateur rider and dedicated horse owner, having ridden since childhood. She has a particular interest in the emotional well-being and ethical training of horses, alongside veterinary matters, having garnered extensive first-hand experience of numerous equine health conditions through more than 30 years of horse ownership.