Cheltenham Gold Cup 2020

The 2020 Cheltenham Gold Cup was staged on March 13, just 10 days before Prime Minister Boris Johnson addressed the nation to announce the first nationwide lockdown to curb the widening spread of the Covid-19 virus. As such, it was the last major horse racing event before the sport shut down on March 17 and did not resume, behind closed doors, until June 1.

Twelve horses went to post for the ‘Blue Riband’ event and Presenting Percy, who was staying on in seventh place when falling at the second-last fence, was the only casualty. The race was won, for the second year running, by Al Boum Photo, trained by Willie Mullins and Paul Townend, who had won the Savills Chase at Tramore on New Year’s Day, as he had done in 2019, and was sent off 100/30 favourite at Cheltenham.

In a thrilling finish, the first four horses home were covered by just a length and three-quarters. Al Boum Photo and Santini disputed the lead from the fourth-last fence and were joined, on the turn for home, by Lostintranslation. Indeed, Lostintranslation led, narrowly, over the final fence, but soom surrendered the lead to the eventual winner, who stayed on to win all out. Switched right on the run-in, Santini stayed on well in the last half a furlong, but could never quite reach Al Boum Photo and went down by a neck in a driving finish. Lostintranslation finished an honoruable third, beaten a length and a half by the winner, and Monalee fourth, just a neck further behind.