The grandstands at Cheltenham will hold a special kind of emotion this November as one of jump racing’s most admired figures is honoured in the most fitting way possible. When the field lines up for the Paddy Power Gold Cup (in memory of Edward O’Grady) on Saturday, 15 November 2025, it will not only signal the start of the UK’s major jump season but also celebrate the life and legacy of one of Ireland’s greatest trainers.
Edward O’Grady, who passed away in July aged 75, was more than just a master of his craft — he was a storyteller of the turf, shaping champions that carried his quiet genius. His family will attend the meeting as guests of Cheltenham Racecourse and will present the trophy to the winning connections, ensuring the day becomes a heartfelt moment for all who admired him.
O’Grady’s bond with Cheltenham was unlike any other. Between 1974 and 2006, he trained an outstanding 18 Cheltenham Festival winners, a record that cements his place among the elite of jump racing. Among those victories, Golden Cygnet’s breathtaking 15-length triumph in the 1978 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle remains etched in racing folklore, as does Mr Donovan’s 1982 win in what is now the Turners Novices’ Hurdle — the first of owner J.P. McManus’s remarkable 84 Festival victories. Each winner reflected O’Grady’s exceptional eye for a horse and his ability to bring out the very best in his charges.
Beyond The Festival, O’Grady’s success continued to flourish. He made history in 2009 when Tranquil Sea stormed home to become only the second Irish-trained winner of the Paddy Power Gold Cup, underlining his deep connection with the race that now bears his name. He also landed the December Gold Cup in 2000 with Go Roger Go, another moment that showcased his enduring ability to prepare horses for big occasions. Across the Irish Sea, he guided Sound Man to back-to-back victories in the Grade One Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown Park in 1995 and 1996, and sent out Drumlargan to capture the 1983 Whitbread Gold Cup at the same venue. In Ireland, he was crowned Champion Jump Trainer four times and won the 1983 Irish Grand National with Bit Of A Skite, further proof of a career defined by excellence.
The O’Grady family spoke with warmth and gratitude about the upcoming tribute. “We are deeply touched that Cheltenham Racecourse has chosen to honour Edward’s memory in this way,” they said. “Cheltenham held a very special place in his heart — it was the stage for so many of his proudest moments. To see his name associated with such a prestigious race is a wonderful tribute to his life’s work and his love of the sport.”
Guy Lavender, Chief Executive of Cheltenham Racecourse, also paid tribute to the late trainer’s influence on the sport. “Edward O’Grady was a towering presence in Irish jump racing for over half a century. His record at The Festival was outstanding, and it’s fair to say he helped pave the way for the remarkable success of Irish-trained horses in recent decades. We are proud to run this year’s Gold Cup in his honour and hope the race will live up to his legacy.”
The Paddy Power Gold Cup (in memory of Edward O’Grady), carrying £160,000 in prize money, stands as one of the most anticipated events of the early jump season. This year, however, it will mean more than just a test of skill and stamina. It will serve as a celebration of a man whose life embodied racing’s spirit — the long hours, the quiet determination, and the sheer love of horses that made him one of the most respected figures in the sport. As the runners thunder down the famous Cheltenham hill on November 15, the roar of the crowd will carry an added emotion, a salute to the man who made the course his second home.
For Edward O’Grady, Cheltenham was never just a racecourse; it was a stage upon which his genius found its most dazzling expression. This November, the sport he enriched will repay that love with a tribute as grand as the man himself.
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