Glengouly galloped to victory with a game front-running performance in the highlight of The December Meeting at Cheltenham on Saturday, claiming the £125,000 Support The Hunt Family Fund December Gold Cup. Sent off at 33-1, the nine-year-old becomes the longest-priced winner ever of the extended two-and-a-half-mile Premier Handicap chase, first staged in 1963.
Partnered by champion jockey Sean Bowen, Glengouly made every yard a winning one, finishing a length and a half ahead of Vincenzo (7-2) with another neck back to 11-4 favourite Jagwar in third. Fourth place went to Kim Roque, representing leading owner Ronnie Bartlett.
For trainer Faye Bramley, based at Sir AP McCoy’s Lodge Down Stables in Lambourn, it was the biggest win of her career. “I just can’t believe it. To even be here with a runner, I love this Christmas Meeting, is something else and to win is just unbelievable,” she said. “Sean gave him an awesome ride. I am really lucky to be around horses and owners like this, I am really grateful to The Cheeky Pups for giving me a shot.”
The December Gold Cup was run as the Support The Hunt Family Fund December Gold Cup, which honours Carol, Hannah, and Louise Hunt. In support of the fund, The Cheeky Pups syndicate donated £10,000, as did Ronnie Bartlett.
Sean Bowen, riding his 155th winner of the campaign, said: “That was brilliant. Going up to two and a half really suited him and it’s great to win a December Gold Cup as I haven’t really won a big handicap at Cheltenham before. It’s amazing what John Hunt and his daughter Amy have done.”
Sam Thomas, trainer of runner-up Vincenzo, said: “He was never the strongest of finishers but galloped to the line there. We could step up three miles in the future. It’s nice he’s run well.”
Oliver Greenall, who trains third-placed Jagwar alongside Josh Guerriero, added: “Jonjo (O’Neill Jr, jockey) said he was just a bit rusty having not run for a long time. He got shuffled back a little bit through the race and lost his position. The winner has got a freebie in front really. He will come off for it and we’ll stick at two and a half for the moment. He could come back here on New Year’s Day or Trials Day.”
Other winners on the day included Carlenrig (4-1) in the Grade Two Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle for Dan Skelton and Harry Skelton; Nurse Susan (8-1) in the Mares’ Handicap Hurdle; Minella Study (5-1) in the JCB Triumph Trial Juvenile Hurdle for Adam Nicol; and Zertakt (7-1) in the Michael Eakins Senior Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase for Venetia Williams. Party Vibes (12-1) won the Quintessentially Mares’ Handicap Chase, and David’s Well (6-4 Favourite) won the Read Meg Nicholls’ Blog Handicap Chase.
Attendance on day two of the December Meeting was 13,205, up from 11,591 on the corresponding day in 2024.
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