The Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup Handicap Chase (Grade 3) is run near the end of November or beginning of December each year at Newbury Racecourse in Berkshire, England over three miles two and a half furlongs with twenty one fences to be jumped.

The Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup is the most important steeplechase run at Newbury Racecourse each year and has been won by some of the leading three mile chasers most notably Arkle, Mill House, Mandarin, Kerstin, Bregawn, Burrough Hill Lad and Denman who were also winners of the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

The Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup was first run in 1957 at Cheltenham Racecourse when it was won by Mandarin who was owned by Madame Peggy Hennessy whose family firm were the sponsors of the race. It was run their again in 1958 and 1959 but ever since 1960 Newbury Racecourse has been the venue.

Many well fancied horses have won the Hennessy Gold Cup with Arkle at 1/6 in 1965 the shortest priced winner although there has been the occasional outsider winning including Sibton Abbey at 40/1 in 1992, Madison Du Berlais at 25/1 in 2008, Stalbridge Colonist at 25/1 in 1966 and Man of the West at 20/1 in 1968.

Only Cheltenham Gold Cup winners have carried twelve stone or more to victory in the Hennessy Gold Cup. These winners were Arkle in 1964 and 1965 carrying 12 stone 7lb, Mill House in 1963 with 12 stone and Burrough Hill Lad in 1984 with 12 stone.

Apart from his two wins in the race Arkle was also third in 1963 to Mill House (Arkle in receipt of 5lb) and then in 1966 narrowly failed to give 35lb to the useful Stalbridge Colonist (who was later second in the 1967 Cheltenham Gold Cup and third in the 1968 Cheltenham Gold Cup).

Trainers with good records in the Hennessy Gold Cup include possibly the most successful and longest serving character in National Hunt racing ever in former Champion Trainer Fulke Walwyn whose seven successes in the race (1957, 1958, 1961, 1963, 1968, 1972, 1981) stretched over 24 years and whose final win in the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup with a horse called Diamond Edge was no less than 45 years after he himself rode Reynoldstown to win the 1936 Aintree Grand National. Other trainers with good records include Martin Pipe with three wins, Charlie Brooks with two wins, David Barons with two wins, Bob Turnell with two wins, Paul Nicholls with three wins and Tom Dreaper with two wins.

Hennessy Gold Cup winning jockeys who have ridden the winner of the race more than once include Willie Robinson who had three wins, Peter Scudamore with two wins, John Francome with two wins, Timmy Murphy with two wins, Graham Bradley with two wins, Jamie Osborne with two wins, Paul Nicholls with two wins and Pat Taaffe with two wins.

In 1960 Derek Ancil rode and trained Knucklecracker to win the Hennessy Gold Cup. Jockeys who have ridden the winner of the Hennessy Gold Cup and then later also trained the winner include Andy Turnell (1975 April Seventh and 1993 Cogent) and Paul Nicholls (1986 Broadheath, 1987 Playschool and 2003 Strong Flow, 2007 Denman, 2009 Denman).

* 2002 First past the post Be My Royal was later disqualified for failing a routine dope test – traces of morphine

** Run at Cheltenham