1978 Piper Champagne Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase

Run in April, festival race abandoned due to snow.
Date: Wednesday 12th April 1978 |
Course: Cheltenham |
Distance: 3m 2f |
Going: Good |
Winning Time: 6m 57.30s |
Winner: Midnight Court (John Francome) [F T Winter] |
Runners: 10

[@maureenormston1687]

Lovely to see this and remember some great horses from that period. Was always fond of Fort Devon.

[@stephenholmes1036]

Brown lad a cracking stayer

[@gozalanmckenna1027]

Massive respect to Francome, always got the best of a horse without abusing the animal.

[@befairish]

Brown Lad running on like a demon at the end

[@edenhazard5082]

If i remember it was run in April that year......along with Tied Cottage, Ireland had some tough stayers in that era.

[@befairish]

@@edenhazard5082 That's right, which didn't hlep Brown Lad either. The previous yr he'd won the stayers hurdle with unbelivable ease. I 'd love to see a video of that one

[@richardbranton7396]

​​@@befairishBrown lad won the stayers in 75 and the sun alliance hurdle in 74

[@befairish]

@@richardbranton7396 won the Sun Alliance as an 8-yr-old, trained by Paddy Osborne; when asked why so late to hurdles, paddy replied "because we couldn't catch him till then.' Then went to Dreaper

[@mervyncharter]

Thanks for posting. Do You have the 1977, 1976 and 1975 cheltenham Gold Cup in Full

[@paullynton-green6570]

That would be fantastic.

[@julzyboy1973]

If Tied Cottage had not been saved for the GN, I think he would have beaten the winner imo