Cheltenham Gold Cup stolen

(Getty Images)

A trophy presented to the winner of one of the most famous events in horse racing was stolen in a burglary today.

The Cheltenham Gold Cup, won in 1988, was one of three horse racing cups taken from an address in Wormington, Gloucestershire, at about 6.50am.

Trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies, who won the 2010 Cheltenham Gold Cup with Imperial Commander, said the trophy was won in 1988 by Charter Party and was taken from owner Raymond Mould's house.

Mr Mould now has horses with Mr Twiston-Davies, who said: "I'm afraid it is Charter Party's Gold Cup that has been stolen.

"I've been sitting with him at lunch today. They've broken into his house and stolen it.

"What happens is they make a new one every year and the owners get to keep that."

Charter Party was trained by the late David Nicholson and ridden to Gold Cup success by Richard Dunwoody.

Sent off at 10-1, the gelding beat Cavvies Clown by six lengths in the colours of Claire Smith and Mould's late wife, Jenny.

A Challenge Cup trophy and a Britannia Handicap Cup trophy were also stolen.

Bronze ornaments in the shape of a hare, a spaniel with a pheasant in its mouth and two horses being ridden by jockeys were also stolen, along with a dark wooden clock with gold sides and a gold mechanism, two silver trophies, a silver fisherman ornament and a cigarette case, police said.

The total value of the haul was put at £150,000.

Gloucestershire Police said they wanted to hear from anyone who saw any suspicious activity in the area overnight.

Mr Dunwoody said the theft was a "big blow" and added: "The Gold Cup is the pinnacle of our sport. It is arguably the most prestigious race in our sport.

"It doesn't personally affect me but I am disappointed and it must be a huge disappointment to Raymond to have lost these trophies.

"Hopefully they will be able to recover them.

"It's a big blow really. It was one of the highlights of my career winning the Gold Cup, it was a great day."

He added: "I would imagine Raymond had some pretty prestigious trophies. He has owned the winners of some of the biggest races so I would imagine there are some very prestigious trophies there."

Anyone with any information about the burglary was asked to contact Gloucestershire Constabulary on 0845 090 1234 quoting incident number 38 of July 14 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.