Glengouly wins as Cheltenham honours Hunt family

Glengouly won Saturday’s big race at Cheltenham, which was run in support of a charitable initiative created by BBC commentator John Hunt and his daughter Amy.

The Hunt Family Fund was set up after John’s wife, Carol, and their daughters Hannah and Louise were murdered at their home in Bushey, Hertfordshire in July 2024.

Saturday’s December Gold Cup carried the name of the fund, which will support causes that help and inspire young women.

The 33-1 outsider Glengouly gave trainer Faye Bramley the biggest victory of her career.

John Hunt commentated on the race for BBC Radio 5 Live, before presenting the prizes in the winners’ enclosure with Amy.

“We share many phrases together, and one of them is that in our situation you have to go through the uncomfortable to become more comfortable,” he said.

Glengouly was ridden to victory by champion jockey Sean Bowen for Bramley, who is based at a yard owned by former champion AP McCoy.

Bramley took over training of the winner, who finished down the field in this year’s Grand National, from champion Irish trainer Willie Mullins in May, and this was the horse’s first win in three years

Vincenzo (7-2) was one and a half lengths back in second, with 11-4 favourite Jagwar third.

After the race, two of Glengouly’s owners – Justin Carthy and Ronnie Bartlett – said they would each donate £10,000 to the Hunt Family Fund, which has now raised about £250,000.

“It’s amazing to reach that number and it warms my heart,” said Amy Hunt. “We have had a lot of darkness and to be able to have something that reflects the positivity my mum and sisters had their own lives means a lot.”

She and her father recently recorded a special radio broadcast with Queen Camilla as part of a special edition of BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, which will be broadcast on New Year’s Eve.