One of racing’s most famous trophies was stolen today from the Cotswold home of multi-millionaire racehorse owner Raymond Mould.
The Cheltenham Gold Cup was one of three racing cups taken from an address in Wormington, Gloucestershire, at about 6.50am.
Gloucestershire Police said a new Gold Cup is cast every year and the stolen one was won a number of years ago – believed to be the 1988 trophy.
A Challenge Cup trophy and a Britannia Handicap Cup trophy were also stolen.
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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.
The jeweller responsible for making the Cheltenham Gold Cup has offered his sympathies to Mould after the 1988 trophy was stolen this morning.
But of more concern to Nigel Dimmer, whose family firm Martin & Co have been manufacturing a new Gold Cup every year since 1935, could be another piece taken from the break-in.
Gloucestershire police reported a Challenge Cup trophy and Britannia Handicap trophy to have been stolen from the prominent owner.
“I believe it is Raymond’s Gold Cup that has been stolen. I think it’s absolutely awful for something like that to happen to a lovely man who has done so much for National Hunt racing,” said Dimmer, who was himself responsible for trophy presentations at Cheltenham for 45 years.
“There is a new Gold Cup made every year. We make it in this country. Parts are made in Birmingham and it is assembled in London.
“It’s terrible news, but the cup is replaceable.
“What I would be extremely concerned about, though, would be if the Grand Annual (Challenge Cup) Trophy, that he won this year, had been taken.
“It is a beautiful piece of silver, a one-off and part of Cheltenham’s heritage. I would appeal for it to be returned.”
Mould’s famous green silks with white stars were carried to victory at this year’s Royal Ascot meeting by Ransom Note in the Britannia.
Nick Smith, head of communications at Ascot, confirmed there was only one Britannia Handicap trophy in existence.
He said: “There is only one. The winning owner keeps it for the year and sends it back to us each spring.”
Gloucestershire Police said they wanted to hear from anyone who saw any suspicious activity in the area overnight.
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.
Nigel Twiston-Davies, who won the 2010 Cheltenham Gold Cup with Imperial Commander, confirmed the trophy was stolen from owner Raymond Mould’s house.
Mould now has horses with 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 was ridden to Gold Cup success by Richard Dunwoody.
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.”
