Stolen Art Watch, Cheltenham Trophies, Gold Cup Heist , Clock Ticking !!

Cheltenham Gold Cup theft: Racehorse owner offers £15K reward

http://www.thisisgloucestershire.co.uk/news/Substantial-reward-Gold-Cup/article-2422579-detail/article.html

A substantial reward has been put up for the return of the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

The prestigious trophy, which is made of solid gold and is worth about £10,000, was one of several cups taken from the home of multi-millionaire racehorse owner Raymond Mould.

The 70-year-old yesterday said he was putting up a £15,000 reward for anyone who could secure the return of all items taken during the burglary.

The money has been offered for information leading to the arrest of the person responsible and the recovery of the stolen items.

The raiders struck at his Wormington home, near Broadway, in the early hours of Wednesday.

The combined value of the awards is believed to be more than £150,000. A new version of the Gold Cup is made for the iconic race each year and the stolen trophy was won in 1988 by Charter Party.

The horse was trained by the late David Nicholson and was ridden to glory by Richard Dunwoody in the colours of Claire Smith and Mould's late wife, Jenny.

Yesterday Mr Mould said he was feeling a little better than he did in the aftermath of the theft.

"At least we are all alive and nobody was hurt – except the pocket. All the items were insured, but that's not the point. I could go out and get a replacement of the Gold Cup made tomorrow but it would not be the same," he said.

Among the other prizes taken in the raid was an original silver trophy that is more than 100 years old.

The Grand Annual Challenge Cup, owned by Cheltenham Racecourse and won by Mould's Pigeon Island this year, dates back to 1906.

Mr Mould, who is the main owner for Gloucestershire trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies, was in London with his wife at the time of the burglary.

His daughter Sophie and her boyfriend are reported to have been asleep in the property.

His daughter Sophie and her boyfriend are reported to have been asleep in the property.

She told the Racing Post: "They must have come in the middle of the night, I didn't know until I came down in the morning."

Thieves are thought to have broken in between midnight and 6.50am.

Police want to hear from anyone who saw any suspicious activity in the area.