1984 Cheltenham Gold Cup Original Equestrian Oil Painting Signed by Jockeys John Francome and Phil Tuck.

Details

Description

Peter Deighan 1984 Cheltenham Gold Cup Original Equestrian Oil Painting Signed by Two Jockeys

An original 1984 sporting oil painting … Read more Peter Deighan 1984 Cheltenham Gold Cup Original Equestrian Oil Painting Signed by Two Jockeys

An original 1984 sporting oil painting by Irish-born portrait and equestrian artist Peter Deighan (born 1941), depicting the historic Cheltenham Gold Cup contest between Burrough Hill Lad and Brown Chamberlin.

Highlights

- Original oil on canvas, signed and dated 1984.
- Additionally signed by John Francome and Phil Tuck.
- Both signatures documented by Budds Auctioneers, Lot 406, November 2025.
- Historic Gold Cup subject commemorating Jenny Pitman's landmark victory.
- Decorative gilt-finished frame with brass presentation plaque.
- Professional reframing by Bailey Arts Ltd, October 2026.
- Privately exhibited at The Famous Lord Hill Museum, 15 October 2026.
- Canvas 51 × 41 cm; framed 59.5 × 49.5 × 3 cm.

Introduction

An evocative original British sporting artwork combining equestrian portraiture, historic racing associations and documented specialist auction provenance.

The painting depicts two outstanding National Hunt steeplechasers negotiating a substantial fence, with their jockeys represented in distinctive racing silks.

Catalogue Details

Artist: Peter Deighan (born 1941).

Title: Burrough Hill Lad & Brown Chamberlin – Cheltenham Gold Cup 1984.

Date: 1984.

Medium: Oil on canvas.

Artist's Signature: Signed and dated DEIGHAN ’84, lower right.

Additional Signatures: John Francome and Phil Tuck, in biro, as recorded by Budds.

Frame: Decorative gilt-finished wooden moulding with beaded inner trim and brass title plaque.

Catalogue Note

Deighan captures the physical effort and movement of two powerful steeplechasers clearing a fence.

The horses' contrasting positions, the jockeys' racing colours and the atmospheric landscape create a dynamic composition characteristic of British sporting painting.

The 1984 Cheltenham Gold Cup

Held on 15 March 1984, the Gold Cup was won by Burrough Hill Lad, ridden by Phil Tuck, trained by Jenny Pitman and owned by Stan Riley.

Starting at 7/2, Burrough Hill Lad defeated Brown Chamberlin, ridden by John Francome, by three lengths.

The twelve-runner race was completed in 6 minutes 41.4 seconds.

The victory made Jenny Pitman the first woman to train a Cheltenham Gold Cup winner.

Burrough Hill Lad – The Winning Horse

Foaled in 1976, Burrough Hill Lad achieved 17 wins from 27 starts over fences and received a peak Timeform rating of 184.

His major victories included the Welsh Grand National, Cheltenham Gold Cup, Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup and King George VI Chase.

Brown Chamberlin – The Runner-Up

Brown Chamberlin, trained by Fred Winter, won the 1982 Sun Alliance Chase and 1983 Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup under John Francome.

He finished runner-up to Burrough Hill Lad in the 1984 Gold Cup.

The Jockeys

Phil Tuck (born 1956) recorded 423 career winners, with his 1984 Cheltenham Gold Cup victory representing his greatest sporting achievement.

John Francome MBE (born 1952) won seven National Hunt jockey championships and recorded 1,138 career victories.

Francome had previously ridden Burrough Hill Lad to major victories but was committed to Brown Chamberlin for Fred Winter in the 1984 Gold Cup.

The Artist – Peter Deighan

Born in Monaghan, Ireland, in 1941, Peter Deighan received a scholarship to the Slade School of Fine Art and held his first solo exhibition at Woburn Abbey.

His portrait commissions included Lester Piggott, Jimmy Greaves, Eric Morecambe, Steve Davis, Frederick Forsyth and John Major.

His paintings have been exhibited in annual exhibitions of the Royal Society of Portrait Painters and Society of Equestrian Artists.

Signatures and Inscriptions

Signed and dated DEIGHAN ’84, lower right.

Additionally signed in biro by John Francome and Phil Tuck, as documented by Budds Auctioneers.

The precise circumstances of the jockey signatures remain unconfirmed.

Brass Presentation Plaque

BURROUGH HILL LAD & BROWN CHAMBERLIN

CHELTENHAM GOLD CUP 1984

BY PETER DEIGHAN

Provenance

Budds Auctioneers, On The Nose – Horse Racing Memorabilia Auction in Partnership with Weatherbys, 12 November 2025, Lot 406.

Private seller, United Kingdom.

Acquired by Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD®, October 2026.

Exhibition History

The Famous Lord Hill Museum; privately loaned and exhibited, 15 October 2026.

Professional Reframing

Bailey Arts Ltd, Crewe, 6 October 2026, Invoice ORD-0587.

Dimensions

Framed: 59.5 × 49.5 × 3 cm (23.4 × 19.5 × 1.2 inches).

Canvas: 51 × 41 cm (20.1 × 16.1 inches).

Condition Report

The original 1984 oil on canvas is presented in very good overall visual condition, commensurate with its age, and was professionally reframed by Bailey Arts Ltd in October 2026.

The painted surface retains its original texture, with minor age-related marks and surface irregularities. No obvious significant paint loss, tears or major structural damage are apparent.

The artist's dated signature and both jockey signatures remain visible. The reverse retains the canvas support, wooden stretcher and corner keys, together with the Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD® identification label and Famous Lord Hill Museum label.

The decorative gilt-finished frame and brass presentation plaque are in attractive condition.

No independent conservation examination has been undertaken. Please examine the detailed photographs, which form an integral part of the condition description.

Published References

Budds Auctioneers, Lot 406 (2025); Sworders, *Peter Deighan*; Art UK; MutualArt; The Jockey Club, *Gold Cup 100*; Timeform, *Burrough Hill Lad*; Horse & Hound, *John Francome*; Thoroughbred Racing Commentary, *Phil Tuck*.

Certificate of Sale & Dealer Attribution

The artwork will be supplied with a Certificate of Sale & Dealer Attribution issued by Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD®, recording the artwork's catalogue details, attribution, provenance as stated, exhibition history and details of the sale. This document accompanies the work as part of its ongoing ownership and provenance record.

Attribution and Research

The historical observations, provenance research, attribution analysis, dating and contextual commentary presented within this catalogue entry represent the professional opinion of Cheshire Antiques Consultant LTD®. They are offered in good faith as informed scholarly assessments based upon the available physical evidence, signatures, comparative research, published auction records, racing archives, reference material and our experience within the international fine art market.

These observations should be understood as professional opinions rather than definitive statements of fact or guarantees of authorship, attribution, date, origin, provenance, authenticity of additional signatures or historical interpretation. As with all historic works of art, future documentary discoveries, technical examination, conservation analysis or advances in academic research may refine, expand or revise current interpretations.

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Specialising in carefully curated British and European fine art, antiques and historic works of art.

Every artwork is professionally researched and catalogued using comparative scholarship, published reference material and more than two decades of experience within the international fine art market. We are committed to offering collectors works of artistic and historical merit accompanied by transparent provenance research, detailed catalogue descriptions and professional, client-focused service.

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