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Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup
Grade 1, Cheltenham 15:30
£625,000 guaranteed,
5yo plus,
3m 2f 70y, Class 1  
Friday 18th March 2022

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1 A Plus Tard 3/1F
2 Minella Indo 7/1
3 Protektorat 10/1
11 ran Distances: 15l, 2½l, shd
Time: 6m 41.75s (fast by 4.25s)

1 A Plus Tard 3/1F
2 Minella Indo 7/1
3 Protektorat 10/1
11 ran Distances: 15l, 2½l, shd
Time: 6m 41.75s (fast by 4.25s)

Always travelling strongly, there was a moment of concern turning in as Rachael Blackmore on A Plus Tard was caught in behind horses as stablemate and last year's winner Minella Indo set sail for home.

However between the final two fences it was clear she had him covered, alongside jumping the last and powering clear to score by 15 lengths.

It was a victory that meant trainer Henry De Bromhead completed the Champion Hurdle - Gold Cup double for the second successive season.

Protektorat fared best of the British when edging out Galvin for third.

Blackmore told ITV Racing: “I just can’t believe it. I’m so lucky to be getting to ride all these kind of horses. You can’t do this without the horses and being attached to Henry’s yard is just absolutely phenomenal. To give me this horse is unbelievable I don’t know what to say. I’ve had so many special days. I wouldn’t swap the Grand National for anything but this is the Gold Cup. I wish I had something better to say right now. I just can’t.

“You have all these plans about how things are going to work out. Racing doesn’t let that happen all the time and for some reason it’s happened to me today. I just can’t explain how lucky I feel.”

Richard Thompson, of winningowners Cheveley Park Stud, said: “We’ve been talking about this moment, and it’s happened. It’s absolutely fantastic to win the Gold Cup. Incredible. My father would have loved it, he watched the Gold Cup for many years and to actually win it is incredible. I can’t even speak.

“I did feel she was a bit far back, but I knew she had a gameplan – she has totally delivered. What a day for racing.”

Trainers Quotes

De Bromhead said: “The class of him there – he was so impressive and Indo ran an absolute blinder as well, he really did. He was brilliant as well. It’s incredible stuff.

“Rachael was brilliant on him. Rachael was so brave, the way she went about it, it was brilliant.

“She was really brave. I’ve kind of got to that stage that if it’s going to happen, it’s going to happen. They both got a lovely passage. Robbie (Power) was brilliant on Indo and Rachael amazing on A Plus Tard.

“It definitely does (feel different this year), just the crowds looking here at the stand – it’s just incredible. This is what it’s all about.

“It was amazing to win it last year, but it’s triple amazing this year with all the people here.”

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Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase
£625,000 guaranteed, 5yo plus, 3m 2f 70y, Class 1
11 ran
Going: Good to Soft, Soft in places

POS. DIST HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY SP
1     A Plus Tard 8 11-10 Henry De Bromhead Rachael Blackmore 3/1F
2
15 Minella Indo 9 11-10 Henry De Bromhead Robbie Power 7/1
3
Protektorat 7 11-10 Dan Skelton Harry Skelton 10/1
4
shd Galvin 8 11-10 Gordon Elliott Davy Russell 100/30
5
nk Royale Pagaille 8 11-10 Venetia Williams Charlie Deutsch 20/1
6
Al Boum Photo 10 11-10 W P Mullins Paul Townend 6/1
7
1 Asterion Forlonge 8 11-10 W P Mullins B J Cooper 22/1
8
Santini 10 11-10 Polly Gundry Nick Scholfield 66/1
9
30 Aye Right 9 11-10 Harriet Graham & Gary Rutherford Callum Bewley 80/1
PU Tornado Flyer 9 11-10 W P Mullins Danny Mullins 9/1
PU Chantry House 8 11-10 Nicky Henderson Nico de Boinville 16/1

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