A Plus Tard (Kapgarde) wins the Grade I Savills chase at Leopardstown for Henry De Bromhead and owners Cheveley Park Stud.
With the leaders setting a blistering pace from the off Jockey Darragh Okeefe settled his Mount in midfield through the early exchanges he jumped rhythmically and travelled in the style of a horse that was always going to stay the trip well. As the leaders swung for home A Plus Tard was around seven lengths of the front pair, approaching the final fence the deficit was cut to just three lengths before he flew home after the last to collar previous winner of the race Kemboy in the final strides.
After the race jockey O’Keefe said “
He did everything right, he travelled and I thought we went a really good gallop,”.
“Rachael (Blackmore) said to me beforehand that she was going to sit upsides in front (on Minella Indo), and she was only a couple of lengths ahead of me, so I wasn’t worried.
“I sat away and had Paul Townend in front of me (on Allaho) and he (A Plus Tard) was pinging fences.
“When I gave him a squeeze after jumping the second last, he picked up and he galloped right to the line. After the back of the last I did (think I was going to get there).
Trainer De Bromhead continued ” He stayed on really well in the end. I thought he was staying on in the Ryanair last season and he definitely stayed on really well there.
“He won a Grade One here over two (miles and) one (furlong) last year and now he’s won over three miles. He’s still only six.
“We’ll see what we do now. He had a tough race there so I’ll speak to all the connections and decide after that. I’m delighted with today.”
When asked if he could be a Gold Cup contender, De Bromhead added: “Absolutely, he stayed at it really well and needed every inch of it.
“I wouldn’t like to make any plans yet. We’ll enjoy today as this is a pretty savage race to win. We’ll see whether it’s the Ryanair or the Gold Cup, it’s up to everyone involved.”
