A Plus Tard (Kapgarde) wins the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup (Grade I) for Cheveley Park Stud and trainer Henry De Bromhead.
Having already captured Grade I glory in winning the Bet 365 Chase at Haydock already in the season, A Plus Tard was a well supported favourite here and won a strong renewal of jump racing’s showpiece in devastating style.
Travelling sweetly just behind the leaders under a waiting ride from Rachael Balckmore, A Plus Tard jumped beautifully throughout before powering away from the field up the Cheltenham hill to win easily by 15 lenghts.
After the race Blackmore, who in winning here become the first ever female rider to win the Gold Cup, said ”I suppose I didn’t want to do the same thing as last year as it didn’t work,” she explained. “The wall of horses in front of me made sure I didn’t get there too soon, but he felt very happy throughout the race this year and jumped fantastically, and I was able to take him back a little bit everywhere”.
“Thankfully he was good over the last two fences and he picked up incredibly over the last. It is an incredible feeling when you do that over the back of the last at Cheltenham.
“These are such special days and I wouldn’t swap the Grand National for anything, but this is the Gold Cup. He is a very talented horse and I’m very lucky to be on him.”
