Cheltenham Festival 2022 LIVE: Gold Cup results, odds and updates as Rachael Blackmore wins on A Plus Tard
Follow all the action from day four at the Cheltenham Festival as Rachael Blackmore makes history by winning the Gold Cup on A Plus Tard
The finale of the Cheltenham Festival saw Rachael Blackmore make more history in the Gold Cup as she triumphed on A Plus Tard to become the first female jockey to win the blue riband event of jump-racing as Minella Indo’s attempt to secure back-to-back victories fell short.
Despite a bright and sunny day three, the going is soft again after the heavy rain from Wednesday but conditions at the Greatest Show on Turf are close to perfect as the Festival comes to a close. The day’s action was headlined, of course, by the Gold Cup but the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle and JCB Triumph Hurdle also provided plenty of drama.
On day three, Flooring Porter joined the illustrious list of horses who have won the Stayers’ Hurdle on more than one occasion with his second consecutive victory, while Alloha repeated the same feat in the Ryanair Chase. But Minella Indo couldn’t quite match their performances in the Gold Cup - finishing second behind A Plus Tard.
Follow for live updates, as well as tips, odds and results as the Cheltenham Festival concludes today:
Rachael Blackmore makes Cheltenham Gold Cup history on A Plus Tard
Rachael Blackmore etched herself further into racing folklore as she added the Cheltenham Gold Cup to last year’s Grand National in guiding A Plus Tard to a runaway success in chasing’s blue riband.
Not everything had gone right for A Plus Tard in last year’s Gold Cup when finishing runner-up to Henry de Bromhead-trained stablemate Minella Indo and the queen of jump jockeys felt she had unfinished business, having picked the wrong horse.
So it proved, as the 3-1 favourite left last year’s winner in his wake following a ride timed to perfection.
Stuck behind a wall of horses turning in, Blackmore was patient and came between Protektorat and dual winner Al Boum Photo to hunt down defending champion Minella Indo, who had four lengths to spare jumping the penultimate fence.
Yet Blackmore, who became the first woman to ride a Gold Cup winner, adding to her two Champion Hurdles and the National, used A Plus Tard’s pace to perfection and she jumped to the front over the last and powered clear.
Rachael Blackmore makes Cheltenham Gold Cup history on A Plus Tard
Blackmore becomes the first woman to ride a Gold Cup winner, adding to her two Champion Hurdles and the Grand National
Cheltenham Festival
The thoughts of Gold Cup winning jockey Rachael Blackmore:
"It is just unbelievable. I feel so lucky to be honest - it is incredible. It is not even 12 months since I won a Grand National and now this - I feel so lucky.
"From the moment he came back in this year we’ve been very happy with him. The performance that Minella Indo put up last year, you just don’t know, but, look, it is great when it works out.
"I was happy with my position throughout the race - I had everyone in my sights that I wanted to keep an eye on. I tried to keep hold of him a bit more this year and it is great when it works out.
"I knew I had more under me this year than last year, but I didn’t know he was going to go away in that fashion. He is an incredible horse."
Cheltenham Festival
It’s been a brillant day for trainer Willie Mullins but the afternoon belongs to one person. Rachael Blackmore.
She won the Cheltenham Gold Cup on the back of A Plus Tard. The duo finished second in that race last year but went the distance today and won by a huge margin over stablemate Minella Indo.
Rachael Blackmore, the first female jockey to win the Grand National also becomes the first female jockey to lift the Gold Cup.
Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle results
1st: Banbridge 12/1
2nd: Cobblers Dream 12/1
3rd: Hollow Games 9/2
4th: Freedom To Dream 20/1
5th: Party Business 28/1
BANBRIDGE WINS THE MARTIN PIPE HANDICAP HURDLE!
The final race of the festival goes to trainer Joeseph Patrick O’Brien.
Cheltenham Festival
Cobblers Dream and Banbridge leap the last in the first two spot. Adamantly Chosen heads out wide but can’t make up the ground. There’s going to be another race to the line!
Cheltenham Festival
Bigz Belief leads by two lengths but Adamantly Chosen is running well behind him. Cobblers Dream comes up through the field as they race down the hill.
Cheltenham Festival
Langer Dan is held up at the back of the field.
There’s scramble over the fence with Grand Jury and Langer Dan going down!
Cheltenham Festival
After a couple of false starts, they’re off!
Cheltenham Festival
The horses are making their way to the start for the final race of the Cheltenham Festival, the Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle.
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