Today at Cheltenham
It was scarcely believable, but after three days of extraordinary drama the 2022 Cheltenham Festival concluded today with a final session that blew everything that went before out of the water.
Amid a simply raucous atmosphere, the Irish went 7-0 on the card, with a Willie Mullins five-timer and four winning favourites sending the festival masses into raptures and prompting outbreaks of chanting and singing more normally heard in football stadiums or at the darts. Cheltenham has never seen an atmosphere like it.
The day’s headlines, though, rightly went to Cheltenham’s iconic duo: Rachael Blackmore and A Plus Tard. They combined for a scintillating Gold Cup victory that confirmed A Plus Tard is one of the best staying chasers of his generation, and Blackmore’s star simply keeps burning brighter and brighter.  Rachael Blackmore delivers sublime Cheltenham Gold Cup ride on A Plus Tard
Rachael Blackmore made yet more racing history by becoming the first female jockey to win the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup on 3-1 favourite A Plus Tard.
Beaten in the race 12 months ago by stablemate Minella Indo, this time A Plus Tard and Blackmore made no mistake as he sprinted away from the defending champion to take the prize for trainer Henry de Bromhead in the colours of Cheveley Park Stud.
This victory added to the trailblazing exploits of Blackmore, who was leading rider at last year’s Cheltenham Festival, winning back-to-back Champion Hurdles on Honeysuckle and steered Minella Times to a groundbreaking success in the 2021 Grand National at Aintree.
“I can’t believe it,” Blackmore said. “I’m so lucky to be getting to ride these kind of horses and you can’t do this without the horses. Being attached to Henry’s yard is incredible. This horse is incredible, I don’t know what to say.”
SATURDAY’S TIPS He is finally starting to live up to his lofty home reputation and came alive upped to three miles for the first time in a novice hurdle on his previous start. He was coming unstuck over shorter trips at the start of his career but looks a useful stayer in the making.
Find out who Robbie fancies on Saturday
WINNING FAVOURITES
A Plus Tard’s Gold Cup win ‘worst result possible’ on bad day for bookmakers
Bookmakers were well and truly on the back foot on the final day of the Cheltenham Festival, with four of the first five favourites winning, including well-supported Gold Cup hero A Plus Tard under Rachael Blackmore.
That victory alone cost Paddy Power a seven-figure pay out, according to spokesman Paul Binfield, while he was by far the best-backed in the race with Ladbrokes and Betfair.
“A Plus Tard winning the Gold Cup was the worst result possible due to the Rachael Blackmore factor,” said Betfair’s Barry Orr.
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