The Cheltenham Gold Cup took centre stage as the 2022 Festival came to a thrilling conclusion on day four.
A Plus Tard and Rachael Blackmore went one better than last year, getting the better of Minella Indo in sensational fashion. Blackmore became the first female jockey to win the Gold Cup, adding it to a long list of records she has broken in recent years.
Elsewhere on Friday, Willie Mullins had five winners as he finished the Festival in double figures after a sensational four days. Vauban showed his class to win the JCB Triumph Hurdle and beat rivals Pied Piper and Fil Dor, and State Man then gave Mllins and Paul Townend another win with an impressive run in the County Hurdle.
Hillcrest was pulled up in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle and Ginto was sadly put down after suffering a serious injury on the turn for home, as The Nice Guy gave Mullins his third winner of the day.
That was added to by Billaway, who came from nowhere to pip Winged Leader on the line in the St James’s Place Festival Challenge Cup, and Mullins then got his tenth winner of the Festival when Elimay held off Pink Legend and Scarlet And Dove in the Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Chase.
Ireland made it seven from seven on Friday in the final race of the week, as Banbridge took victory in the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle, giving the Irish trainers an 18-10 victory over Great Britain in the Prestbury Cup.
Day four race card
1:30pm - JCB Triumph Hurdle
1 - Vauban | 2 - Fil Dor | 3 - Pied Piper
2:10pm - County Handicap Hurdle
1 - State Man | 2 - First Street | 3 - Colonel Mustard | 4 - West Cork
2:50pm - Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle
1 - The Nice Guy | 2 - Minella Cocooner | 3 - Bardenstown Lad
3:30pm - Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup
1 - A Plus Tard | 2 - Minella Indo | 3 - Protektorat
4:10pm - St James’s Place Festival Challenge Cup
1 - Billaway | 2 - Winged Leader | 3 - Mighty Stowaway
4:50pm - Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Chase
1 - Elimay | 2 - Pink Legend | 3 - Scarlet And Dove
5:30pm - Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle
1 - Banbridge | 2 - Cobblers Dream | 3 - Hollow Games | 4 - Freedom To Dream
