A Plus Tard (3-1 favourite) went one better than last year to help Rachael Blackmore become the first female jockey to win the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase, the feature of the final day of the 2022 Cheltenham Festival.
Trailblazer Blackmore capped a memorable 13 months by landing National Hunt racing's blue riband event aboard last year's Henry De Bromhead-trained runner-up, overturning the form with stable-mate Minella Indo (7-1).
The Tipperary-born rider picked up the leading jockey trophy at last year's Festival with six victories including the Champion Hurdle on Honeysuckle and most famously triumphed in the Randox Grand National at Aintree Racecourse with Minella Times – all firsts for a female rider. She was also crowned the BBC Overseas Sports Personality of the Year for her incredible achievements.
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And at this year's Cheltenham Festival, Blackmore and Honeysuckle retained their Champion Hurdle crown, while she also grabbed another Grade One victory on Bob Olinger on Thursday.
But now she can add Gold Cup-winning rider to her burgeoning achievements in the saddle following A Plus Tard's stunning 15-length victory over last year's winner Minella Indo, to provide trainer De Bromhead with a second successive one-two in the Grade One contest.
A Plus Tard had been second to De Bromhead stable-mate Minella Indo 12 months ago with Blackmore choosing wrong as Jack Kennedy struck Gold on Minella Indo.
But having won the Betfair Chase at Haydock Park in November, Blackmore remained confident A Plus Tard could strike Gold. And the eight-year-old did it in style, storming up the hill to the cheers of the record crowd back after last year's Festival was behind-closed-doors due to the coronavirus restrictions.
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A Plus Tard was 15 lengths ahead of Minella Indo, this time ridden by Robbie Power, with the Dan Skelton-trained Protektorat (10-1) a further two-and-a-half-lengths adrift in third with Galvin (10-3) a short-head back in fourth.
It was a memorable victory, the winning rider was achieving yet another dream success.
Blackmore told ITV Racing: "I can’t believe (winning the Grand National) is not even 12 months ago. I don’t know how I am this lucky! It’s phenomenal.
“I was happy, I was kind of where I wanted to be, there were probably more horses in front of me throughout the race than I wanted. I had the three horses around me that I wanted to be around me, I had a wall of horses in front of me turning in, but they made sure I didn’t go too soon like I did last year. It’s just incredible. I tried to hold onto him a bit more this year and look, it worked.
“I was happy if (Minella Indo) did go and I didn’t get him, I was just happy I wasn’t upsides him this year and I was trying to do something different. I kind of knew after the second last that I had more horse under me than I did last year, I didn’t think I would be 15 lengths clear though.
“When I took out my licence, I didn’t think I would be riding at Cheltenham, let alone a favourite in the Gold Cup. I’m so lucky to be getting the chance to ride horses in these kinds of races. This is the Gold Cup, you know what I mean?
“It was ideal for me (that they went steady early), he jumped really well this year, I was in my comfort zone everywhere and I was just happy everywhere. It’s lovely when you’re in a race like that and you’re where you want to be.
“I never even dreamt I could be doing this and I am. What I’m doing now is a dream I could never allow myself to have because it was not even in my reality. You can never dream too big because this is something I never thought would be possible.
"You can't do this without the horses and being attached to Henry's yard is just absolutely phenomenal. To give me this horse is unbelievable I don't know what to say.
"I've had so many special days. I wouldn't swap the Grand National for anything, but this is the Gold Cup. I wish I had something better to say right now. I just can't.
"You have all these plans about how things are going to work out. Racing doesn't let that happen all the time and for some reason it's happened to me today. I just can't explain how lucky I feel."
De Bromhead, who has had a wonderful year himself, praised A Plus Tard and record-breaker Blackmore.
The County Waterford handler said: “Incredible. What a ballsy ride by Rachael – she was just unreal. She hunted away there; they went a good gallop and she was very brave, I thought, and brilliant.
“I didn’t really get too involved in the plan, to be honest. She told me one day that she was just going to ride him to use his pace and his speed - that’s what she said she was going to try and do, and she did it. She knows him better than anyone. Brilliant.
“It’s ridiculous (having had the first two home in the Gold Cup two years running) – it’s just mental. The class of him there – he was so impressive, and Minella Indo ran an absolute blinder there as well, he really did. He was brilliant as well. Incredible stuff.
“Rachael was so brave, the way she went about it, and that was it. It got to that stage (in the race) that if it was going to happen, it was going to happen. Both horses got a lovely passage; Robbie (Power) was brilliant on Indo and Rachael amazing on A Plus Tard.
“It definitely does (mean more this year than last) – it’s the crowds, just looking here at the stands. It’s just incredible and this is what it’s all about. It was amazing to win it last year, but it’s triple amazing this year.
“What an awesome performance, to show that speed at the end of three and a quarter miles is unreal.”
Richard Thompson, of owners Cheveley Park Stud, added: "We've been talking about this moment, and it's happened. It's absolutely fantastic to win the Gold Cup. Incredible.
"My father (the late David Thompson) would have loved it, he watched the Gold Cup for many years and to actually win it is incredible. I can't even speak.
"I did feel she was a bit far back, but I knew she had a gameplan - she has totally delivered.
"What a day for racing."
Dan Skelton was thrilled with third-placed Protektorat. The seven-year-old may bid for more glory back at Aintree, where he won the Many Clouds Chase in December, in the Betway Bowl next month.
He said: "I'm massively pleased with that as to be honest he shouldn't have even been third given the mistake he made at the last.
"He showed great tenacity to hold on for third and that proved he stays.
"For a minute turning in, I thought we could nearly win as we were upsides A Plus Tard at the second last but we've no excuses, he jumped beautifully apart from the last.
"Given what the winner did, we couldn't have won but to hold on for third given that mistake, I'm proud of him.
"He's only seven, we'll be back next year. A Plus Tard was beaten in it last year and came back and won. There used to be a big thing about horses not being able to win the Gold Cup at their second attempt but Native River did it and now A Plus Tard has.
"I think we've got a pound or two improvement to come but in the Gold Cup little things matter. Wednesday's rain coming today would have been a huge help but that is how sport goes.
"I'm not grumbling, he's run an outstanding race and belongs in this grade. If we run again it will be Aintree as he won't go right-handed.
"It was a classy race this year, with six or seven still in with a chance going to two out. I just felt if we'd got that rain and it became a slog, that might have suited us more."
