A PLUS TARD’s resounding victory in the Gr.1 Cheltenham Gold Cup capped an unforgettable week for Cheveley Park Stud at the Cheltenham Festival. Partnered by Rachael Blackmore, who had finished second on him in this race 12 months ago, A Plus Tard took up the lead over the final fence and bounded clear up the hill to score by a widening 15 lengths from Minella Indo. Rachael Blackmore entered the history books as the first female rider to win Cheltenham’s blue riband event, whilst Henry de Bromhead celebrated successive exactas in the race.
SIR GERHARD opened proceedings on the Wednesday with a dominant win in the Gr.1 Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle for Willie Mullins and Paul Townend. Also victorious in last year’s Champion Bumper, Sir Gerhard is now unbeaten in three starts over hurdles. He followed in the footsteps of Envoi Allen, who completed the same double with success in the 2020 renewal of this race.
ALLAHO spreadeagled the field in last year’s Gr.1 Ryanair Chase and reproduced a near carbon copy of that display to easily land back-to-back Festival successes. Rachael Blackmore did the steering last year but Paul Townend was aboard this time around and he executed the game plan perfectly, galloping the opposition into the ground with a relentless front-running display.
A remarkable week was crowned with Cheveley Park Stud being awarded Leading Owner at the Cheltenham Festival for the second consecutive year.