Rachael Blackmore continued her remarkable rise in show jumping history as she won the Cheltenham Gold Cup on flight winner A Plus Tard on Friday. Coach Henry De Bromhead finished a one-two in the Gold Cup for the second year in a row with Minella Indo, who won the race last year, in second place.
Second 12 months before Minella Indo, the winning pair reversed this form in style as the 3-1 favorite stormed the hill to claim a stylish success.
Blackmore, who became the first woman to win the Champion Hurdle and Grand National last season, is now the first woman to land the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Blackmore said: “I just can not believe it. I’m so happy to ride all these kinds of horses. You can not do this without the horses and being connected to Henry’s yard is just absolutely phenomenal. To give me this horse is unbelievable I do not know what to say.
“I have so many special days. I would exchange the Grand National for nothing, but this is the Gold Cup. I wish I had something better to say now. I just can not.
“You have all these plans about how things turn out. Racing does not always let that happen and for some reason it happened to me today. I just can not explain how happy I feel.
Richard Thompson, owner of Cheveley Park Stud, said: “We talked about this moment, and it happened. It’s absolutely fantastic to win the Gold Cup. Years looked and it’s really awesome to win.I can not even speak.
“I felt like she was a little far back, but I knew she had a game plan – she delivered very well. What a day for the race.
Bromhead said: “The class of [A Plus Tard] there – he was so impressive and Indo ran an absolute blind too, he really did. He was brilliant too. It’s incredible stuff.
“Rachael was awesome at him. Rachael was so courageous, the way she went about it, it was awesome. She was really courageous. I somehow got to the point that if it’s going to happen, it’s going to happen. two got a nice pass.Robbie [Power] was brilliant on Indo and Rachael amazing on A Plus Tard.
“It definitely feels different this year]just the people watching here – it’s just awesome. This is what it’s all about. It was amazing to win it last year, but it’s been amazing three times this year with all the people here.
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