Can A Plus Tard retain the Gold Cup at the Cheltenham Festival?

Last year’s Gold Cup looked like one of the most open in recent years, with several challengers all capable of winning the race, however, it was A Plus Tard who was successful. Perhaps the most prestigious race in the entire Cheltenham catalogue, Henry de Bromhead’s County Waterford star managed to pip stablemate Minella Indo to first place, winning by 11 lengths. It was a hard-fought victory, with Rachel Blackmore writing her name in the history books as the first woman to win the Gold Cup.

“I can’t believe it, I am so lucky to get to ride all these horses,” Blackmore said. “You can’t do it without these horses. Being attached to Henry’s yard is unbelievable. I don’t know what to say.

“I wouldn’t swap the Grand National for anything but this is the Gold Cup. I wish I had something better to say but I just can’t! I can’t explain how lucky I feel.”

It was Blackmore’s sixth Cheltenham winner but as the Festival rolls round once again and fans check the horse racing betting looking for a potential favourite, you wonder if lightning can strike twice. Once again the Gold Cup proves to be a competitive occasion, and when you factor in the unpredictability of a big race and the thrill of the Cheltenham crowd, it will be mightily impressive if A Plus Tard can regain the crown. With that in mind, let’s assess the potential Gold Cup threats with the race’s other key contenders.

Galopin Des Champs

You wonder if the Gold Cup will serve as something of a redemption arc for the Willie Mullins-trained Galopin Des Champs. It looked like he would cruise to a routine victory in the Turner Novices Chase before a big fall handed the win to Bob Olinger on a silver plate. Since then though the seven-year-old has been emphatic, winning his last three consecutive races and heading to Cheltenham in mercurial form. Indeed, victory at Fairyhouse in the Gold Cup Novice Chase ensured he enters Prestbury Park as one of the favourites, and will take some stopping if he can replicate those performances from earlier this year.

Noble Yeats

Next, we have another history maker in the form of Noble Yeats. After winning the Grand National last year against all odds, the 50/1 outsider could become the first horse in almost 50 years to win the National as well as the Gold Cup. You’d have to go as far back as 1975 for the last time that feat was accomplished — when L’Escargot pipped Red Rum to the post on the back of two consecutive victories at Cheltenham. Despite a poor run in January’s Grade 2 Cotswold Chase, Noble Yeats’ ability to perform at the highest level means it’s impossible to rule him out.

Conflated

Gordon Elliott made his return to the Cheltenham Festival last year after his ban and will have his eye on the leading trainer award this year. Nine-year-old Conflated, who is racing in both the Ryanair Chase and Gold Cup, will look to deliver the goods for Elliott, having been ridden out in last year’s defeat to Allaho under Davy Russell. Since then, Jack Kennedy has been in the saddle but having not raced since the end of December at Leopardstown, it will be interesting to see how sharp he is.