16 March 2023 , 13:42
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History-making jockey Rachael Blackmore will seek another victory in the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup when she returns on last year’s winner A Plus Tard.
Blackmore became the first woman to ride the winner of the historic chase last year and now has a chance to be the only woman to win it twice in Friday’s feature.
A Plus Tard has to beat Galopin Des Champs, the brilliant Willie Mullins-trained chaser who has a score to settle with the course.
At last year’s Cheltenham Festival he came down at the last fence of the Turners Novices Chase when he looked to be coasting to a comprehensive victory.
It was Blackmore who was able to pounce on that error by gaining an unexpected success on Bob Olinger.
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Gold Cup: Guide to the key runners and latest William Hill odds
Galopin Des Champs 15-8 - Has a wrong to right after coming down at the last fence with victory in sight in last year's Turners Novices’ Chase. That remains his only defeat in chases as he has gone on to secure a hat-trick of Grade 1 successes by an aggregate margin of 39 lengths. Not surprisingly he is the one to beat.
Bravemansgame 7-1 - Britain’s great hope for Gold Cup honours is the latest of Paul Nicholls’s stars to harvest the King George VI Chase. But despite winning seven King Georges since Kauto Star claimed Nicholls’s last Gold Cup success, the trainer has not been able to add another Gold Cup. Rain may not help him break the cycle.
Rachael Blackmore won the 2022 Gold Cup on A Plus Tard (PA)A Plus Tard 7-1 - We have seen very little of last year’s impressive winner but he is certainly not dismissed lightly. He led a one-two for his stable in 2022 when beating 2021 Gold Cup winner Minella Indo. He was a bitter disappointment in the Betfair Chase when pulled up and was a late withdrawal from the Savills Chase due to a knock. At his best he should be right in the mix.
Noble Yeats 9-1 - Last year’s Grand National winner will be bidding for an historic double at Aintree if he wins this. But can he? Grand National success is often the summit of many horses’ achievements but Noble Yeats has won twice already since and ran well in the Cotswold Chase. He is one who should be running on at the end.
Stattler 11-1 - Won the National Hunt Chase 12 months ago so won’t lack for stamina. He was unbeaten over fences up to that point and his form behind Minella Indo, beaten a neck, and Galopin Des Champs, beaten eight lengths, make him a lively outsider.
Conflated 14-1 - Fell two out in the Ryanair last year but has shown good form at around 3m, winning the Savills Chase over Christmas. All his best form is around Leopardstown but he might be short of the required class to win the Gold Cup.
Protektorat 14-1 - He should have every chance of repeating last year’s effort in the Gold Cup when he was the first British finisher in third place. He was an impressive winner of the Betfair Chase in November but disappointed when only third in the Cotswold Chase in January.
Ahoy Senor 20-1 - Knows his way around Cheltenham having finished second to L’Homme Presse in last year’s Brown Advisory and won the Cotswold Chase in January. Twice well beaten by Bravemansgame this season when not seen at his best but is a good value to at least turn the tables.
Minella Indo 22-1 - The 2022 Gold Cup winner is huge odds considering his Cheltenham record which also includes an Albert Bartlett triumph and a second in the Brown Advisory not forgetting last year’s second to A Plus Tard. Beat Stattler on New Year’s Day, his first run of the season, and can’t be lightly dismissed.
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Sounds Russian 33-1 - Has already enjoyed a rewarding campaign for small stable of Ruth Jefferson, finishing second to Ahoy Senor, but this could be a challenge too far.
Hewick 40-1 - The rags to riches star of Shark Hanlon’s stable who was bought for just £800 is not certain to run in the event of further rain. He would probably be much better off in a handicap and all his best form is on good ground.
Paul Townend and Galopin Des Champs parting ways at Cheltenham last year (Getty)Royale Pagaille 50-1 - Confirmed mudlark who finished a modest second in the King George on his only start of the season and could be picking up the minor places again especially if the going eases.
Eldorado Allen 125-1 - Has had his moments but has consistently fallen short at this level and on this season’s evidence is on the decline.
VERDICT: This has the makings of being one of the strongest Gold Cups for years with two former winners, a King George winner and a Grand National winner. Those honours may not be enough to deny GALOPIN DES CHAMPS who could be a special talent. He has been perfect since last year’s mishap when he looked on the way to delivering a spectacular victory. He has never run this far but he has not been stopping in any of his 3m wins. A Plus Tard could give him most to do with Noble Yeats the best candidate for the remaining place.
1-2-3 prediction
1 Galopin Des Champs, 2 A Plus Tard, 3 Noble Yeats