Postpublished at 16:17 Greenwich Mean Time 18 March 2022
Charlie Poste
Former jump jockey on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra
That is a real crying shame for Bob and Co and David Maxwell. It has been a torrid week for Paul Nicholls.
Summary
Cheltenham Gold Cup: Rachael Blackmore becomes first female jockey to win on A Plus Tard (3-1)
Blackmore has now won Gold Cup, Champion Hurdle (twice) & Grand National in past 12 months
A Plus Tard won by 15 lengths after finishing second last year
Minella Indo, the 2021 winner, second at 7-1 with Protektorat third (10-1)
Willie Mullins wins five races on final day of Festival & is leading trainer (10 wins overall)
Ireland beat GB 18-10 in Prestbury Cup, completing a clean sweep on Friday
Paul Townend is leading jockey with five wins
Vauban (6-4) wins Triumph Hurdle for Townend & Mullins
Postpublished at 16:17 Greenwich Mean Time 18 March 2022
Postpublished at 16:16 Greenwich Mean Time 18 March 2022
Bob and Co has fallen at fence number nine.
Postpublished at 16:15 Greenwich Mean Time 18 March 2022
Don Bersy is joined by Winged Leader out in front with Cousin Pascal third.
Postpublished at 16:15 Greenwich Mean Time 18 March 2022
Don Bersy moves ahead of Cousin Pascal as they approach the open ditch at fence number seven.
They're off!published at 16:13 Greenwich Mean Time 18 March 2022
The Hunters' Chase is under way. Cousin Pascal in the early lead.
Ginto suffers fatal injurypublished at 16:11 Greenwich Mean Time 18 March 2022
Sad news to report that Ginto had to be put down after suffering an injury in the Albert Bartlett Hurdle earlier. It was the fourth equine fatality of the week.
Postpublished at 16:10 Greenwich Mean Time 18 March 2022
16:10 St James's Palace Hunters Chase
Winged Leader and Billaway already have history and they go up against each other once again here in another race for amateur riders.
The pair met at Thurles in January with Winged Leader winning by 12 lengths for trainer David Christie.
But Billaway, trained by Willie Mullins and ridden by his son Patrick, has finished second in this race in both 2020 and 2021 – could it be third time lucky?
Image source, Getty ImagesGordon Elliott’s Mighty Stowaway and the Paul Nicholls-trained Bob and Co could feature in the shake-up.
Postpublished at 16:09 Greenwich Mean Time 18 March 2022
All times GMT
Right, three more races to go:
16:10 - St. James's Place Festival Challenge Cup Open Hunters' Chase 3m 2f 70y
16:50 - Mrs Paddy Power Mares' Chase 2m 4f 127y
17:30 - Martin Pipe Handicap Hurdle 2m 4f 56y
Postpublished at 16:08 Greenwich Mean Time 18 March 2022
Emma Lavelle
Trainer at Cheltenham on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports ExtraIt makes you emotional watching, feeling and seeing the people coming to celebrate that win around the parade ring.
I am so happy for Rachael. She had such a wonderful time last year without the crowds and get that that sensation. I'm just really happy for her that she's getting that today.
Postpublished at 16:08 Greenwich Mean Time 18 March 2022
Charlie Poste
Former jump jockey on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports ExtraIt was a poetry in motion ride from Rachael Blackmore.
The history books will say that A Plus Tard was by far the best horse in the race with a 15-length win in a Cheltenham Gold Cup but that only tells half the story.
From her own feelings she said got there too early last year and people thought the horse was a questionable stayer over 3m 2f but she rode him to perfection to make sure she reserved his stamina. He sprinted up the hill and I'm not sure I've seen a horse finish off a race like that all week.
'It is absolutely fantastic'published at 16:07 Greenwich Mean Time 18 March 2022
A Plus Tard's owner Richard Thompson on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra: "I can't even speak. We've been talking about this moment. It is absolutely fantastic. Incredible.
"My dad would be loving this. He watched the race for many years so to win it - I can't even speak.
"I did think she was a bit far back but I knew Rachael had a game plan, and I trusted it, and she's delivered it."
'The result everyone wanted for racing'published at 16:07 Greenwich Mean Time 18 March 2022
Barry Geraghty
Former jockey on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports ExtraIt is the result that everyone wanted for racing. For Rachael to carry on from last year and the Champion Hurdle on Tuesday it is just surreal.
Postpublished at 16:06 Greenwich Mean Time 18 March 2022
Winning jockey Rachael Blackmore on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra: "Incredible. I feel so lucky. It is really incredible.
"I just heard that it was 15 lengths he won by - it is just incredible. He sprinted up the hill."
Postpublished at 16:03 Greenwich Mean Time 18 March 2022
Katie Walsh
Former jockey Katie Walsh on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports ExtraA Plus Tard was just by far the best horse on the day. It was a phenomenal performance.
Postpublished at 16:01 Greenwich Mean Time 18 March 2022
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End of twitter post'A big moment for women in racing, sport and business'published at 16:01 Greenwich Mean Time 18 March 2022
Katie Walsh
Former jockey on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports ExtraIt was absolutely brilliant. It was fantastic - she gave him an absolute peach of the ride. That is what makes it sweeter. When the gap opened up round the home bend it was all over.
Rachael is just phenomenal. She is as cool as cucumber. It is just the decisions that she makes - she is so tactically aware. It was just an absolute pleasure to watch.
It is another big moment for women in racing, sport and business. She is an absolute star.
Postpublished at 15:59 Greenwich Mean Time 18 March 2022
Rachael Blackmore is posing with the Cheltenham Gold Cup trophy and it is all anyone has their eyes on, huge crowds have gathered, everyone craning their necks to catch a glimpse.
Postpublished at 15:57 Greenwich Mean Time 18 March 2022
Barry Geraghty
Former jockey on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports ExtraIt was a really confident ride from Rachael. It was brilliant to watch.
She's an amazing person and such a talent.
'Blackmore is a fantastic jockey'published at 15:54 Greenwich Mean Time 18 March 2022
Andrew Thornton
Former Gold Cup-winning jockey on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports ExtraIt is an extraordinary achievement for someone like Rachael - she started on the point to point scene and then went under rules and she is just a fantastic jockey with a fantastic temperament. She is level headed.
She got a gap at the second last and there wasn't room for a mouse to get through there but she put the horses nose in there and he went through it like a knife through butter. She is just an extraordinary horsewoman. She gets the horse travelling and relaxed.
I don't think she can believe it. The rise she's had in the last three years and to keep it going - she had a bad injury this year too and that for me is what marks a top-class jockey, how they come back from an injury. She's come back better than ever.
'It's triple amazing to win it again'published at 15:52 Greenwich Mean Time 18 March 2022
Winning trainer Henry de Bromhead on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra: "It was incredible. I'm delighted - Rachael was brilliant on him.
"I'm delighted with Minella Indo too - he ran an absolute blinder as well.
"Rachael was so brave with the way she went about it. She was just amazing on him.
"It does feel different this year. It's the crowd. It's incredible. It was amazing to win it last year but it's triple amazing this year."