Cheltenham Gold Cup-winning famous person A Plus Tard retires from racing

A Plus Tard, the four-tie Grade One winner with whom Rachael Blackmore secured a historic Cheltenham Gold Cup victory in 2022, has been retired from racing aged 10.

Cheveley Park Stud’s gelding, skilled by Henry de Bromhead, loved his best sporting hour that day at Prestbury Park – sprinting up the Cheltenham hill to win by 15 lengths. In doing so, Rachael turned the primary feminine jockey to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

“He was elegant that day, not solely visually spectacular, but additionally one of many highest rated winners of the Gold Cup within the final 30 years, in addition to being top-of-the-line horses we’ve got ever had in our yard,” stated Henry.

“We had been delighted when this very particular horse received Cheveley Park Stud their first Gold Cup.”

The Kapgarde son was the primary horse Henry skilled for Cheveley Park Stud and the Thompson household. He had received over hurdles in France earlier than he was purchased by bloodstock agent Alex Elliott for the stud.

He received the Shut Brothers Novices Handicap on the Cheltenham Competition in his first season operating within the Cheveley Park Stud colors. His main wins additionally included the Grade One Savills Chase at Leopardstown in 2020 and a 22-length victory within the 2021 Betfair Chase at Haydock. Rachael partnered the gelding to 5 of his six wins for Henry and Cheveley Park Stud, Darragh O’Keeffe the opposite.

He’ll now unwind at Knockeen, then return to Cheveley Park Stud for his retirement.

Cheveley Park Stud director Richard Thompson stated: “My father and I sat down in early 2018 and agreed a plan to purchase some Nationwide Hunt horses to be skilled in Eire with the intention of profitable the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

“Simply over 4 years later, we achieved this goal when Rachael Blackmore rode A Plus Tard to victory in entrance of 70,000 individuals on the first Cheltenham Competition submit Covid. My father watched A Plus Tard win the Savills Chase in an exhilarating end on tv on 28 December 2020. He died the very subsequent day. It was the final horse race he ever watched.”

He added: “A Plus Tard was additionally the primary Cheltenham winner within the purple, white and blue Cheveley Park Stud colors and in addition Rachael Blackmore’s first winner at Cheltenham, within the 2019 Listed Shut Brothers Novices Chase.

“For all the above causes, A Plus Tard will at all times be a really particular horse within the historical past of my mother and father’ possession of Cheveley Park Stud.

“A particular thanks to Henry de Bromhead and all of the crew at Knockeen and to Rachael too. To win the Cheltenham Gold Cup is the Holy Grail of Nationwide Hunt racing and we’ll always remember 18 March 2022.”

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H&H senior information author

Lucy is an skilled information journalist, reporter and presenter. Since becoming a member of the Horse & Hound crew in 2015, Lucy has reported from main world sporting occasions together with the Tokyo Paralympic Video games and a number of European Championships, in addition to Badminton, Burghley and London, to call a couple of. She has coated present affairs and sports activities information throughout the total spectrum of equestrian disciplines and racing, in addition to human and equine welfare, trade information and courtroom circumstances.