THE CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL 14-17 MARCH 2023
DAY FOUR
W hile each day is special in its own right, one day at The Festival stands apart from the others, and the three days that lead up to Day Four, featuring the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup, set the scene for the most prestigious afternoon in Jump racing. The pinnacle of the entire Jump season, the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup is the highlight of The Festival and brings the best of the best together. Winning this race automatically etches your name in Cheltenham folklore, and for good reason, as it provides one of the toughest tests a racehorse can face. Analysts use the term ‘Championship’ pace when talking about the key races at
had chosen to ride A Plus Tard 12 months before, only to finish second to stablemate Minella Indo. Unlike on Day Three, there was to be no déjà vu here and Blackmore was able to reverse the result with a masterful ride to seal a scarcely believable 15-length victory. Even Blackmore – a woman who has made her home in the winner’s enclosure at Cheltenham – was rather lost for words in the aftermath. She said: “When I took out my licence, I didn’t think I would be riding at Cheltenham, let alone a favourite in the Gold Cup! “I’m so lucky to be getting the chance to ride horses in these kinds of races. This is the Gold Cup, you know what
The Festival and that is particularly true for the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup, as the contest examines the ability of stayers by seeing if they can add substance to their stamina over the three-and-a-quarter-mile trip. Victory in the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup will guarantee the winner space on back pages around the world, though this year’s race had more reach than ever, with Rachael Blackmore creating history by becoming the first female jockey to win the race on board the Henry de Bromhead-trained A Plus Tard. Blackmore has made a habit of rewriting the history books over the last few years, but this victory was a real moment of redemption for the rider, who
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