THE F E S T I VAL™ 15-18 MARCH 2022 DAY ONE TWO THREE FOUR N o Jumps race staged anywhere in theworld is more prestigious than the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup. No surprise, then, Finally the climax of this exhilarating four-day event, which includes the much anticipated Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup Steeple Chase
that two years after racegoers were last on course towatch it, tickets for this race day sold out before the end of January for the first time ever. Such is the anticipation to seewho will follow in the footsteps of some of the sport’s greatest equine names, this really is the hottest ticket in town. Gold Cup Day brings the Cheltenham Festival to a gripping crescendo and is, for many, the climax that thewhole season has been building towards. Ask any Jump jockey, trainer or owner the one race theywant on their CV and their answerwill be the same. Because, while the Grand National is an iconic spectacle, the Cheltenham Gold Cup brings the very best together to compete for the most prestigious prize of them all. Racing analysts will use the term ‘Championship’ pacewhen talking about the big races at The Festival™ and that rings particularly truewith the Boodles Gold Cup, testing the mettle of stayers looking to step up to the big league by seeing if they can add substance to their stamina over the three and a quarter mile trip. And perhaps the most significant statistic to demonstrate howhard the
last season. Hewill be hoping to exact revenge on that rival this year but perhaps the most interesting sub-plot will be the fortunes of the Henry de Bromhead runners, A Plus Tard and Minella Indo. Rachael Blackmore’s 2021 Festival will never be forgotten, but she was on thewrong horse in last year’s Gold Cup, finishing second as Jack Kennedy took the spoils. A Plus Tard has since gone on to record a stunning victory in the Betfair Chase at Haydock Park and all eyes will be on
race is towin is that only eight horses have been successful more than once since it was first run back in 1924. Legends to have repeated the feat include Kauto Star in 2007 and 2009 – the only horse to regain the Gold Cup; Best Mate in 2002, 2003 and 2004; L’Escargot in 1970 and 1971; Arkle in 1964, 1965 and 1966, and Golden Miller in 1932, 1933, 1934, 1935 and 1936. The most recent to retain the coveted trophywas Al Boum Photowho, after triumphing in 2019 and 2020, went on to finish third to the brilliant Minella Indo
THE JOCKEYCLUB . CO . UK 31
Made with FlippingBook Converter PDF to HTML5