Tag Archive for: A Plus Tard

A Plus Tard camp feeling increasingly upbeat, as Gold Cup defence looms

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A Plus Tard was nothing short of sensational in winning last year’s Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup – but returns with a point to prove.

Runner-up to stablemate Minella Indo two years ago, the Cheveley Park Stud-owned gelding turned the tables with a stunning 15-length success under the history-making Rachael Blackmore 12 months ago.

Few would have believed then A Plus Tard would be a relatively big price to successfully defend his crown, but that is the case following a disappointing season thus far.

The nine-year-old stopped to a walk when pulled up in his bid for back-to-back Betfair Chase wins at Haydock in November – and with a minor knock ruling him out of an intended outing at Leopardstown over Christmas, he has not been seen since that listless display.

However, trainer Henry de Bromhead has been making positive noises regarding A Plus Tard’s well-being in recent weeks and Cheveley Park director Richard Thompson is hopeful he can bounce back to his brilliant best.

“I saw Henry on Wednesday morning and all is in good shape. His horses have been running well this week, which is a good sign, and we’re looking forward to it,” he said.

“We know the prep has been difficult with him – he hasn’t finished a race since the Gold Cup last year.

“It could go either way, couldn’t it? He’s either going to be bang there in the mix or he’s not.

Richard Thompson (right) with A Plus Tard at Haydock
Richard Thompson (right) with A Plus Tard at Haydock (Simon Marper/PA)

“I think last year one was really hopeful. He was 100-30 and there wasn’t really a doubt that he wouldn’t run a big race, particularly after being second the year before.

“This year there is that doubt, so it’s a different feeling going into it this year, but it’s fantastic to be lining up in a great field with a previous winner of the race.

“Winning the Gold Cup is always the pinnacle and whatever happens this week we’re already in bonus territory.”

With his horses performing tremendously well this week, De Bromhead is excited to send both A Plus Tard and Minella Indo into battle once more.

“They are in good form so we’ll just see how it goes,” said the Knockeen-based trainer.

“Who knows what the ground will be we’ll just have to see what happens on Friday. It should be fresher ground on the New course.

“It’s incredible to be going into a Gold Cup with two horses who have already won it.

“They arrived at the track on Monday so they’ve nicely settled in so we’ll just have to see how they get on now.”

A formidable Irish challenge also includes Emmet Mullins-trained Grand National hero Noble Yeats, Gordon Elliott’s Conflated and Shark Hanlon’s stable star Hewick, plus the Willie Mullins-trained Galopin Des Champs and Stattler.

Noble Yeats winning the Grand National under the now-retired Sam Waley-Cohen
Noble Yeats winning the Grand National under the now-retired Sam Waley-Cohen (David Davies/PA)

Noble Yeats was a staying-on third in the Cotswold Chase on Cheltenham Trials day in January and owner Robert Waley-Cohen, who won the 2011 Gold Cup with Long Run, is optimistic of a bold showing.

He said: “We’re ready to rock and roll and we’re looking forward to it.

“We know he stays and the acceleration he showed when winning the Many Clouds Chase at Aintree earlier in the season was very good.

“The ground is what it is – whatever it is it won’t inconvenience him. I suppose if it’s softer it will inconvenience some others, but we’re not too worried about it.

“After seeing Honeysuckle win on Tuesday for Henry de Bromhead, the one we have to beat, in my opinion, is A Plus Tard. I know it will be almost his first run of the season, but the way he powered up the hill last year was so impressive.”

Conflated won last season’s Irish Gold Cup before falling in the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham.

Having won the Savills Chase at Leopardstown this term, Elliott feels he more than merits his place in the Gold Cup field.

“He is in good form. I think I went for the wrong race last year as all he does is gallop. We’re looking forward to running him in the Gold Cup,” said the Cullentra handler.

“I think he’ll love the trip. As a young horse he was a lunatic, but he’s settling better every year. He’s relaxed a lot more now and you can ride a race on him.

“I’ve only ever had one good enough to win a Gold Cup. Don Cossack was very good, but Conflated is a good horse.

“I think it’s an open Gold Cup and I think he’s got a chance. I think the trip will suit him, if I’m being honest – he looks made for it.”

Hewick has enjoyed a fairytale rise in the past year, winning the bet365 Gold Cup, the Galway Plate and the American Grand National.

But Hanlon is praying conditions do not deteriorate too much ahead of the blue riband.

John ‘Shark’ Hanlon with Hewick on his gallops
John ‘Shark’ Hanlon with Hewick on his gallops (Lorraine O’Sullivan/PA)

He said: “The horse is in great shape. He arrived late on Wednesday night, we rode him out this (Thursday) morning and we’ll ride him out again tomorrow morning.

“He travelled very well and we couldn’t be happier with him, but we don’t want any more rain.

“We want to run the horse as there’s only one Gold Cup, but if the ground goes too soft we’ll have to think about it as Aintree (Grand National) is only four weeks away.”

The leading hope for the home team is Bravemansgame, who provided trainer Paul Nicholls with a 13th win in the King George VI Chase on Boxing Day and now looks to give him a fifth Gold Cup.

Paul Nicholls with Bravemansgame
Paul Nicholls with Bravemansgame (Adam Davy/PA)

“He had one or two issues last year and is twice the horse now, so much bigger and stronger and bounds up our hill gallop three times in the morning,” the Ditcheat handler told Betfair.

“He had a brilliant first half of the season, winning the King George in great style and the challenge has been to have him in the same form in the spring which hasn’t always been the case.

“It helps that he is much more mature now and he looks fabulous at the moment. The key is whether he stays three and quarter miles. Who knows? I didn’t know if Kauto Star would get the trip before he won his first Gold Cup and I’m not sure about Bravemansgame, but I suspect he will stay because he was keeping on strongly in the King George.

“I don’t think I’ve ever had him in better shape and Harry Cobden is very confident.”

The Dan Skelton-trained Protektorat was best of the British when third in last year’s Gold Cup and was thoroughly impressive in winning the Betfair Chase in the autumn.

He could finish only fourth when hot favourite for the Cotswold Chase on his latest outing, but Skelton is adamant he is in better shape now than he was then.

Scottish hopes are carried by Ahoy Senor, who bids to provide Lucinda Russell with a second win at this year’s Festival following Corach Rambler’s Ultima Handicap Chase success on Tuesday.

He bounced back from an underwhelming start to his season by winning the Cotswold Chase and Russell’s string could hardly be in better form.

Sounds Russian (Ruth Jefferson) was best of the rest in the Cotswold Chase and renews rivalry, with Royale Pagaille (Venetia Williams) and Eldorado Allen (Joe Tizzard) completing the line-up.

History-maker Blackmore banking on last year’s heroes once again

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Rachael Blackmore’s thirst for success remains undiminished as the record-breaking rider bids to once again light up Prestbury Park at this year’s Cheltenham Festival.

The 33-year-old is firmly established as one of the sport’s leading National Hunt jockeys, thanks in no small part to her achievements at the sport’s showpiece meeting in each of the past two seasons.

In 2021 Blackmore was the star attraction at a Festival that had to be run behind closed doors due to the coronavirus pandemic, not only becoming the first female jockey to win the Champion Hurdle aboard the brilliant mare Honeysuckle but also picking up the Festival’s leading rider award with six winners.

With the small matter of a Grand National success sandwiched in between, she enjoyed another memorable week back at Cheltenham last March as Honeysuckle successfully defended her Champion Hurdle crown before A Plus Tard produced an impressive display under Blackmore in the Gold Cup.

Rachael Blackmore with A Plus Tard
Rachael Blackmore with A Plus Tard (Lorraine O’Sullivan/PA)

It is clear Blackmore has plenty to live up to on her return to the Cotswolds, but recent history suggests that the pressure only illuminates her considerable talent further.

“It all comes back around very quickly. Things don’t really ever stop in this sport and it’s mad to think we’re getting close to Cheltenham again,” she said.

“You love to get on the board early. When you’re riding for such a powerful stable like Henry de Bromhead’s and have such good rides, you’re hoping to get at least one on the board, but it’s a very difficult place to ride winners. It’s extremely competitive, but we’ll be trying our best.

“The minute Cheltenham 2022 finishes, people are talking about 2023. That’s just the way Cheltenham is I think and you have to try to not get too wrapped up in it all and let it kind of creep up on you.

“This is a really enjoyable and exciting time of year. There’s incredible racing and it’s an enjoyable time when you’re getting to ride the horses that are competing at this level.”

Honeysuckle after finishing second in the Irish Champion Hurdle
Honeysuckle after finishing second in the Irish Champion Hurdle (Lorraine O’Sullivan/PA)

No horse has done more for Blackmore’s career than Honeysuckle, who looks set to return to Cheltenham in search of a fourth successive Festival success.

But having met with defeat for the first time when only third in her bid for a fourth Hatton’s Grace at Fairyhouse, and found State Man too strong in the Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown since, connections have decided against bidding for a Champion Hurdle hat-trick and she will instead revert to the Mares’ Hurdle, in which she beat Benie Des Dieux three years ago.

Blackmore said: “You become used to walking into the winner’s enclosure on her and it’s disappointing when that doesn’t happen, but she still ran an incredible race in the Irish Champion Hurdle. It was a very good performance, she just wasn’t good enough on the day.

“I felt she really battled and was trying to chase State Man down. She could feel Vauban coming at the end and was making sure she stayed in front of him.

“Opposition changes every year. The twice I’ve ridden her this year, I feel she’s run two incredibly good races and it’s a hard one when they have a record like she had and they get beaten, but that’s just the way it is unfortunately.”

Blackmore went on: “If she didn’t feel fantastic we wouldn’t be bringing her back to Cheltenham and it’s really exciting to be going over there with her again and it’s going to be a really fantastic race.

“She’s been an incredible mare for me and my career. I think every jockey dreams of linking up with a horse like Honeysuckle and I’m just very lucky to find one like her.

“She’s always going to be extremely special. Horses like her don’t come around very often and what she’s achieved and allowed me to achieve in my career will never be forgotten.

“Hopefully the book hasn’t closed just yet and there’s another chapter to write.”

A Plus Tard was nothing short of sensational in last year’s Gold Cup as he powered 15 lengths clear of stablemate and previous winner Minella Indo in the style of a horse set to dominate the division.

Few could have imagined at that stage that A Plus Tard would be an 8-1 shot to make it back-to-back wins in the blue riband, but that is the case following a troubled campaign.

The Cheveley Park Stud-owned gelding produced a listless performance when defending the Betfair Chase title at Haydock, while a late setback denied him of the opportunity to bounce back in Leopardstown’s Savills Chase at at Christmas.

A Plus Tard will return to Cheltenham with questions to answer, but Blackmore has not lost any faith.

She said: “He was obviously very disappointing in the Betfair Chase, but a few niggly issues were found and they seem to be straightened out now.

“He got the knock at Christmas, but I’d be very happy with him. He seems very well at home and all roads lead straight to the Gold Cup.

“He hasn’t had the preparation we’d have liked, but I have no doubt Henry will get him there in perfect order for the day.”

Rachael Blackmore celebrates winning the Gold Cup aboard A Plus Tard
Rachael Blackmore celebrates winning the Gold Cup aboard A Plus Tard (David Davies/PA)

In A Plus Tard’s absence, Galopin Des Champs has leapt to the head of the Gold Cup market with impressive wins in the John Durkan at Punchestown and the Irish Gold Cup.

Blackmore respects the Willie Mullins-trained runner, but feels anyone who underestimates her mount does so at their peril.

“I don’t know if there was an overreaction after Haydock, but we didn’t overreact. They’re racehorses and they can have these days. I was disappointed, but I’m not too worried,” she added.

“A Plus Tard was incredible last year, he really was. I got a lovely ride off him the whole way round and the way he quickened up after the last was pretty sensational.

“There’s going to be a lot of depth in the race this year, Galopin Des Champs looked very good at the Dublin Racing Festival, but I’m very much looking forward to the Gold Cup again.

“I’m not too bothered that people are forgetting about A Plus Tard – that doesn’t make any difference to me going into the race. I certainly haven’t forgotten about him.”

De Bromhead’s Gold Cup contenders thriving as big day looms

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Henry de Bromhead believes A Plus Tard is on the right track as he continues preparations for a Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup defence.

The Cheveley Park-owned runner reversed the 2021 result with stablemate Minella Indo when powering to an impressive 15-length verdict in the blue riband last March.

A Plus Tard has had just one run since that triumph, when pulled up as an odds-on favourite at Haydock, with a planned Christmas outing at Leopardstown scuppered by a last-minute setback on the day of the Savills Chase.

De Bromhead reports A Plus Tard to be well over that knocked joint and feels the nine-year-old is showing all the right signs, although he admits his lack of recent action is not ideal.

He told talkSPORT2: “The first half of the season has been really frustrating. Haydock just didn’t happen at all, we thought we were all set to go at Christmas and he banged himself, he just wasn’t right and we couldn’t (run), so we had to commit to going straight there (Cheltenham).

“It’s a tough ask. He’s a very good horse, he was extremely impressive last year and we feel he’s coming all the time for us. Hopefully he will arrive on schedule.

“I suppose there’s probably not many that go into it without a run, so the numbers would be against him. Last year he ran at Christmas, so that was still a fair old break. You’d love to have had one good run under your belt this season, unfortunately we haven’t but he seems to be really coming to himself and hopefully we’re being led this way for a reason.”

Minella Indo beat A Plus Tard in 2021
Minella Indo beat A Plus Tard in 2021 (Alan Crowhurst/PA)

Minella Indo is set to be in opposition once again, with the 10-year-old having kicked off his campaign with victory in Tramore’s Savills Chase on New Year’s Day.

While A Plus Tard is as low as 11-2 for the Gold Cup, Minella Indo is a general 20-1 shot – but De Bromhead is not ruling him out of the equation.

He added: “He seems in great form, that was a fantastic day for us at Tramore and we’re really happy with him.

“Obviously he’s a bit older now, but he loves Cheltenham and he always comes to life at this time of year. We’re really excited to get him there.”

Rachael Blackmore celebrates aboard Honeysuckle last year
Rachael Blackmore celebrates aboard Honeysuckle last year (David Davies/PA)

De Bromhead has won the last two Champions Hurdles with Honeysuckle and he is anticipating a huge swell of emotion should she sign off her exceptional career with another Festival win.

While she is set to tackle the Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle rather than take on Constitution Hill in the main event, De Bromhead thinks the 10-year-old will still face a stern test.

Honeysuckle surrendered her unbeaten record when third in the Hatton’s Grace on her return, while Champion Hurdle-bound State Man was too good at Leopardstown last time. But judged on the reception she received at the Dublin track, the Kenny Alexander-owned mare is likely to be cheered to the rafters whatever the result.

De Bromhead said: “There won’t (be a dry eye in the house). I think a lot of people would love to see it happen, it’s great she’s getting the opportunity. But we have to win it first, so that’s still a long way away.

“It’s a tough task, it’s a very competitive Mares’ Hurdle, there’s plenty in it, but we just feel it’s a better option for us now.

“She’s in great form, she loves it there and she’s won the race before. She’s a year older and we will have to see. We look forward to getting there on the day hopefully and taking our chance.

“In an ideal world, if I could have changed the ground for Fairyhouse and Leopardstown, better ground over two and a half and soft over two, she probably would have finished a lot closer in both, but there you go, it’s not an ideal world and we couldn’t.”

De Bromhead charting direct Cheltenham route for Gold Cup duo

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Both Minella Indo and A Plus Tard will head straight to the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup for trainer Henry de Bromhead.

Each horse is a winner of the race in his own right, with Minella Indo landing the Grade One contest in 2021 ahead of his stablemate before they finished in the reverse order the following season.

A Plus Tard was pulled up on his seasonal debut in the Betfair Chase in November, while a planned run in the Savills Chase at Leopardstown was scuppered by a late mishap.

The gelding is fully recovered now, however, and will make his next start with a Gold Cup title defence in March.

Rachael Blackmore celebrates on A Plus Tard after winning the 2022 Cheltenham Gold Cup
Rachael Blackmore celebrates on A Plus Tard after winning the 2022 Cheltenham Gold Cup (David Davies/PA)

“He seems good. We gave him a full check over and everything seems fine, his joint is good again. It was just a bang,” De Bromhead said.

“We are sort of starting afresh and aiming for March.

“I think we go straight there, we’ve sort of made that decision now and that’s it.

“He needs to go left-handed and the Irish Gold Cup was our only option really. We’re well able to get him spot on for the day and we’ll just aim for that.”

Minella Indo (right) defeating A Plus Tard in the 2021 Cheltenham Gold Cup
Minella Indo (right) defeating A Plus Tard in the 2021 Cheltenham Gold Cup (Alan Crowhurst/PA)

Minella Indo made a winning start to his campaign at Tramore on New Year’s Day, winning a Grade Three event by a neck from Willie Mullins’ Stattler.

He too will take a direct route to Cheltenham now.

“He seems great, I’m delighted with him. He’s in really good form and we’ll go straight to the Gold Cup with him,” said De Bromhead.

“I was delighted to see him back and everyone saw the reception he got, and we got. It was incredible. It was an emotional day, a really good day.”

A Plus Tard is as low as 5-1 with William Hill to defend his title, while Minella Indo is 16-1 with the same firm.

Thompson would have no qualms with A Plus Tard heading straight to Cheltenham

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Cheveley Park Stud director Richard Thompson insists he would be “very comfortable” if A Plus Tard were to defend his Cheltenham Gold Cup crown without the aid of another run.

Henry de Bromhead’s charge was a brilliant winner of the Prestbury Park blue riband last season, but little has gone right for him since.

The nine-year-old was found to be under the weather after being pulled up when bidding for back-to-back wins in the Betfair Chase at Haydock in November and was withdrawn on the morning of last month’s Savills Chase at Leopardstown after he was found to have knocked a joint.

“We flew over for the Savills Chase and it was hard to take in the moment, but you’ve got to do right by the horse and there was obviously no way we were willing to risk him,” said Thompson.

“His season has been a bit flat so far, but we very much hope he’s back on course for Cheltenham.”

A return to Leopardstown for next month’s Irish Gold Cup is a possibility – but while a final decision will rest with De Bromhead, Thompson is favouring heading straight to the Cotswolds in March.

He added: “I don’t think it was a serious problem at all really, that was the word I got, so we’ll see where he is. He might run in the Irish Gold Cup, but that’s 50-50 I think.

“I’d probably rather on balance go straight to Cheltenham, but I’ll leave it to Henry. If he thinks he should get another run into him, then of course it’s his decision.

“I’d be very comfortable not having a run before Cheltenham, that would be my personal view for what it’s worth.”

Richard Thompson (right) with A Plus Tard at Haydock
Richard Thompson (right) with A Plus Tard at Haydock (Simon Marper/PA)

It has been a largely disappointing campaign for Cheveley Park so far, with dual Ryanair Chase winner Allaho and Sir Gerhard both failing to make it the track to date.

Thompson, however, is philosophical, saying: “Last year we won nine Grade Ones, including three at Cheltenham and the Gold Cup. It was never going to last that type of success – it’s impossible.”

A Plus Tard’s stablemate Envoi Allen provided the team with another top-level success in the Ladbrokes Champion Chase at Down Royal in October, but subsequently finished last in the King George at Kempton.

While plans for the nine-year-old are fluid, Thompson raised the possibility of sidestepping in Cheltenham in favour of a spring appearance at Aintree.

He said: “He made a mistake and nearly unseated Rachael (Blackmore) early on in the King George and never got into the race.

“The ground was tacky and he came back tired and a bit stiff. There was never a time when you thought he had a chance of being in the shake-up, that was the disappointing thing.

“He beat Conflated and Kemboy at Down Royal, who were first and second in the Savills Chase.

“We might even miss Cheltenham with him – we could go to Aintree instead. We could run him before Cheltenham. The Irish Gold Cup is an option for him as well, of course.”

Allaho and Paul Townend winning a second Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham
Allaho and Paul Townend winning a second Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham (Mike Egerton/PA)

Thompson went on to provide an update on Allaho’s well being, with hopes high that he will be fit enough to bid for a third Ryanair Chase in little over nine weeks’ time.

“I think he’s in good shape and I think Willie (Mullins) is looking to go straight to Cheltenham with him. At the moment that’s the plan,” Thompson added.

“He’s very much on course to go to Cheltenham. If he can go there having a chance of winning the Ryanair for a third time, that would be a hell of an achievement.”

Late setback rules A Plus Tard out of Savills Chase

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A Plus Tard will miss the Savills Chase at Leopardstown after being withdrawn on veterinary advice

Last season’s Cheltenham Gold Cup hero was a last-gasp winner of the Grade One contest in 2020 and was caught close home by Galvin in last year’s renewal.

Despite a disappointing seasonal reappearance when pulling up in last month’s Betfair Chase at Haydock, the Cheveley Park Stud-owned eight-year-old was a hot favourite to get back on the winning trail.

However, A Plus Tard will not line up in the feature event on day three of Leopardstown’s Christmas Festival.

De Bromhead said: “It’s frustrating, but he’s banged his joint and we just don’t want to risk him.

“The vets are going to dig deeper. He’s moving perfect, but he just banged his joint and there’s a bit of heat there, so we’ll see.”

Kemboy and A Plus Tard renew Savills rivalry at Leopardstown

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Familiar foes Kemboy and A Plus Tard cross swords once again in the Savills Chase at Leopardstown on Wednesday.

In eight outings at the Dublin circuit the Willie Mullins-trained Kemboy has only been out of the first four once – with his two victories featuring this race in 2018 and the Irish Gold Cup in February last year.

It was so nearly a second Savills Chase in 2020, only to be caught close home by Henry de Bromhead’s A Plus Tard in a thrilling finish, while he was beaten less than a length into third place 12 months ago.

Kemboy’s last outing was another Grade One near-miss, to A Plus Tard’s stablemate Envoi Allen at Down Royal last month.

Mullins also runs Franco De Port and Royal Rendezvous, the latter winning last season’s Galway Plate and now having his first start since Punchestown in April.

“Kemboy loves the track and he always keeps some of his best runs for here,” said the Closutton handler.

“Franco De Port will probably need a bit of luck to win, but he’ll take his chance. He won at the track over two miles.

“Royal Rendezvous hasn’t run over three miles – the Galway Plate is as far as he’s run – and we felt we’d have a look to see how he goes over longer trips.

“He’s a hard horse to place with his rating and is entitled to run in the race. I’m not sure if he’ll get the trip, but we’ll see.”

Rachael Blackmore and A Plus Tard at Cheltenham in March
Rachael Blackmore and A Plus Tard at Cheltenham in March (David Davies/PA)

Last year’s renewal saw a role reversal for A Plus Tard as he was run down by Galvin, losing out by a head.

He went from there to famously lift the Cheltenham Gold Cup in the hands of Rachael Blackmore, but left connections scratching their heads when pulled up in the Betfair Chase at Haydock on his reappearance. A “couple of issues” were subsequently discovered, however, including unsatisfactory blood test results.

Only fourth at Down Royal, Galvin is back to defend his crown and is joined by his Gordon Elliott-trained stablemates Conflated and Fury Road.

Winner of this year’s Irish Gold Cup, Conflated was one place in front of Galvin at Down Royal, while Fury Road was a Grade Two winner at that meeting.

The field is completed by the Mouse Morris-trained French Dynamite, who is trying three miles for the first time over fences after finishing runner-up in the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham.