A PLUS TARD can land the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase (GBB Race) (3.30pm), the feature on the final day of the 2022 Cheltenham Festival.
Last year's runner-up can go one better in National Hunt racing's blue riband event.
Henry De Bromhead saddled the one-two with Minella Indo beating A Plus Tard 12 months ago and both are back for more. But on this occasion it may be A Plus Tard who comes on top of what looks a wide-open renewal of the Grade One feature.
Blackmore had the choice of which horse to ride last year, and chose wrong with Jack Kennedy striking Gold on Minella Indo. But in context she picked the right horse, but Minella Indo got first run and stayed on better.
That could happen again, but A Plus Tard was hugely impressive when landing the Betfair Chase at Haydock Park. And although the eight-year-old was beaten a short-head by the reopposing Galvin in the Grade One Savills Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas, he can get his head in front this time.
Gordon Elliott's improving Galvin – a winner of the National Hunt Chase at last year's Festival – rates the biggest danger. But A Plus Tard may get his revenge on him and stable-mate Minella Indo to land the Gold Cup.
The Grade One JCB Triumph Hurdle (GBB Race) (1.30pm) looks almost like a match-up between Willie Mullins' Vauban and the Elliott-trained PIED PIPER.
It's hard to split them but maybe the latter my just come on top.
Pied Piper beat Vauban at Punchestown when they faced off on their respective hurdling debut in December.
Vauban landed a first win in a Grade One at Leopardstown, beating Pied Piper's stable-mate Fil Dor – who also lines up in the Triumph – by just over three lengths.
Pier Piper only won a Grade Two but he was so impressive when landing the Triumph Hurdle Trial over course and distance at the end of January, that he just gets the vote to score again.
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BOB AND CO can win the St James’s Place Festival Challenge Cup Open Hunters’ Chase (4.10pm).
The Paul Nicholls-trained 11-year-old was going well in last year's renewal when he unseated jockey David Maxwell three out. Whether he would have won if he'd stayed up is not clear.
But having claimed a narrow success over the reopposing Billaway in a similar contest at the Punchestown Festival the following month, he certainly knows how to win these type of races.
He was second at Haydock Park last time and with a bit of luck, he can make up for last year's mishap.
MOUNT IDA can enhance her Randox Grand National credentials with victory in the Grade Two Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Chase (Registered As The Liberthine Mares’ Chase) (GBB Race) (4.50pm).
While this is a much different contest to the one at Aintree Racecourse in just over three weeks, Gordon Elliott's eight-year-old mare is in such good form, she can bring up a hat-trick in mares' events before a possible crack at the big one.
She won the Kim Muir in style at last year's Cheltenham Festival. She looks a superb jumper, will stay longer distances but has enough speed to score again over this 2m4f.
Elliott's GINTO can win the Grade One Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle (Registered As The Spa Novices’ Hurdle) (GBB Race) (2.50pm).
The four-year-old has won all three starts over hurdles this season, completing his hat-trick in good style in his first step up to Grade One level at Naas.
He can get the better of the top Britisih-trained contender, Henry Daly's Hillcrest, who has also impressed this season. Aintree may be more to his liking if he heads there next month.
Nigel Twiston-Davies' I LIKE TO MOVE IT was only just beaten in the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury last time and he can go one better it the ultra-competitive the Grade Three McCoy Contractors County Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race) (2.10pm). While in the finale, the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race) (5.30pm), Mullins' ADAMANTLY CHOSEN may end another profitable week for the County Carlow trainer with another victory.
Wright Ones
CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL DAY THREE
1.30pm Pied Piper
2.10pm I Like To Move It (NAP)
2.50pm Ginto
3.30pm A Plus Tard
4.10pm Bob And Co
4.50pm Mount Ida
5.30pm Adamantly Chosen
