Rachael Blackmore made history once again in becoming the first female jockey to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup as A Plus Tard stormed up the hill in imperious fashion.
A year again, Blackmore had to settle for second on the same horse, finishing behind Minella Indo to put a sour note on what had been a sensational Festival for her.
It was a Henry de Bromhead 1-2 once again this year as A Plus Tard and Minella Indo took the last together, but this time there was only one winner as the favourite bolted away from the field.
Protektorat, part-owned by Sir Alex Ferguson, pipped Al Bouma Photo to third, while Chantry House was pulled up after he never got going for Nico de Boinville.
“I can’t believe it, I am so lucky to get to ride all these horses,” Blackmore said.
“You can’t do it without these horses. Being attached to Henry’s yard is unbelievable. I don’t know what to say.
“I wouldn’t swap the Grand National for anything but this is the Gold Cup. I wish I had something better to say but I just can’t! I can’t explain how lucky I feel.”
De Bromhead said: “No, I can’t believe it. Definitely not.
“Just incredible. Amazing and fair play to everyone involved - it’s unbelievable.
“I thought (Blackmore) was so brave, she just kept sitting and sitting. Robbie gave Indo a great ride. The pace A Plus Tard was just incredible, to have that at the end of three miles.”
Willie Mullins and Paul Townend went into the final day of the Festival on top of the trainer and jockey standings respectively, and their leads were extended after a perfect start to Friday’s action.
Vauban had the lead going into the last in the Triumph Hurdle and pulled away from the Gordon Elliott duo of Fil Dor and Pied Piper to take an impressive victory, which started talk of a potential Champion Hurdle run.
And it was soon two for two on the day for Mullins and Townend, as State Man travelled superbly in the County Hurdle and held off the charging First Street to make it a quick-fire double for the favourites.
Townend had to settle for second in the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle, as The Nice Guy and Minella Cocooner gave Mullins a 1-2 that secured him the top trainer award yet again.
There was to be no Gold Cup glory for Mullins and Townend though, as Al Boum Photo had to settle for fourth, and it was Blackmore, who became the first female jockey to win the Grand National last year, that took the Cheltenham adulation after another historic moment in her career,
