A PLUS TARD can bounce back to retain his crown in the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup Chase (GBB Race) (3.30pm) on the final day of the 2023 Cheltenham Festival.
Henry De Bromhead's nine-year-old ran out a superb 15-length winner of the blue riband of National Hunt racing 12 months ago – enabling Rachael Blackmore to become the first female jockey to win the Grade One feature at Prestbury Park. He looked by far the best staying chaser around but he returns to Cheltenham under a cloud, having been pulled up on his only start since, when disappointing in the defence of his Betfair Chase crown at Haydock Park back in November. Since then the likes of recent Irish Gold Cup hero Galopin Des Champs – the Willie Mullins-trained hot favourite for the Gold Cup; Paul Nicholls' impressive King George VI Chase winner Bravemansgame; last year's Randox Grand National star Noble Yeats; and Gordon Elliott's Conflated – with victory in the Grade One Savills Chase over Christmas – have thrown their hat into the ring to overtake A Plus Tard.
On this season's form A Plus Tard has it all to do. But having also been second to stable-mate Minella Indo in the 2021 Gold Cup and having won a Listed handicap at the Festival in the past, it is clearly the right time and place for De Bromhead's chasing star. His County Waterford-based trainer will have his spot on for his return and he can emulate recent dual Gold Cup stars like Best Mate, Kauto Star and Al Boum Photo.
