Interest for the 2023 Gold Cup is building as we approach Paddy's day, with a number of contenders gaining momentum ahead of Friday afternoon.
In terms of popularity, the Gold Cup is second only to the Grand National. The blockbuster race, which is held on the final day of the four-day Cheltenham Festival, has the potential to change the lives of horses, jockeys, owners, and trainers, in large part because of the £625,000 prize fund.
A Plus Tard, ridden by Rachael Blackmore, the first female jockey to win the competition, claimed victory in last year's race. Minella Indo, a stablemate and the defending Gold Cup champion, had cleared the final fence alongside A Plus Tard, but Blackmore's horse went in front just before the finish.
