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Wales Online
Wales Online
Sport
Jon Doel

Who is the favourite for the Cheltenham Gold Cup?

A Plus Tard is the new favourite for today's Cheltenham Gold Cup race, which starts at 3.30pm.

The Rachael Blackmore mount has overtaken Galvin with the bookies and is now priced as short as 3/1 with some companies. Last year's winner Minella Indo is third in the betting at 5/1

A Plus Tard was last year's runner up, but drying conditions over the past 24 hours are deemed to be in his favour. A Plus Tard and Minella Indo are actually stablemates, both trained by Henry De Bromhead

Blackmore, the leading jockey at last year's meeting who went on to win the Grand National on Minella Times, is looking to become the first female rider to win the Gold Cup.

"I cannot separate the two," said De Bromhead of his two contenders.

"A Plus Tard has probably got a bit more pace than Indo but both have a lot of class."

You can see all the runners and riders and latest Cheltenham Gold Cup odds here.

Last year's race was held behind closed doors because of Covid-19 but a sell-out 70,000 crowd is expected this time.

Racing legend Sir Tony McCoy told ITV A Plus Tard is "not that easy a ride" when giving his verdict on the race.

"This is the big day in jump racing and everyone sets out trying to win the Gold Cup. You need lots of stamina to win the Gold Cup and I don't think A Plus Tard is that easy a ride. He followed Minella Indo around the bend and into the straight last year and wasn't able to get past him and he took it up at the last at Leopardstown and Galvin got past him.

"He's a very good traveller and a very pacey horse but staying is a little worry for him if he gets to the front too soon. Getting close to Minella Indo and getting past Minella Indo are two different things as we saw last year."

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