Cheltenham Festival 2022 LIVE RESULTS: Gold Cup build-up for final day of racing after thrilling St Patrick’s Day

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What a morning it is at the racecourse

Those who went on Wednesday must be feeling short changed now.

It hammered down on the second day but days one, three and four are total dazzlers at the racecourse.

Today is expected to be 14C and sunny.

What a stunner! Doesn't it put a spring in your step?

Good to soft for Gold Cup

The going has been confirmed as good to soft, soft in places for the final day of this year's Cheltenham festival.

Clerk of the course Jon Pullin was out just before 7am, and said: "We had a dry day yesterday so the ground has dried up a little bit.

"We've got fog this morning that should clear by 9am. There's a dry day ahead with bright sunshine and temperatures around 14 or 15 degrees.

"The official going for the start of the day is good to soft, and soft in places - but we could see another going change before racing if the ground dries out further."

There are seven races scheduled for Friday with the Gold Cup due off at 3.30pm.

Blackmore on her 2021 success

Despite the hype, cool as a cucumber Blackmore, who was top jockey at last year's Festival and went on to win the Grand National, is only concentrating on the job at hand.

She said: "What happened last year seems to be fading a bit now.

"It was great but we have moved on. It's always about the next race.

"It doesn't matter what race you're in, you're a very lucky person if you get to walk into the winner's enclosure in Cheltenham.

"I've had so many people who have helped me along the way and where I'm at now is not a position I thought I'd ever be in my career. I feel extremely lucky."

Blackmore on A Plus Tard

The heroine of Cheltenham in 2021 is back to put the Irish flag in the ground once again.

I am determined to make up for that. I got it wrong and Minella Indo won.

I believe A Plus Tard is in a better place this time around.

Rachael Blackmore

Rach is Black Gold

Rachael Blackmore aims to go from Wonder Woman to Golden Girl on A Plus Tard.

The all-conquering Queen Of Cheltenham was everyone's Honey after her brilliant win in Tuesday's Champion Hurdle.

And, fresh after Honeysuckle's glory, brilliant Blackmore is out to become the FIRST female rider to win the Gold Cup.

She said: "A Plus Tard has a big engine and is such a slick jumper. I was second on him last year but he's improved."

Blackmore, 32, added: "Winning the Gold Cup is what the wildest dreams are made of.

"The pressure is off after Honeysuckle's win — I just want to go out there and enjoy it.

"We'll see what happens but it would be amazing to win."

Gold Cup is a three-run of last year

The 2021 top three are prime contenders in the 11-horse field for today's Gold Cup.

Defending champion Minella Indo, runner-up A Plus Tard and Al Boum are all in with a shout.

And trainer Henry de Bromhead reckons it could be thrillingly tight for his horses as Rachael Blackmore rides A Plus Tard and stablemate Robbie Power steers Minella Indo.

De Bromhead said: "I cannot separate the two.

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

Searching for another Gold Mine

Rachael Blackmore and Minella Indo bid to deny each other Gold Cup history today.

Blackmore can become the first female to steer home a winner in the Cheltenham showpiece.

She rides last year's runner-up A Plus Tard - hoping to prevent Minella Indo repeating his 2021 victory.

And the trainer of both horses, Henry de Bromhead, reckons it could be thrillingly tight between the two of them.

He said: “I cannot separate the two.

“A Plus Tard has probably got a bit more pace than Indo but both have a lot of class.”Al Boum, who came third in that last Gold Cup, is another contender in the 11-horse field.

And Galvin is another Irish favourite, with Protektorat, Chantry House and Royale Pagaille leading the British charge.  

As for yesterday, trainer Gavin Cromwell praised ‘cool’ jockey Danny Mullins after Flooring Porter retained his Stayers’ Hurdle crown after Galopin Des Champs fell at the last fence.

But Galopin rider Paul Townend recovered from his frustration by triumphing brilliantly on Allaho in the Ryanair Chase.

More history for Rachael?

Rachael Blackmore can become the first female to ride a Gold Cup winner.

She's seated on rides last year's runner-up A Plus Tard - hoping to deny Minella Indo back-to-back victories

The tow horses' trainer Henry de Bromhead said: “I cannot separate the two.

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

Gold Cup is a three-run of last year

The 2021 top three are prime contenders in the 11-horse field for tomorrow’s Gold Cup.

Defending champion Minella Indo, runner-up A Plus Tard and Al Boum are all in with a shout.

And trainer Henry de Bromhead reckons it could be thrillingly tight for his horses as Rachael Blackmore rides A Plus Tard and stablemate Robbie Power steers Minella Indo.

De Bromhead said: “I cannot separate the two.

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

Bookies nose ahead after day three

Short-priced doubles proved costly but big-priced handicap winners kept the bookies happy overall today.

William Hill spokesperson Tony Kenny said: “We were behind after day one but after a good day yesterday and a solid-enough one today, we’re slightly in front as we approach Friday’s finale.

“Plenty of short-priced multiples landed with Bob Olinger and Allaho being successful, but with two big priced winners in the handicaps and Dinoblue being beaten in the Mares’ Novices Hurdle things are looking much better than they did 48 hours ago.

“Gold Cup Day, with a big turnover expected, will be decisive. 

Minella Cocooner and Royal Pagaille are the two we’d like to see beaten but with the likes of Vauban, Elimay and State Man all set to be popular, there’s plenty of others we are fearful of.”

Cromwell gets carried away by Porter win

Trainer Gavin Cromwell praised 'cool' jockey Danny Mullins after Flooring Porter raised the roof by retaining his Stayers' Hurdle crown.

The seven-year-old shrugged off doubts over how he would handle the Cheltenham crowds after triumphing behind closed doors last year.

He easily beat Thyme Hill by two and three-quarter lengths, with Paisley Park a further nose behind.

Cromwell said: "Danny is so good on front runners, he has a serious clock in his head.

"He maybe did get an easier lead this year, whether they might not have felt he was as good as he was I don't know.

"His jumping is unbelievable, he jumps more like a champion hurdler, he's so slick, long or short, he gains ground at every hurdle.

"Last year was great but the crowd here is magic. I came here and won the Champion Hurdle with Espoir D'allen but he was an outsider, to win a big race with a fancied horse was brilliant, it all worked out.

"We'll try to get him back here next year."

'No one likes winning like this'

Rachael Blackmore admitted she was an uncomfortable winner of the Turners Novices' Chase.

Blackmore's Bob Olinger was well adrift and looking well out of it until favourite Galopin Des Champs, ridden by Paul Townend, fell at the final fence.

Trainer Henry de Bromhead and jockey Blackmore even had to be reminded to celebrate.

Both top novice chasers jumped uncertainly and made errors.

And when Galopin Des Champs slipped under Townend, Bob Olinger was handed unexpected victory.

Blackmore said: "It's fantastic to win but nobody likes winning in those circumstances.

"It was brilliant to see Paul and Galopin Des Champs get up."

Chambard wins the Kim Muir

Another winner this season for Lucy Turner who has a sensational strike rate.

A huge winner here at 40/1 and Venetia Williams saddles the third too at a massive 66/1 too!

A cracking race to wind up the third day.