A Plus Tard can defy the statistics and provide Henry de Bromhead with back-to-back wins in the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup.
Second to stablemate Minella Indo 12 months ago, plenty felt he just did not quite get up the hill.
However, considering he had a dual Gold Cup winner in Al Boum Photo behind in third, that is a very harsh view to take.
Quite simply, Minella Indo was the better horse on the day but since then he has been beaten at Down Royal, pulled up in the King George and been beaten over six lengths by Conflated in the Irish Gold Cup, suggesting winning the blue riband has left its mark.
Meanwhile A Plus Tard waltzed to victory in the Betfair Chase on his reappearance and while holes can be picked in that form, he probably should have won the Savills Chase too but he was mugged on the line by Galvin.
The general view is the stiffer stamina test at Cheltenham will play even more to Galvin’s strengths, and he did win the National Hunt Chase after all. But nine times out of 10 Rachael Blackmore would have been a bit more patient in the Savills and she would probably admit she kicked for home a bit soon.
Proper spring ground will definitely be in his favour, less so Galvin, and the horse himself will have no idea that those who are beaten on their first run in a Gold Cup have a wretched record when trying to win it second time around.
King George winner Tornado Flyer once again looks a big price and can hit the frame.
It could be another red-letter day at Prestbury Park for De Bromhead as his Shantreusse looks a real player in the Albert Bartlett.
This was the race Minella Indo caused a 50-1 shock in a few years ago when he was a virtual unknown outside De Bromhead’s yard, and Shantreusse has a similar profile in
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