‘My father watched him win and died the next day’ – emotional story behind A Plus Tard as Gold Cup hero is retired

3 months ago 26

RACHAEL BLACKMORE’S Gold Cup-winning superstar A Plus Tard has been retired from racing.

Richard Thompson, director of owners Cheveley Park Stud, confirmed the news in a statement on Thursday morning.

A Plus Tard was one of the horses that helped make Blackmore a global sensation[/caption]

Brilliant in the Gold Cup, sparkling in the Betfair Chase – but this remarkable Savills Chase success still lingers in the memory!

Happy retirement, A Plus Tard @LeopardstownRC pic.twitter.com/aTsJgKCL5e

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) January 18, 2024

A Plus Tard claimed racing’s most prestigious contest in 2022, seeing off Minella Indo by 15 lengths.

The ten-year-old had won more than £950,000 in prize money and captured four Grade 1s, including two wins at Cheltenham Festival.

But in an emotional statement calling time on the chaser’s career, Thompson spoke of one particular win that remains close to his heart.

He said: “My father David and I sat down in early 2018 and agreed a plan to buy some National Hunt horses to be trained in Ireland with the aim of winning the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

“Just over four years later, we achieved this objective when Rachael Blackmore rode A Plus Tard to victory in front of 70,000 people at the first Cheltenham Festival post Covid.

“My father watched A Plus Tard win the Savills Chase in a thrilling finish on television on December 28th 2020.

“He died the very next day. It was the last horse race he ever watched.

“A Plus Tard was also the first Cheltenham winner in the red, white and blue Cheveley Park Stud colours and also Rachael Blackmore’s first winner at Cheltenham in the 2019 Listed Close Brothers Novices’ Chase.

“Rachael rode him to five of his six victories and Darragh O’Keeffe rode him in the other one.

“For all of the above reasons, A Plus Tard will always be a very special horse in the history of my parents’ ownership of Cheveley Park Stud.”

A Plus Tard never recaptured his form after winning the Gold Cup.

He was pulled up when sent off 1-2 favourite for Haydock’s Betfair Chase eight months later than a non-runner on vet’s advice in the Savills Chase the following month.

He was again pulled up in the 2023 Gold Cup won by Galopin Des Champs.

Some sparkle returned when third to Shishkin in the Aintree Bowl the next month but he was beaten 81 lengths by Galopin Des Champs in last month’s Savills Chase.

Paying tribute, trainer Henry de Bromhead said: “‘A Plus Tard was our first horse to train for Cheveley Park Stud and the Thompson family.

“He was bought from France by Alex Elliot and gave us many memorable days, culminating in the 2022 Gold Cup.

“He was sublime that day, not only visually impressive, but also one of the highest rated winners of The Gold Cup in the last 30 years, as well as being one of the best horses we have ever had in our yard.

“We were delighted when this very special horse won Cheveley Park Stud their first Gold Cup.”

And Betfair ambassador Blackmore added: “He had everything you could ask for in a horse, speed, stamina, really accurate jumper.

“To feel him accelerate like he did after the last in the Gold Cup is a feeling I’ll never forget, I feel so lucky to have been on his back.

“He was incredible and such a special horse to me. He will enjoy a very well-deserved retirement now.”