Cheltenham Festival Gold Cup LIVE RESULTS and RECAP: Minella Indo WINS as Rachael Blackmore falls just short – latest

CHELTENHAM GOLD CUP: FULL RESULT

1st - Minella Indo - 9/1 (Jack Kennedy & Henry de Bromhead)

2nd - A Plus Tard - 10/3 (Rachael Blackmore & Henry de Bromhead)

3rd - Al Boum Photo - 9/4F (Paul Townend & Willie Mullins)

MINELLA INDO WINS THE GOLD CUP

Watch Minella Indo see them off up the run-in.

Rachael and A Plus Tard just run out of time up the hill!

Al Boum Photo a few lengths behind them.

CLOSE FOR RACHAEL!

It would have been a crowning moment if Rachael Blackmore had got A Plus Tard home.

She shut the door on Al Boum Photo on the turn but just couldn't get past Minella Indo - the horse she USUALLY rides.

It has still been a fairytale week for her, but.....

HISTORY MADE

Henry de Bromhead becomes the first trainer in history to win the Champion Hurdle, Champion Chase and Gold Cup at a single festival.

MINELLA INDO WINS THE WELLBEING CHELTENHAM GOLD CUP

Rachael Blackmore picked A Plus Tard over Minella Indo and gets beat by a length!

Jack Kennedy takes the ride and wins the biggest of them all!

I can’t believe it. This is what I have dreamt of since I was a child. I am so grateful to Henry and the Maloney’s. I will owe them forever. This is what I live for but I can’t believe it and I am delighted.

Jack Kennedy

3.05 WELLBEING CHELTENHAM GOLD CUP

MINELLA INDO SEES IT OUT TO WIN THE CHELTENHAM GOLD CUP

3.05 WELLBEING CHELTENHAM GOLD CUP

FINAL FENCE

Minella Indo is a couple of lengths clear jumping the last.

A Plus Tard comes for one last go at the stablemate!!

3.05 WELLBEING CHELTENHAM GOLD CUP

Minella Indo is on the bridle heading to the second last!

A Plus Tard chasing hard with Al Boum photo 4 lengths back!

3.05 WELLBEING CHELTENHAM GOLD CUP

3 TO JUMP!

Frodon still ahead by a length.

Black Op still there with Minella Indo as A Plus Tard and Al Boum Photo start to make their effort just in behind.

3.05 WELLBEING CHELTENHAM GOLD CUP

6 TO JUMP

Frodon still going well at the front.

No change to the other but Native River pushed along.

3.05 WELLBEING CHELTENHAM GOLD CUP

CIRCUIT TO GO

Frodon, Kemboy and Black Op lead.

Minella Indo still goes well to Native River, A Plus Tard and Al Boum Photo.

SANTINI PULLED UP

3.05 WELLBEING CHELTENHAM GOLD CUP

Santini with a mistake now, Nicky Henderson not having a good couple of minutes.

A Plus Tard and Al Boum Photo in midfield.

Still a long way to go with Frodon leading, Black Op and Kemboy leading them.

3.05 WELLBEING CHELTENHAM GOLD CUP

CHAMP HAS BEEN PULLED UP!

3.05 WELLBEING CHELTENHAM GOLD CUP

Frodon and Kemboy lead, Minella Indo wide and Black Op in behind.

Native River next as Champ backs off another fence as de Boinville shoves him along.

3.05 WELLBEING CHELTENHAM GOLD CUP

Frodon into the lead early on.

Champ and Al Boum Photo not great at the first fence there.....

3.05 WELLBEING CHELTENHAM GOLD CUP

HERE WE GO - THEY ARE OFF!

3.05 WELLBEING CHELTENHAM GOLD CUP

They arrive at the start ahead of the start here!

Al Boum Photo strong at 9/4, A Plus Tard 3/1.

Champ next at 13/2. 9/1 bar.

PARADING

Back-to-back winner Al Boum Photo leads them on their final parade.

The runners and jockeys for the big one!

GOLD CUP: THE BETTING

How the betting sits with ahead of the Gold Cup!

TEMPLEGATE DISAGREES

Our hot tipster disagrees with Matt and NAP's Al Boum Photo!

Al Boum Photo has had his usual smooth prep and has every chance of landing a third Gold Cup in a row. He has been Mr Reliable for a few seasons and Willie Mullins knows exactly how to peak him for today.

He has had his usual spin around Tramore and, while last season’s win wasn’t as impressive as the first one, he got the job done.

He’s a proven stayer who jumps well, will be fine on the ground and we know Cheltenham suits him down to the ground. The public may have not latched on to the nine-year-old but he can do the business.

Templegate

CHAPPERS' THOUGHTS

Matt Chapman sticks by Santini for the Gold Cup!

Al Boum Photo will be a strong favourite to land the most coveted of chases for a third time, in doing so emulating Best Mate and Arkle.

But it won’t be easy. A Plus Tard could be a revelation over this staying trip, while Champ was a top novice last season and Royale Pagaille (topically translated as ‘Royal Mess’!) could be anything.

But with drying ground and a visor on I’m backing SANTINI eachway for Nicky Henderson and Aidan Coleman.

Santini was only just touched off in last year’s renewal and on that form if he improves a bit he’s got every chance at long odds.

Those odds are because of disappointing efforts this term - but there have been reasons for each of them. I’m keeping the faith.

Matt Chapman

QUICK QUICK!

Less than 10 minutes to get Champ at 70/1 or Al Boum Photo 25/1 for a top three finish!

Here, QUICK!

WHAT THE TRAINERS SAY

A look at what the top trainers all think about the Gold Cup fancies.

Willie Mullins has the favourite Al Boum Photo who chases a hat-trick of Gold Cup wins. He gives his other runner, Kemboy a chance too!

Al Boum Photo is going for a hat-trick in this race and he is in great form for the defence of his title. We’re very happy with him.

Kemboy will love the ground and has a chance in what should be a fast run race.

Willie Mullins

Nicky Henderson is VERY excited to see Champ run and believes he is in great shape - while hoping a visor helps sharpen up Santini

This is a typically competitive Gold Cup and you can’t rule any of them out but Champ is in excellent shape and we have done lots of schooling and he’s been to Henrietta Knight’s to have plenty of practice as well so hopefully we have every angle covered.

You could say the ground may be a very small issue if it really dries out, but I can’t see any reason why he won’t handle it and we are all very excited about seeing him run.

We’re hoping the visor will sharpen Santini up because he can’t afford to lose much ground at the start, if he does he’ll be playing catch up the whole way so hopefully the headgear will help.

Nicky Henderson

While Paul Nicholls told he wouldn't be suprised if Frodon won.

Bryony Frost gets a great tune out of Frodon, he loves Cheltenham having won there six times, and he worked beautifully at Wincanton recently with a group of mine.

In addition the fact that the ground will be good on Friday rather than attritional is a massive bonus for him. So with plenty in his favour he has an excellent chance of being placed and I wouldn't be surprised if he won.

Paul Nicholls

TIME FOR THE GOLD CUP

It's the one they all dream about. 20 minutes until the start of the Cheltenham Gold Cup!

THE ALBERT BARTLETT: FULL RESULT

1st - Vanillier 14/1

2nd - Oscar Elite 40/1

3rd - Streets Of Doyen 10/1