By Mark Phillips
The feature race on the final day of Cheltenham 2022 was the Gold Cup.
Waterford trainer Henry De Bromhead sent out the first two home in the championship race with 3/1 chance A Plus Tard under an inspired Rachael Blackmore coming from off the pace and powering up the hill she hit the winning post all of fifteen lengths clear of last year's winner and stablemate Minella Indo.
Trainer Willie Mullins and jockey Paul Townend combined to take the opening two events on the seven-race card. Vauban the 6/4 favourite travelled well throughout in the Triumph Hurdle and was not extended to defeat Fil Dor by two and a half lengths.
State Man 11/4 raced in midfield for much of the County Hurdle but once he quickened off the home turn the remainder began to struggle. Bounding into the lead State Man was not extended in accounting for First Street.
In was that man Willie Mullins once again in the Albert Bartlett Hurdle only this time it was Sean O Keeffe who partnered 18/1 shot The Nice Guy.who proved to good for stablemate Minella Cocooner. The winner was bred here in Waterford by Con O Keeffe out of his broodmare Kilbarry Beauty.
After going clear in the Hunters Chase Winged Leader looked sure to win but Patrick Mullins got a great tune out of 13/8 chance Billaway to get up close home for an exciting victory.
The Willie Mullins bandwagon rolled on to the Grade 2 Mares Chase where Mark Walsh got 9/4 shot Elimay up in the dying strides denying 33/1 outsider Pink Legend by half a length.
In the concluding race of the festival the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys Hurdle up and coming rider Mark McDonagh steered the Joseph O Brien trained Banbridge to victory at odds of 12/1.
Ireland lifted the Prestbury Cup once again by defeating Great Britain. The final score was 18 winners to 10.
