The Rachael Blackmore factor: A Plus Tard challenging for Gold Cup favouritism

The Rachael Blackmore effect is in full swing as A Plus Tard joined Al Boum Photo as 3-1 joint-favourite for the Cheltenham Gold Cup on Friday with most firms on Thursday evening.

Seeking a historic third straight success in the race, Al Boum Photo has been in pole position all winter, but is now rivalled at the head of the market by the Henry de Bromhead-trained star, who won the Savills Chase at Leopardstown over Christmas.

Cheltenham Gold Cup racecard and betting

The move follows on from another superb day of racing dominated by Blackmore, who claimed a second double of the week with wins on Allaho in the Ryanair Chase and Telmesomethinggirl in the Mares' Novices' Hurdle.

The on-fire jockey is now odds-on to become the first female rider to be crowned leading jockey at the Cheltenham Festival as she reached five winners for the week – four of those coming in Grade 1s – to put her two clear of Jack Kennedy and three ahead of Paul Townend.

Blackmore told Racing TV: "Not in a million years [did I think the week would go this well]. You come over here just hoping one of them would win. I had an unbelievable book of rides, but everyone knows what can happen at Cheltenham. You try not to get ahead of yourself but it's incredible."

"This is overwhelming to be honest; it's just unbelievable. It's all about the horses you get on. I just feel so lucky to be riding for the people I'm riding for."

Blackmore will cap a fabulous week by partnering A Plus Tard in the biggest race of them all on Friday afternoon, a ride she struggled to contain her excitement over.

"I can't wait to ride A Plus Tard," she said. "He seems extremely well at home and conditions should be fine. It's the Gold Cup, it's a different test altogether for him but I don't think it will be any trouble for him."

Having already won on Champion Hurdle heroine Honeysuckle on Monday, and Bob Olinger and Sir Gerhard on Wednesday, Blackmore destroyed her Ryanair Chase rivals with a superb front-running display on 3-1 favourite Allaho to claim a fourth Grade 1 success of the week.

It's Rachael Blackmore again as awesome Allaho destroys the field in Ryanair

In Honeysuckle owner Kenny Alexander's colours, Blackmore then guided Telmesomethinggirl to victory to bring up her fifth winner – more winners than have been saddled by British-based trainers throughout the week.

Speaking on ITV Racing, riding legends AP McCoy and Ruby Walsh both agreed that Blackmore was the best jockey around at the moment.

"Absolutely! [she's the best]," said McCoy. "She rode her with loads of confidence and there is nothing shallow about Rachael, she's pretty good."

Walsh said: "I would agree she's the best, without doubt. She's making all the right decisions and when the ball is bouncing for you, you do those things."

'She's just doing all the right things'

Examining her ride in the Mares' Novices' Hurdle, Walsh added: "When this mare [Telmesomethinggirl] starts to get a bit lonely she keeps tapping her on the shoulder trying to find concentration and the filly does. She's just doing all the right things."

Having been 14-1 to be crowned top jockey at the beginning of the festival, Ladbrokes have now shortened Blackmore to 1-6 with Kennedy a 5-1 chance and Townend out to 12-1.

Ladbrokes spokesman Jon Lees said: "Rachael Blackmore has taken this year's festival by storm. She has been riding so brilliantly that punters are now climbing on the Blackmore bandwagon with the result that A Plus Tard could now go off favourite for the Cheltenham Gold Cup."

More from the 2021 Cheltenham Festival:

999-1 in running! Kennedy pulls off scarcely believable victory aboard Mount Ida

'The hardest decision of my life' – why Jonathan Moore missed Stayers' winner

'No such thing as a certainty' – Ruby Walsh on Envoi Allen's 'unlucky' fall

Punter wins £250,000 after cashing out amazing £5 acca involving Envoi Allen

Envoi Allen's doting groom denied the chance to lead up her star at Cheltenham

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