Blackmore continues to hammer down boundaries

Five simple words summed it up. “It’s just a great day,” an elated Rachael Blackmore said as the woman who continues to hammer down boundaries reflected on another landmark achievement: Her first Cheltenham Festival winner.

History will recall that it was A Plus Tard who provided it, Henry de Bromhead’s charge running out a 16-length victory of the Close Brothers Novices’ Handicap Chase. After a shock result in the Champion Hurdle it was no surprise the victory of the 5-1 favourite in a handicap was greeted so warmly by the 67,934 people in attendance on the Festival’s opening day.