Cheltenham Gold Cup result: Minella Indo wins to seal ‘Holy Trinity’ for trainer Henry de Bromhead

Jack Kennedy celebrates winning the Cheltenham Gold Cup aboard Minella Indo
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Henry de Bromhead became the first trainer in history to win the big three at a single Cheltenham Festival as Minella Indo denied Rachael Blackmore a seventh winner on board De Bromhead’s other entry in the race, A Plus Tard.

The Irish trainer had already won the Champion Hurdle and Champion Chase and A Plus Tard had looked the likelier winner on paper from his stables.

But Minella Indo, ridden by Jack Kennedy, sealed the win for a 21st victory by an Irish trainer at this year’s Festival in a near whitewash of their British counterparts.

The Gold Cup had been billed as one of potential history either for Al Boum Photo, who was looking to become only the race’s fifth three-time winner, or else Blackmore in bidding to become the first female winner of the big race.

But as it was Blackmore, who has barely put a foot wrong across all four days, picked the wrong De Bromhead mount in A Plus Tard, who pushed Minella Indo to the line for second with Al Boum Photo back in third.

For jockey Kennedy, it was particularly sweet having been unseated on board the heavily-backed Envoi Allen earlier in the week.

Afterwards, he said: “This is what I’ve dreamt of since I was a child. This is what I live for. I just can’t believe this is actually happening. I’m delighted.”

Champ, named after former jockey AP McCoy, had been heavily backed in the lead-up but was out of sorts and had to be pulled up after barely half a mile of the course.

Frodon, ridden by Bryony Frost, had led for much of the race but, going into the final two, it was between De Bromhead’s two entries and Al Boum Photo but Minella Indo timed it perfectly for the biggest win of his career.

After his famous one-two in the race, De Bromhead said: “It’s unbelievable - delighted for everybody. He’s an incredible horse - he comes alive here. He’s amazing, he’s like a different horse.”

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