A Plus Tard proving popular to go one better in Gold Cup A Plus Tard looks set to go off favourite for the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup as punters put their faith in last year’s runner-up to go one better in the Festival highlight. The Rachael Blackmore-ridden eight-year-old, a top-priced 3/1 and as short as 5/2, has wrestled away favouritism from Galvin who has been pushed out to 4/1 in places. A Plus Tard’s stablemate and last year’s winner Minella Indo has drifted out to 6/1 for the 3m2f test which goes to post at 3.30pm. Elsewhere on today’s card, Vauban and Hillcrest are also proving popular favourites as punters bid to end the four-day meeting on a high. Vauban is generally a 7/4 chance in the opening JCB Triumph Hurdle (1.30), while Hillcrest is attracting support into 5/2 for the Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle (2.50). The concluding Martin Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle is a typically open contest with Hollow Games (7/1), Adamantly Chosen (7/1) and Five O’Clock (11/1) among those being backed against 11/2 favourite Langer Dan.
