{{Short description|French-bred Thoroughbred racehorse}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2022}} {{Infobox racehorse | horsename = A Plus Tard | image_name = [[File:Owner Cheveley Park Stud.svg|120px]] | caption = Racing Colours of Cheveley Park Stud | sire = Kapgarde | grandsire = | dam = Turboka | damsire = Kahyasi | sex = [[Gelding]] | foaled = 6 February, 2014 | country = France | colour = [[Bay (horse)|Bay]] | breeder = Mme Henri Devin | owner = Cheveley Park Stud | trainer = [[Henry De Bromhead]] | record = 23:8,8,4 | earnings = ££957,124 | race = Cheltenham Gold Cup (2022) <br> Betfair Chase (2021) <br> Savills Chase (2020) <br> Paddy's Reward Club Chase (2019) }}
'''A Plus Tard''' (foaled 6 February 2014) is a retired French-bred [[thoroughbred racehorse]] who competed in National Hunt racing.
==Career== A Plus Tard was bred in [[France]] by Mme Henri Devin and raced five times in the country in 2017 and 2018, never finishing outside of the top three. A Plus Tard won twice, at [[Saint-Brieuc]] and [[Auteuil Hippodrome|Auteuil]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.timeform.com/horse-racing/result/auteuil/2018-04-01/1515/63/3|title=PRIX DES DIMANCHES AU GALOP - PRIX GENERAL DE ROUGEMONT HANDICAP HURDLE (Listed)|publisher=Timeform|access-date=8 September 2022}}</ref> In May 2018, A Plus Tard was gelded and in October of that year the horse was sold privately to [[Cheveley Park Stud]] and moved to [[Henry De Bromhead]] in Ireland.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.elliottbloodstock.com/winners/a-plus-tard/2018/12/private-purchase-a-plus-tard-wins-at-naas-for-cheveley-park-stud/|title=PRIVATE PURCHASE A PLUS TARD WINS AT NAAS FOR CHEVELEY PARK STUD|date=18 December 2018 |publisher=Elliott Bloodstock Services|access-date=8 September 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.racingpost.com/bloodstock/how-gina-bryce-saved-the-day-in-the-purchase-of-gold-cup-hopeful-a-plus-tard/477567|title=how-gina-bryce-saved-the-day-in-the-purchase-of-gold-cup-hopeful-a-plus-tard|publisher=Racing Post|access-date=8 September 2022}}</ref>
A Plus Tard made his debut for the new owner and trainer combination at [[Gowran Park]] in November 2018, finishing second in a 2m4f chase. The following month, taking victory at Naas before finishing second in a Grade 3 at [[Punchestown Racecourse|Punchestown]]. A Plus Tard had a first [[Cheltenham Festival]] victory in March 2019, winning the [[Close Brothers Novices' Handicap Chase]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.racingpost.com/news/blackmore-partners-first-festival-winner-in-close-brothers-with-a-plus-tard/370460|title=Blackmore partners first festival winner in Close Brothers with A Plus Tard|publisher=Racing Post|access-date=8 September 2022}}</ref> He would finish third in the Grade 1 [[Dooley Insurance Group Champion Novice Chase]] the following month at Punchestown.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.racingpost.com/news/runaway-cheltenham-festival-winner-a-plus-tard-to-try-three-miles-at-punchestown/377341|title=Runaway festival winner A Plus Tard to step up to three miles at Punchestown|publisher=Racing Post|access-date=8 September 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.timeform.com/horse-racing/news/delta-work-delivers-at-punchestown-152019|title=DELTA WORK DELIVERS AT PUNCHESTOWN|date=May 2019 |publisher=Timeform|access-date=8 September 2022}}</ref>
A Plus Tard won his first Grade 1 at [[Leopardstown Racecourse|Leopardstown]] in December 2019, in the [[Paddy's Reward Club Chase|Paddy's Rewards Club "Loyalty's Dead, Live For Rewards" Chase]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.timeform.com/horse-racing/news/a-plus-tard-downs-chacun-pour-soi-at-leopardstown-27122019|title=A PLUS TARD DOWNS CHACUN POUR SOI AT LEOPARDSTOWN|date=27 December 2019 |publisher=Timeform|access-date=8 September 2022}}</ref> A return to Cheltenham in March yielded third in the [[Ryanair Chase]] behind eventual winner, Min.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/racing/2020/0312/1121885-min-makes-all-to-break-cheltenham-duck-in-ryanair-chase/|title=Min makes all to break Cheltenham Festival duck in Ryanair Chase|date=12 March 2020 |publisher=RTE|access-date=8 September 2022}}</ref> In December 2020, A Plus Tard returned to Leopardstown and won the Grade 1 [[Savills Chase]] before making a [[Cheltenham Gold Cup]] debut finishing second behind [[Minella Indo]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2020/dec/28/nicky-henderson-reports-altior-and-other-horses-sick-after-shock-kempton-defeat-savills-chase-horse-racing|title=A Plus Tard catches Kemboy in the final strides to land Savills Chase thriller|work=The Guardian|date=28 December 2020 |access-date=8 September 2022 |last1=Wood |first1=Greg }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/live/2021/mar/19/cheltenham-festival-2021-gold-cup-day-live|title=Cheltenham Festival 2021: Minella Indo wins the Gold Cup – as it happened|work=The Guardian|date=19 March 2021 |access-date=8 September 2022 |last1=Glendenning |first1=Barry |last2=Paley |first2=Tony |last3=Wood |first3=Greg |last4=Wood ( |first4=Greg }}</ref>
After a lengthy off-season break, A Plus Tard returned at Haydock in November winning the [[Betfair Chase]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.racingpost.com/news/a-plus-tard-obliterates-betfair-chase-rivals-under-rachael-blackmore/523022|title=A Plus Tard made new Gold Cup favourite after 22-length Betfair Chase rout|publisher=Racing Post|access-date=8 September 2022}}</ref> At Leopardstown, he was beaten second in the Savills Chase by Galvin.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.skysports.com/racing/news/12426/12505243/galvin-pips-a-plus-tard-in-savills-chase-at-leopardstown|title=Savills Chase: Galvin beats A Plus Tard and Kemboy in Leopardstown thriller to throw open the Gold Cup market|publisher=Sky Sports|access-date=8 September 2022}}</ref> In March, A Plus Tard returned to Cheltenham and, ridden by [[Rachael Blackmore]], won the [[2022 Cheltenham Gold Cup|Cheltenham Gold Cup]] by 15 lengths from Minella Indo.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2022/mar/18/rachael-blackmore-celebrates-historic-gold-cup-win-on-a-plus-tard-cheltenham-festival-horse-racing|title=Rachael Blackmore celebrates historic Gold Cup win on A Plus Tard|work=The Guardian|date=18 March 2022 |access-date=8 September 2022 |last1=Wood |first1=Greg }}</ref> With no wins in his next four starts, his retirement was announced in January 2024.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.racingpost.com/news/ireland/cheltenham-gold-cup-winner-a-plus-tard-has-been-retired-aM1Gj2n1YEL0/|title=Cheltenham Gold Cup winner A Plus Tard retired by Cheveley Park Stud|date=18 January 2024|publisher=Racing Post}}</ref>
==Pedigree== {{Pedigree |name = A Plus Tard (FR), bay gelding, 2014 |inf = |f = Kapgarde (FR)<br />1999 |m = Turboka (FR)<br />1997 |ff = Garde Royale (IRE)<br />1980 |fm = Kaprika (FR)<br />1989 |mf = [[Kahyasi]] (IRE)<br />1985 |mm = Turbotiere (FR)<br />1995 |fff =[[Mill Reef]] (USA) |ffm = Royal Way (FR) |fmf = Cadoudal |fmm = Lady Corteira |mff = [[Ile de Bourbon]] (USA) |mfm = Kadissya (USA) |mmf = [[Turgeon (horse)|Turgeon]] (USA) |mmm = Victoria Dee |ffff = [[Never Bend]] |fffm = Milan Mill |ffmf = [[Sicambre]] |ffmm = Right Away |fmff = [[Green Dancer]] (USA) |fmfm = Come To Sea (IRE) |fmmf = Carvin |fmmm = Madrusa |mfff = [[Nijinsky (horse)|Nijinsky]] (CAN) |mffm = Roseliere (FR) |mfmf = [[Blushing Groom]] (FR) |mfmm = Kalkeen (IRE) |mmff = [[Caro (horse)|Caro]] (IRE) |mmfm = Reiko (FR) |mmmf = Rex Magna |mmmm = Very Smart (Family 1-h) }}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * [https://www.racingpost.com/profile/horse/1817927/a-plus-tard/form] – ''A Plus Tard Race Form''
{{Cheltenham Gold Cup winners}}
[[Category:2014 racehorse births]] [[Category:Cheltenham Festival winners]] [[Category:Racehorses trained in Ireland]] [[Category:National Hunt racehorses]] [[Category:Cheltenham_Gold_Cup_winners]] [[Category:Thoroughbred family 1-h]]