“It’s an unbelievable position I am in” – Rachael Blackmore on her week at the Cheltenham Festival
IRISH jockey Rachael Blackmore has had quite a week at the 2021 Cheltenham Festival, and she still has one more race – the big one for the Gold Cup – to go.
Irish jockey Rachael Blackmore and Honeysuckle made racing history at the Chelthenham Festival. Image credit: Fairyhouse Racecourse
Blackmore and unbeaten thoroughbred Honeysuckle made history together when she became the first female jockey to win the Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, the Tipperary Ireland native expertly steering her ride to victory on the festival’s opening day on 16 March. The pair delivered their 11th win to Waterford Ireland trainer Henry de Bromhead.
It’s been quite a week for the trainer: he took the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase with jockey Adan Coleman over two miles with Putthekettleon just ahead of Chacun Pour Soi.
Irish racehorse trainer Henry de Bromhead. Image credit: Leopardstown Racecourse
Meanwhile Rachael steered Allaho to another Irish victory for Irish trainer Willie Mullins on 18 March. All three from the Irish contingent in Cheltenham – Blackmore, de Bromhead and Mullins – are the main basis for talk making the rounds about ‘the Irish invasion’, and it’s all about the six runners, riders and trainers that have won behind closed doors.
Irish horseracing trainer Willie Mullins (Image credit: Horse Racing Ireland)
All that lies ahead for Henry de Bromhead and Rachael Blackmore is the pinnacle of the festival, the WellChild Cheltenham Gold Cup. She is scheduled to run with A Plus Tard on the final day of the festival, 19 March at 3.05pm GMT.
“I never thought this would happen,” said Henry de Bromhead at the start of the festival about Rachael Blackmore’s historic win. “It is amazing. Like I say, dream about it.”
Tags: Cheltenham Gold Cup #cheltenhamfestival #thejockeyclub #HenrydeBromhead #RachaelBlackmore #WillieMullins #Honeysuckle
