Rachael Blackmore has called it quits after an illustrious career as a jockey. Blackmore was the first ever female jockey to win the Grand National aboard Minella Times in 2021, and the Cheltenham Gold Cup aboard A Plus Tard in 2022. Here is a look at her top three rides at the iconic Cheltenham festival.
- A Plus Tard, Cheltenham Gold Cup 2022.
A Plus Tard was the horse in which Blackmore gained her first ever Cheltenham Festival winner. He started the Boodles Cheltenham gold Cup as a 3/1 favourite for the race, but with challengers such as Minella Indo and Protektorat, it was never going to be an easy win for Blackmore.
A Plus Tard made headway and was in touch with the leaders three out and went second two out. Blackmore joined leader Minella Indo ridden by Robbie Power at the last, jumped it boldly and ran on strongly in the last furlong of the race.
This was Blackmore’s first and only Gold cup win, being the first and only ever female jockey to win the Cheltenham Gold cup. A Plus Tard is trained in Ireland by Henry De Bromhead, and Blackmore had already won a Cheltenham festival race and a Betfair Chase on A Plus Tard at this point.
After coming second the year before in the Gold Cup behind Minella Indo, Blackmore wanted to exploit his pace this year and did so successfully, eventually winning by 15 lengths.
2. Bob Ollinger, Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle 2025.
It was a 9/1 shot for Bob Ollinger in the Paddy Powers Stayers hurdle in March, but with Blackmore aboard, all keen racegoers knew that this horse had a great chance of winning. Gordon Elliot’s horse Teahupoo was a 7/4 favourite going into the race with The Wallpark and Lucky Place also being prolific challengers.
Bob Ollinger joined Teahupoo at the last and jumped it better, Blackmore rode him to win by two lengths for the horses third win at Cheltenham.
This was also Blackmore’s last ever grade one win at the festival. Blackmore completed the full house of Cheltenhamfestivals marquee events when Bob Ollinger landed the stayers hurdle’.
Blackmore after achieving the full-house on Bob Ollinger: “Riding for Henry over here is a big help in trying to achieve something like that, there is so many talented jockeys in the weighing room so you need to be riding the horses. I’ve been very fortunate to be getting on the right horses.”
3. Honeysuckle, Champion Hurdle 2021.
An unbeaten mare ridden by one of the greatest jockeys there is, Honeysuckle was certainly a huge favourite in the 2021 Champion Hurdle. Honeysuckle was on the heels of the leaders three out going easily, Blackmore shook the Mare up and led going into the last. An elegant leap at the last meant that Honeysuckle went clear and won in incredibly dominant fashion.
This win meant Blackmore was the first ever female jockey to return as the winner of the opening day feature race at the Cheltenham festival. More history was completed by Blackmore in this race as she became the first ever female rider to win a Champion Hurdle.
Henry De Bromhead on Blackmore’s dominant victory aboard Honeysuckle: “Rachael is as good as any of them – male, female, she is as good as any of the guys. (Honeysuckle) never ceases to amaze me.
“I’m not saying i would have predicted that (margin of victory) but she is an incredible mare.” Backers of Honeysuckle were never in doubt of the 11/10 favoruite and the mare passed the test with flying colours, as always. An astonishing horse and ride.”
