Rachael Blackmore provides the inside track on her four rides at Aintree on Saturday – including former Gold Cup winner Minella Indo in Grand National

Betfair Ambassador Rachael Blackmore has the chance to add to the ‘Serial Winners Fund’ before it draws to a close on Grand National Day on Saturday.

Betfair launched its one-of-a-kind charity initiative, the ‘Rachael Blackmore – Serial Winners Fund’, to benefit both the ‘Injured Jockey Fund’ and the ‘Irish Injured Jockeys’ on Betfair Chase Day last November.

They kicked-off the fund with an initial £100,000 donation and add a further £5,000 (£10k for per Cheltenham winner) every time Rachael Blackmore rides a winner. 

The fund now stands at £210,000 following a ‘justice’ payment of £5,000 after Bob Olinger was beaten by Impaire Et Passe after a lengthy stewards’ inquiry.

Here, Blackmore provides the inside track on her four rides at Aintree on Saturday.

Rachael Blackmore has the chance to add to ‘Serial Winners Fund’ before it draws to a close 

Aintree (Saturday)

1.55 – Mahon’s Way

Mahon’s Way will be stepping up into Grade 1 company when he runs in the Mersey Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree on Saturday.

He was disappointing in his two runs after he won his maiden hurdle at Naas in November. They were both at right-handed tracks and, back at Naas the last day, going left-handed again, he seemed to run much better in finishing second to Fun Fun Fun, in front of Mirazur West, who won the Grade 2 novice hurdle at Fairyhouse. He galloped out to the line.

We’re hoping that that might be significant, so, back left-handed now again at Aintree, we’re hoping that he can go well again. Obviously this is very competitive, he’s going to have to improve on what he has done so far if he’s going to be involved, but we really think that he is a horse who has a lot of ability and that we just haven’t seen the best of him yet. We’re hoping that he can be competitive.

3.05 – Hiddenvalley Lake

It was great to see Hiddenvalley Lake bounce back to form last time in the Boyne Hurdle.

He was a high-class novice hurdler last season and, after he fell on his chasing debut at Navan in December, he went back over hurdles for the Boyne Hurdle and he ran out a very good winner of the race.

We’re really looking forward to him here. The conditions should suit him well, the trip and the ground should be ideal. He’s a lovely horse and he’s in great order. He might be a little under the radar, and I think that he can run a big race.

4.00 – Minella Indo

I’m delighted to have such a fantastic ride in the Grand National. It’s such an important, special race. It’s brilliant to be riding in the race.

I think if you are down at the start in the Grand National, you have as good a chance as anyone. But to be down at the start on a former Gold Cup winner will be brilliant.

Blackmore is hoping that Minella Indo can run a big race in Grand National on Saturday

Minella Indo is a very classy horse who I’m hoping will take to Aintree well. It was really disappointing that he didn’t get to run at Cheltenham, that the Cross-Country Chase was abandoned. But he’s in great order and we’re really hoping that he can run a big race. It should be a great race. It always is.

5.00 – Quilixios

I ride Quilixios in the Maghull Chase. Nothing went right in the Arkle at Cheltenham last time, but he was very good on his previous run at Naas. He appreciated the drop back down to two miles, he jumped well and he won nicely.

The Triumph Hurdle winner from 2021, he missed all of last season, so he is still lightly raced. He has been in good form at home, and we’re hoping for a good run.