- Betfair has launched an initiative – the ‘Rachael Blackmore – Serial Winners Fund’
- Macs Charm put up a good performance to finish fifth at Gowran last time out
- Mahon’s Way goes in the Grade 3 Kingsfurze Novice Hurdle on Sunday
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 £100,000donation and add a further £5,000 every time Betfair Ambassador Rachael Blackmore rides a winner.
The fund currently stands at £180,000 and is expected to reach £250,000 by Grand National Day, Saturday 13th April, when the fund will draw to a close.
In a surprise twist Betfair make it £10,000 for every winner she rides at the Cheltenham Festival next week so watch this space.
Here, Blackmore provides the inside track on her three rides at Naas on Sunday.
Rachael Blackmore’s three rides have a chance of adding to her Serial Winner Charity Fund
Naas (Sunday)
1.42 – Mahon’s Way
Mahon’s Way goes in the Grade 3 Kingsfurze Novice Hurdle at Naas on Sunday. He will be dropping back down in trip, back to just short of two miles, and that could help him.
He is a point-to-point winner and he won his maiden hurdle over two miles and three furlongs, but he didn’t seem to get home over three miles at Cork in December, and we were a little disappointed with him at Thurles last time in the Grade 3 Michael Purcell Memorial Novice Hurdle over two miles and five furlongs. He travelled well into his race but, again, he didn’t seem to get home.
He is in good form at home, and he won his maiden hurdle at Naas, so the return to that track should suit. We’re hoping that, hood removed and back down in trip, he can bounce back to form.
3.27 – Raglan Road
I ride Raglan Road in the two-mile-three-furlong handicap hurdle. I rode him to finish second in a maiden hurdle at Gowran Park at this time last year.
That was over two miles, but he kept on to finish fifth in a maiden hurdle at Fairyhouse last time over two and a half miles.
The trip should be fine for him and we hope that he can go well.
4.37 – Macs Charm
I have picked up a nice spare ride on Macs Charm in the Leinster National as, unfortunately, Brian Hayes is suspended.
Macs Charm won the two-mile-three-furlong handicap hurdle on this card last year, and he put up a good performance to finish fifth in the Thyestes Chase at Gowran last time. That was an encouraging run, after a couple of disappointing efforts earlier in the season.
He was a progressive novice last season, he rounded off his campaign by winning a three-mile handicap chase at Fairyhouse in April, so hopefully he can build on his Thyestes run now and, if he can, he should run well.