Rachael Blackmore shares the inside track her four rides on Cheltenham Thursday… including her hopes of back-to-back Ryanair Chase wins with Envoi Allen


  • The former leading jockey claimed her second win of the Festival on Wednesday 
  • After victory with Captain Guinness, Blackmore’s fund is now worth £205,000 
  • Former Gold Cup winner will be reunited with Envoi Allen in The Ryanair Chase 

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 every time Rachael Blackmore rides a winner. The fund currently stands at £205,000 and is expected to reach £250,000 by Grand National Day, Saturday 13th April, when the fund will draw to a close.

Cheltenham is such a special place that Betfair will double its £5,000 donation to £10,000 for every winner Rachael rides at the Festival.

Cheltenham Thursday

2.10 – Popova

We’re hoping that Popova will run well in the Pertemps Final. She had a nice run last time in the qualifier over three miles at Punchestown. She ran on well to finish fourth.

Rachael Blackmore is second in the leading jockey standings after claiming her second win of the Festival aboard Captain Guinness

Rachael Blackmore is second in the leading jockey standings after claiming her second win of the Festival aboard Captain Guinness

The former Cheltenham Gold Cup winner won victory in the Queen Mother Champion Chase

The former Cheltenham Gold Cup winner won victory in the Queen Mother Champion Chase

On Thursday Blackmore will hope to secure back-to-back Ryanair Chase wins with Envoi Allen

On Thursday Blackmore will hope to secure back-to-back Ryanair Chase wins with Envoi Allen

Hopefully she can step forward from that now. That was her first run over three miles over hurdles, and she saw out the trip well. Hopefully she can improve now over the trip, and any drying of the ground would be a positive for her.

2.50 – Envoi Allen

I hope that Envoi Allen is going to run a massive race again in the Ryanair Chase. He obviously won the race last year, he won by almost three lengths, and he has been in really good order at home of late.

He hasn’t run since he finished second in the Champion Chase at Down Royal in November, beaten a neck by Gerri Colombe, but he runs really well fresh, and Henry has obviously targeted him at the race. And he goes really well at Cheltenham, he has won three times there. There are lots of positives.

4.10 – Arctic Bresil

Arctic Bresil is another for whom any drying of the ground would be a plus.

He has been running on heavy ground in Ireland. He ran well last time to finish second behind Mister Policeman at Punchestown. That was just his third run over fences, so I hope that he can improve again. We’re hoping that he can run well.

The jockey is hoping that Envoi Allen unleashes another big performance in a talented field

The jockey is hoping that Envoi Allen unleashes another big performance in a talented field

4.50 – Birdie Or Bust

This is obviously really competitive, the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle, but Birdie Or Bust goes there with her chance.

She is probably going to have to improve if she is going to beat Betterdaysahead and Jade De Grugy, but she is a talented mare, she has gained plenty of experience for a novice, and Henry’s horses are obviously in great order. We’re hoping that she can run well.



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