Tag Archive for: Rachael Blackmore

Air Of Entitlement swoops late for Mares’ glory

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Rachael Blackmore produced an inspired finish aboard Air Of Entitlement as she secured her first win at the 2025 Cheltenham Festival in the Ryanair Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle.

Blackmore and trainer Henry de Bromhead had so far drawn a blank at this year’s showpiece meeting, with the Robcour-owned six-year-old sent off a 16-1 chance to change matters.

There was early drama and after a false start, Maughreen – one of Willie Mullins’ fancied runners – whipped round and was left by the pack at the second attempt to get the race underway.

It was left to outsider Brendas Asking to lead the field along from Ben Pauling’s Diva Luna, with Gavin Cromwell’s 85-40 favourite Sixandahalf always close by and tracking the pace.

Keith Donoghue looked to be sitting pretty aboard Sixandahalf as the runners turned to face the Cheltenham hill and although beating off the challenge of Diva Luna after the final flight, Blackmore was conjuring every ounce of effort from her mount as the line approached, delivering Air Of Entitlement in a power-packed drive to edge a half-length victory over the market leader.

Diva Luna held off Mullins’ Karoline Banbou for third, a further six lengths adrift.

De Bromhead said: “We knew we had the stamina and obviously the New course suits. We always worry about being too handy in this race and Rachael got it spot-on. I thought they went a really good gallop and she gave her some spin.

“She stayed on really well. I thought when we winged the last we had a chance and I knew Keith (Donoghue, riding Sixandahalf) was up there the whole way, which historically hasn’t worked.

“It’s a long way up that straight, I thought we had a chance after jumping the last and I’m delighted.”

Air Of Entitlement was having just her second start and De Bromhead added: “It’s funny but I always say I much prefer coming here fresh and happy than feeling like I need to give them runs for experience.

“She was in Colin Bowe’s as a point-to-pointer, so she’ll have jumped more fences than most of the fillies in that field. It’s always a concern, but I wouldn’t be me if I wasn’t concerned about something!”

Blackmore, riding her 17th Festival winner, said: “It’s an incredible feeling. I read an interview recently with JP McManus when he said some people are born luckier than others and I definitely feel like I was born luckier for going round here anyway.

“I’ve been so lucky with the horses I’ve got to ride and this mare is another one. Henry brings his horses over here in such incredible form and she was just phenomenal there. She travelled through the race and jumped well and got her head in front at the right time.”

On having to wait until day three of the Festival for a winner, Blackmore said: “You can’t lose faith, we’re only halfway through the week. We’ve been a bit spoilt in the last few years as every Tuesday I’ve walked home with a winner under our belt. It wasn’t the case this year but I’m so grateful to get one today.

“I missed three months before Christmas and Cheltenham is the main thing to be back for. It was so difficult to watch all these horses you should have been riding, but I’m grateful the injury didn’t happen the other side of Christmas because this is the most important place to be for all us jockeys.”

Cromwell said of the runner-up: “She was a little unfortunate and probably could have done with a lead for a bit longer to be honest.

“She then jumped the last a little bit big and after that I suppose there was always a target on her back.

“She ran really well and jumped really well everywhere. She’s travelled the best and she does stay well but she was just in front for a long time.

“Punchestown is a possible, but to be honest I haven’t thought beyond today.”

Pauling had said repeatedly in recent weeks that he thought he had Diva Luna back in top shape and she backed him up by finishing third.

He said: “She’s run a blinder. It was probably a case of we knew we hadn’t had her right, but we were hoping we had and that could be a big step back in the right direction now.

“She will probably run again this season, we’ll see, she’s looked in great form recently but she’s run her heart out there.

“She did miss the last but it didn’t cost her the win, she would have just been a closer third so it was a good result.

“Aintree is possible but it comes quick enough this year.”



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Rachael Blackmore: Unshakeable sadness over racing at the moment

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Rachael Blackmore has spoken of the “unshakeable sadness” surrounding racing following the death of fellow jockey Michael O’Sullivan.

O’Sullivan, 24, died on Sunday as a result of injuries sustained in a fall at Thurles on February 26.

His funeral took place on Wednesday and tributes have poured in from the racing world for the Cheltenham Festival-winning rider, who famously partnered Marine Nationale to win the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham in 2023.

Blackmore, the only woman to ride the winner of the Grand National and also successful in the Champion Hurdle, Champion Chase and Gold Cup, said the weighing room was now a “different place”.

“There is an unshakeable sadness over racing at the moment. What we think will never happen… happened,” she told Betfair.

“The weigh room I know is different now. Michael will never be forgotten. All our thoughts and prayers are with his family.”



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Funiculi Funicula makes an impression on debut for Mullins

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Funiculi Funicula looked a name to note in making a winning start for Willie Mullins in the Monroe Hurdle at Clonmel on Wednesday.

Runner-up on his only outing in France, the five-year-old went one better after 453 days off the track, with a 17-length victory from the front in the hands of Paul Townend, who was clearly impressed with the 4-7 favourite, who shortened markedly in the ante-post market on the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle in the immediate aftermath.

“He’s a nice horse and on the form of the race in France he was entitled to do that,” he said.

“What he had been showing us at home was nice. I thought we went a good gallop for the ground and we were spread out the length of Clonmel.

“You are probably going quicker than you feel on him. Everything is very natural and very easy to him.

“We like him a lot and hopefully he has a bright future.”

Mullins and Townend were out of luck in the Munster Hurdle, as Beckett Rock profited from the jumping frailties of his two key rivals to claim top honours.

Five runners went to post for the two-mile-one-furlong contest, with the betting dominated by the Mullins-trained pair of Bunting and Got Glory at 5-6 and 2-1 respectively.

Bunting made much of the running before a mistake three from home saw Townend almost ejected from the saddle.

The six-time champion jockey did well to keep the partnership intact and he remained firmly in contention rounding the home turn, but Henry de Bromhead’s 5-1 shot Beckett Rock was travelling better in the hands of Rachael Blackmore.

Danny Mullins was producing Got Glory with a major challenge when she crashed out at the second-last, leaving Beckett Rock and Bunting to battle it out, and the former was always doing enough on the run-in to win the argument by three-quarters of a length.

Beckett Rock was a 15-length winner on his hurdling debut at Gowran Park in November 2023, but was well beaten on his return from over a year off the track at Punchestown last month.

De Bromhead said: “It was nice to see him step forward from his first run. He got a bit lost the last day.

“He got hurt after he won on debut at Gowran and Michael (O’Flynn, owner) has been really patient with him and it’s nice to see his patience being rewarded.

“He toughed it out there. Obviously things fell his way a little bit, but we’ll take it.”



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Blackmore back among the winners as Flower blooms

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July Flower provided Rachael Blackmore with her first winner since returning from injury in the Beat The Bank.ie Irish EBF Mares Hurdle at Leopardstown.

The Grand National and Cheltenham Gold Cup-winning jockey was sidelined for three months after suffering a neck injury in a fall at Downpatrick in September.

Blackmore returned to action at Naas two weeks ago and had since had 16 rides without success.

The Henry de Bromhead-trained July Flower was a 15-2 shot to get her back in the winner’s enclosure at Grade Three level and rounded the home turn in third place behind the strong-travelling Kala Conti.

Blackmore’s mount took over going around the dolled-off final flight and while Kala Conti tried her best to stay in the race, July Flower kicked clear late on to register a four-length verdict.

“It is just lovely to get one again, it’s brilliant. Everyone wants to be riding winners at a festival like this and it’s great to get it done,” said Blackmore.

“I feel like I was off for a long time – I was off for a long time. It’s brilliant to get back doing what you want to be doing.”

Reflecting on her injury, she added: “It was a bone in my neck up high, so it was quite serious. Ordinarily if you’re feeling good and you can do certain movements doctors are happy to go with you, but they were obviously being very cautious when it is your neck.

“Stupidly I kept setting myself an unachievable target over the three months and the doctors kept saying I had to sit out my time. Being back for Christmas is important, so at least I got back for that.”

July Flower and Rachael Blackmore in action at Leopardstown
July Flower and Rachael Blackmore in action at Leopardstown (Damien Eagers/PA)

Of July Flower, De Bromhead added: “She jumped great and Rachael was brilliant on her.

“I’m delighted for Duncan (Angove, owner) who was happy to buy her during the summer and obviously she’s a valuable broodmare as well.

“We had her when she was a younger mare and we liked her then, so when she came back on the market we were delighted to get her.

“We bought her to win the Mares’ Hurdle (at Cheltenham) so the dream is alive and we’ll probably head straight there now.”



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Lecky Watson denies Rachael Blackmore comeback win

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Rachael Blackmore had to settle for second on her first ride back from a lengthy absence as Slade Steel was surprisingly turned over by Lecky Watson in the Bar One Racing ‘100% Acca Boost On Self Service Terminals’ Beginners Chase at Naas.

Blackmore had been out for three months with a neck injury and looked to have a great chance of returning on a winner for Henry de Bromhead.

Slade Steel had won the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle back in March and with a run over fences already under his belt, he was a heavily backed 8-15 favourite to go one better than on his chasing debut.

Blackmore settled Slade Steel in second behind the front-running Lecky Watson as the two dominated for much of the race, but approaching the second last there were almost six in line.

The pair had met over hurdles last season, with Slade Steel coming out on top, but fences appear to have brough out an improvement in Lecky Watson.

Once more, the two main protagonists began to pull away, but it soon became apparent Lecky Watson’s superior stamina, having run well in Grade Ones over three miles last term, was going to be too much for Slade Steel.

Blackmore tried her hardest to get Slade Steel home in front but went down by a length and a quarter to the 100-30 winner.

Betfair cut Lecky Watson to 25-1 from 100-1 for the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase, while Slade Steel was pushed right out to 33-1 from 16s for the Arkle.

“That was a good performance, I’m delighted with how he jumped and settled in front. It looks like a big improvement on his hurdling form,” said Mullins.

“Fences are bringing out improvement in him and I’m very happy with that. His attitude to jumping was tremendous as well. Paul was very happy with it and I was very happy watching.

“He seemed to be able to put in quick ones and take a flier when he wanted. Generally, for a horse first time over fences, it was a very good first start.

“Paul was giving me the impression that he wouldn’t be afraid to go further.

“He said before the race that he thought this was his trip, I thought he might want a bit further but he thought this was the right place to start him. Maybe we’ll stay around this trip.”

Mullins was named ‘Manager of the Year’ at the RTE Sports Awards last night and added: “I was delighted to get it and delighted for racing to get the award.

“I was delighted for everyone in Closutton, you can’t be a good manager unless you have good people behind you.

“Also with all our owners, you have to have something to manage. It’s great to have the horses and the owners that we have.

“You always feel that racing mightn’t be the most popular sport at these sport stars awards, so it’s great to see racing getting a look-in as well.”

Regarding Slade Steel, stable representative Robbie Power said: “I thought he ran very well. I was delighted with his jumping, he jumped super.

“All his form last season is on very soft ground, we’ll just have to wait.

“There were no excuses today and maybe on softer ground he’s a better horse.”



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Rachael Blackmore returns from lengthy absence at Naas

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Rachael Blackmore will return from a near three-month absence aboard Slade Steel at Naas on Monday.

The Grand National and Cheltenham Gold Cup-winning jockey has been sidelined since sustaining a neck injury in a fall from the Henry de Bromhead-trained Hand Over Fist at Downpatrick on September 20.

Blackmore will be teaming up with a familiar ally in Slade Steel on her first ride back, with the pair having won the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in March.

The six-year-old was partnered by Darragh O’Keeffe when second on his chasing debut last month, but Blackmore will again take the reins in the Bar One Racing ‘100% Acca Boost On Self Service Terminals’ Beginners Chase.

Blackmore has a second ride on the card for De Bromhead as Belle The Tigress contests the Gener8 Engineering Mares Maiden Hurdle having finished fifth on her first attempt last month.

“I’m obviously delighted to be back racing in Naas on Monday, especially for Slade Steel, who runs in the beginners’ chase,” Blackmore told Betfair.

“He was brilliant in winning the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham in March, and I’m really looking forward to riding him again now.

“I watched him when he made his chasing debut at Navan last month, and I thought that he ran well, but I know that there is more to come from him. I schooled him on Saturday and he jumped really well. The experience of that run the last day should hopefully stand to him now. Getting back to ride a horse like him is really exciting.”



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Big names bring festive cheer to patients and families at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital

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Grand National-winning riders Sir Anthony McCoy, Rachael Blackmore and Mick Fitzgerald were among a group of jockeys aiming to spread Christmas cheer in a visit to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool earlier this week.

Fellow jumps rider Danny Mullins plus Flat jockeys Harry Davies and Ross Coakley and the recently-retired Franny Norton handed out gifts and spent time with some of the children currently receiving treatment on the wards and their families.

Aintree has a longstanding partnership with Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, with riders visiting every year ahead of the Grand National, but this was the first festive visit from current and former members of the weighing room.

McCoy, the 20-times champion jump jockey and Alder Hey patron, said: “Alder Hey is somewhere that I’ve been coming to for more than 20 years and I’ve seen the amazing work they do to raise funds to keep the place going and also the amazing work the nurses and doctors do – it’s the most fabulous place.”

Riders gave out gifts to children at Alder Hey
Riders gave out gifts to children at Alder Hey (Aintree Racecourse/The Jockey Club)

Merseyside-born Norton, who brought the curtain down on his 36-year career at Chester in September, had not visited before but found plenty to take inspiration from.

He said: “This was my first time visiting Alder Hey Children’s Hospital for a ward visit and it was a huge privilege.

“The work of everyone here is nothing short of awe-inspiring, as is the bravery of the children receiving treatment.”

Gill Kennedy, celebrity, VIP and events Manager at Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust, added: “To see our friends from The Jockey Club at Christmas was such a lovely treat for everyone here at Alder Hey.

“Coming here during such a busy period to give Christmas presents to our children and young people and to spend time speaking to our families was really special for us all. Thank you for coming to see us.”

Aintree stage a meeting on Boxing Day and racegoers are encouraged to bring presents to drop off at the racecourse on the day, with all items distributed to children and families in the local community through the racecourse’s partners.



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Rachael Blackmore ‘counting down the days’ to racing return

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Rachael Blackmore “can’t wait” to get back in the saddle, as her return from the sidelines edges closer.

The Grand National and Cheltenham Festival-winning rider has been absent since a fall at Downpatrick in late September, where she suffered a neck injury.

“All going well, I’m hoping to be back the week before Christmas. Initially, I thought I’d be out for just a few weeks at most, but I quickly learned that when your neck is involved, the whole recovery process is slowed down,” she told Betfair.

“I’ve been very fortunate, along with others, to be able to use the services of Irish Injured Jockeys to help on the road to recovery. Physio, strength and conditioning, and any other support you could need are all available.

“They’ve set up a mini rehabilitation centre at RACE on the Curragh as they wait for development to start on a new facility. Betfair’s ‘Serial Winners’ fund has made a very generous contribution to this.

“It’s such a help to have a place like this to go to. Between there and my local Patric Fitness, I’m doing more in the gym than I’ve ever done before.

“I feel good, and progress is being made all the time. As jockeys, we’re lucky to have such good people helping us get back. I’m counting down the days to my return.”

Among the winners Blackmore has missed has been Envoi Allen in the Champion Chase at Down Royal, and she added: “It’s great to see Henry’s horses have been running so well, obviously I wish I wasn’t watching them from the couch!

“There are some really nice horses in the yard and I can’t wait to get back racing and be part of it again.”



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Rachael Blackmore closing in on riding return

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Henry de Bromhead hopes to see Rachael Blackmore return to the saddle in the “next few weeks”.

The record-breaking Cheltenham Gold Cup and Grand National-winning rider has been sidelined since suffering a neck injury in a fall at Downpatrick in late September.

In her absence, Darragh O’Keeffe has come in for the majority of the rides aboard De Bromhead’s horses, enjoying big-race success with the likes of Envoi Allen at Down Royal and Quilixios at Naas, as well as steering this weekend’s Coral Gold Cup contender Senior Chief to a lucrative victory at Cheltenham.

The trainer has now issued a positive update on his stable jockey’s recovery, with a return to saddle expected before Christmas.

“She (Blackmore) was here the other day, it was great to see her, she looked great and seemed in really good form,” he told Sky Sports Racing.

“She’s obviously a bit frustrated, but it was great to see her down here. I think she is aiming for mid to end of December, I’m not quite sure yet – there’s no firm plans.

“She’s working really hard to get back and as far as she’s concerned she could have come back about a month ago! But quite rightly, she’s taken the advice of all the doctors and hopefully she’ll be back in the next few weeks.”

De Bromhead also confirmed the King George VI Chase as the likely next port of call for Envoi Allen.

The 10-year-old proved the fire still burns bright when regaining his crown in the Ladbrokes Champion Chase earlier this month and now looks set for a second shot at Kempton’s Boxing Day showpiece, having disappointed as a leading contender two years ago.

De Bromhead said: “He was brilliant (at Down Royal), he’s got some attitude and the way he keeps coming back is amazing.

“He’s been in great form since and we’re leaning strongly towards the King George. We haven’t firmed anything up as yet, but we weren’t right when he went two years ago – he didn’t run his race at all – and we’d love to have another crack at it. He’s definitely got the profile for it.”



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Rachael Blackmore on the sidelines with neck injury

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Rachael Blackmore will not be riding “in the coming weeks” following a fall at Downpatrick on Friday.

Blackmore has suffered a neck injury when parting company with her mount Hand Over Fist, trained by Denis Howard, in a handicap chase.

She is currently tying at the top of the jockeys’ championship with 23 winners alongside Keith Donoghue and Sam Ewing having made a good start to the season, but the Gold Cup and Grand National winner is now set for a spell on the sidelines.

Niall Cronin, head of communications for the Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board, said:  “Following a fall at Downpatrick on Friday Rachael Blackmore has sustained a neck injury and will not ride in the coming weeks, while she undergoes rehabilitation for her injury.”



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Rachael Blackmore breaks new ground with Bronte Cup success

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Rachael Blackmore enjoyed a perfect introduction to York racecourse as Term Of Endearment claimed Group Three glory in the William Hill Bronte Cup Fillies’ Stakes.

The rider has ticked all the main boxes in the National Hunt sphere, having won the Grand National, Cheltenham Gold Cup and Champion Hurdle, but victory in this one-mile-six-furlong contest represented her highest achievement on the level.

Trained by long-term ally Henry de Bromhead, Term Of Endearment triumphed in this company last term and was sent off a 4-1 shot on the Knavesmire, launching her challenge a couple of furlongs from home.

Night Sparkle made a good battle of it, with the pair getting very close which prompted a stewards’ inquiry, although Term Of Endearment was eventually confirmed as the three-quarter-length winner.

Blackmore told Racing TV: “It’s very cool to be asked to ride in the first place and a race of this calibre, it’s very special to be able to win it. I’m delighted.

“I was hopeful in the middle of the week that if I got to ride her she would have a right chance because there was so much rain, but it really dried up. After walking the track I wondered if the best of her would come out on that ground.

“She produced a really good run and seemed to be able to do it on that ground as well.

“That was her first time stepping up to that trip and maybe the nicer ground on that trip suited her fine. It’s just very cool to get a ride in Group Three race and even better to win.

“It’s very much a different type of riding (on the Flat), it’s just so different to what I do day to day – you’re learning different things all the time.”



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Rachael Blackmore Serial Winners Fund hits £250,000

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Betfair’s ‘Rachael Blackmore Serial Winners Fund’ wrapped up having raised £250,000 for the Injured Jockeys Fund and the Irish Injured Jockeys.

The initiative began on Betfair Chase day at Haydock last November, when the bookmaker pledged to add £5,000 to the pot every time Blackmore rode a winner between that meeting and the Grand National fixture.

Betfair kicked off the fund with a £100,000 donation and Blackmore duly provided the winners, including two Cheltenham Festival victories worth a boosted £10,000 each.

She then came incredibly close aboard Bob Olinger in the Aintree Hurdle on Thursday, missing out by a nose after suffering interference and failing to persuade the stewards that the placings ought to be reversed.

Betfair added to the fund nevertheless, providing a ‘justice payout’ to hit the £250,000 mark as the fundraising window drew to a close following Blackmore’s third-placed run aboard Minella Indo in the Grand National.

Jockey Rachael Blackmore with Minella Indo ahead of day three of the 2024 Randox Grand National
Jockey Rachael Blackmore with Minella Indo ahead of the 2024 Randox Grand National (David Davies/PA)

Blackmore said: “The Serial Winners Fund was an incredible initiative run by Betfair throughout the season in support of the Injured Jockeys Fund in Ireland and UK, it’s one that I am very proud to have been a part of.

“This really is a substantial donation, generously topped up by Betfair, and will support the vital work they carry out helping jockeys in all areas of their lives.”

Lisa Hancock, CEO of the Injured Jockeys Fund, added: “Coming to the Canal Turn, we thought that Rachel and Minella Indo were going to finish the initiative in the most spectacular way, but I Am Maximus had other ideas.

“It’s been a wonderful campaign for us and we are so grateful to the Betfair team for supporting us so very generously.”

Michael Higgins, general manager of the Irish Injured Jockeys, commented: “We’re delighted to be part of the Betfair Serial Winners Fund with our UK colleagues the IJF. Thanks to Betfair for their generosity and Rachael for her winners.”

Betfair’s Charlotte Booth said: “Our team visited both Oaksey House in Lambourn and the RACE facility in Ireland and witnessed firsthand the work both charities do. It’s nothing short of amazing to see the services and support they provide to jockeys and the dedication of the teams.

“These are such important charities for the racing community, and I am sure this initiative has raised awareness of these great causes.”



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Blackmore ‘serial winners fund’ closing in on bumper total for charity

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Betfair’s ‘Rachael Blackmore Serial Winners Fund’ is closing in on its target as it aims to provide £250,000 for two worthy charities.

The initiative was kick-started by a £100,000 donation from Betfair, with £5,000 added for every Blackmore winner ridden between Betfair Chase Day in November last year and the Grand National at Aintree in April.

The target sum is £250,000 and with several weeks still to go there is already £155,000 in the pot before the upcoming festivals at Leopardstown, Cheltenham and Aintree.

The funds raised will benefit the Injured Jockeys Fund and the Irish Injured Jockeys, both charities that support current and former riders on either side of the Irish Sea.

Blackmore, an ambassador for Betfair, said: ‘It’s fantastic to see all the amazing work the Injured Jockeys Fund does to support jockeys at facilities like Oaksey House (in Lambourn).

“This is a very generous initiative from Betfair, one that will benefit the Irish Injured Jockeys too, and will go a long way to creating more support facilities, in both UK and Ireland.“

To illustrate the need for the backing of such valuable work, Betfair sent tipster Daryl Carter to Oaksey House in Lambourn for a special edition of their ‘Coaching Carter’ series, where he met the recipients of the charity’s ongoing support to the industry.

Among them was former jockey Wayne Burton, who suffered serious head and spinal injuries in 2008 and lives at Oaksey House after being left paralysed from the chest down.

Burton is training to complete the London Marathon in his wheelchair in April, and said of the role the IJF has played in his recovery: “I did lose my speech, my understanding of what things were and where I was – that was a really hard battle for me at the time.

“Without the IJF I wouldn’t be here today, this place was built a year after my accident so as soon as this was open I was one of the first jockeys to come here.”

Carter also spoke with George Baker, another former jockey who won the St Leger aboard Harbour Law in 2016 before suffering severe injuries in a fall on the ‘White Turf’ at St Moritz.

Baker had a bleed on the brain and spent a significant amount of time in hospital before being rehabilitated at Oaksey House, where he now works alongside being a trustee for the charity.

“I am a trustee for the Injured Jockeys Fund and I work here three or four days a week in my role as a jockey coach,” he said.

“The Injured Jockeys Fund were a massive help to me, I had a bad accident in 2017 in Switzerland, at St Moritz on the White Turf.

“I was hospital in London for three or four months, I think it was a harder journey for my family more than anything and the next phase of my rehab was coming here.

“They helped rebuild me, really. I had to learn to walk again. They were instrumental in getting me back to work, they asked me to be a trustee and I’m very, very happy to facilitate that because the Injured Jockeys Fund is so close to my heart.”



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Ain’t That A Shame battles to Thyestes triumph

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Ain’t That A Shame secured the big prize he has long promised in an attritional renewal of the Goffs Thyestes Handicap Chase at Gowran Park.

Having been placed in the Munster National at Limerick and the lucrative Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown last season, Henry de Bromhead’s charge was a leading fancy for the Grand National at Aintree last spring but trailed home last of 17 finishers.

That effort looked to have taken its toll on the Robcour-owned 10-year-old, as he was well held in the Kerry National on his first start of the current campaign and then pulled up in the Troytown at Navan, but he bounced back to his best to plunder one of the Irish calendar’s feature handicaps in Kilkenny.

A 14-1 shot in the hands of Rachael Blackmore, Ain’t That A Shame initially raced in midfield before taking closer order with a circuit to run.

He moved to the lead travelling strongly in the home straight and although he was briefly headed by Glengouly on the run-in, Ain’t That A Shame fought back to plunder the lion’s share of the €100,000 prize fund by two and a half lengths.

“Our other horses were shorter in the betting today but Rachael stuck with Ain’t That A Shame, which I thought was a brave move,” said De Bromhead. “She really believed in him and I’d say Davey Roche (assistant trainer) had a lot to do with that as well.

Ain't That A Shame and jockey Rachael Blackmore after winning at Gowran Park
Ain’t That A Shame and jockey Rachael Blackmore after winning at Gowran Park (Brian Lawless/PA)

“I was saying last week ‘will we be calling you Wrong Choice Rach?’ – but she didn’t find that very funny! Anyway, she was absolutely spot-on and fair play to her.

“He had a good run on nicer ground at Leopardstown last year, although he did seem to stop at Aintree. Even today, we were coming here a bit grey and weren’t sure, even though he seemed great at home.

“He also seemed great at home before pulling up in the Troytown Chase and the stewards have just asked me for the reason for his improvement in form, but we genuinely didn’t know (what happened at Navan) and were very disappointed. I suppose they are allowed to have a bad day though.”

He added: “It was great to have dad (Harry) here the first day we won this race (in 2017), as it was the 25th year since he won the race, and it is great to have mum here now. It is brilliant to get it for Robcour and it was some ride from Rachael.

“We all come out of hibernation at this time of year and it really is a race that stops a county and is great for the south east.”



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Cheltenham Gold Cup hero A Plus Tard retired

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A Plus Tard, winner of the 2022 Cheltenham Gold Cup, has been retired from racing.

Owned by Cheveley Park Stud and trained by Henry de Bromhead, A Plus Tard gave jockey Rachael Blackmore a historic victory in the Prestbury Park feature as she became the first woman to ride the winner of jump racing’s blue riband.

The 10-year-old rocketed to a 15-length success that day, supplementing three previous Grade One wins, including a 22-length verdict in the 2021 Betfair Chase.

However, A Plus Tard has struggled to make his mark since that Gold Cup win, pulling up on two occasions and finishing third at Aintree in April before bowing out when unplaced in the Savills Chase at Leopardstown last month.

A Plus Tard in action at Aintree last April
A Plus Tard in action at Aintree last April (Tim Goode/PA)

Richard Thompson, director of Cheveley Park Stud, paid tribute to the gelding who realised the dream of his late father, David, when winning at Cheltenham.

He said in a statement: “My father and I sat down in early 2018 and agreed a plan to buy some National Hunt horses to be trained in Ireland with the aim of winning the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

“Just over four years later, we achieved this objective when Rachael Blackmore rode A Plus Tard to victory in front of 70,000 people at the first Cheltenham Festival post Covid.

“My father watched A Plus Tard win the Savills Chase in a thrilling finish on television on December 28, 2020. He died the very next day. It was the last horse race he ever watched.

“A Plus Tard was also the first Cheltenham winner in the red, white and blue Cheveley Park Stud colours and also Rachael Blackmore’s first winner at Cheltenham in the 2019 Listed Close Brothers Novices’ Chase. Rachael rode him to five of his six victories and Darragh O’Keeffe rode him in the other one.

“For all of the above reasons, A Plus Tard will always be a very special horse in the history of my parents’ ownership of Cheveley Park Stud.

“A special thank you to Henry de Bromhead and all the team at Knockeen and to Rachael too. To win the Cheltenham Gold Cup is the Holy Grail of National Hunt racing and we will never forget March 18, 2022.”

A Plus Tard will remain at De Bromhead’s Knockeen yard in the immediate future before returning to Cheveley Park in Newmarket to enjoy his retirement.

Rachael Blackmore and Henry de Bromhead with A Plus Tard
Rachael Blackmore and Henry de Bromhead with A Plus Tard (Lorraine O’Sullivan/PA)

De Bromhead added: “A Plus Tard was our first horse to train for Cheveley Park Stud and the Thompson Family. He was bought from France by Alex Elliot and gave us many memorable days, culminating in the 2022 Gold Cup.

“He was sublime that day, not only visually impressive, but also one of the highest rated winners of the Gold Cup in the last 30 years, as well as being one of the best horses we have ever had in our yard.

“We were delighted when this very special horse won Cheveley Park Stud their first Gold Cup.”

Blackmore was equally fulsome in her praise of A Plus Tard, telling Betfair: “He had everything you could ask for in a horse, speed, stamina, really accurate jumper.

“To feel him accelerate like he did after the last in the Gold Cup is a feeling I’ll never forget, I feel so lucky to have been on his back.

“He was incredible and such a special horse to me. He will enjoy a very well-deserved retirement now.”

A Plus Tard bows out the winner of eight of his 23 career starts, with over £957,000 in prize-money.



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