LAST UPDATE | 23 Apr 2021
RACHAEL BLACKMORE REACHED 91 winners for the season in Ireland with a brilliant treble at Kilbeggan this evening to close the gap further to Paul Townend in the race to be crowned champion jockey.
The partnership of Blackmore and trainer Henry De Bromhead again proved a winning one with four successes on The Cathal Don (6/5 joint fav) and An Taibhse (1/1 fav), both in maiden hurdles, and then Cavalry Master (5/4 fav) in the last.
She finished fourth on board Four Horsemen in the handicap hurdle in her other ride of a meeting that proved highly successful for the Tipperary native.
It takes Blackmore to 91 winners, four behind leader Paul Townend in the title race, and is a career best total in Ireland for a season, surpassing the 90 mark she achieved in 2018-19. She also has eight winners in England this season after her exploits at Cheltenham and Aintree.
It’s already been a phenomenal campaign for Blackmore with Champion Hurdle glory at Cheltenham, the leading jockey award there and her historic Aintree Grand National success.
✅ A winner for @rachaelblackmor
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) April 23, 2021
The Cathal Don gets off the mark over hurdles at the third time of asking to give the Grand National winning rider an 89th winner of the season @KilbegganRaces @HenrydeBromhead
Results & free replays ➡ https://t.co/sBcsavHpYf pic.twitter.com/oWzmTZ9oPQ
👀 The gamble goes astray
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) April 23, 2021
Onehundredpercent only second as @rachaelblackmor makes it 90 winners this term with success aboard An Taibshe for @HenrydeBromhead at @KilbegganRaces
She's five behind Paul Townend in the jockeys' championship now pic.twitter.com/SLteLoAhe2
Townend has been out injured since suffering a foot injury in a fall at the Fairyhouse Easter meeting.
He was ten clear of Blackmore at the time of that fall and in the wake of the Grand National heroics, her attention switched to the Irish jockey race. Winners at Fairyhouse and Ballinrobe last week cut the gap to eight but a winner at Kilbeggan yesterday and today’s treble at the Westmeath track has given Blackmore momentum again.
The Irish jump jockeys championship will conclude next Saturday 1 May at the close of the Punchestown Festival.
Townend, who is aiming to win the title for the third successive year, is having a special boot made in case he is deemed fit enough to ride at Punchestown.
Blackmore is back in action tomorrow at Sandown Park on board a pair of De Bromhead horses as Ornua runs in the Grade 1 Celebration Chase and Plan Of Attack in the Grade 3 Gold Cup Handicap Chase.
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