Superstar jockey Rachael Blackmore is back at the Cheltenham Festival this year looking for more glory.
The Irish jockey is the defending Gold Cup champion after riding A Plus Tard to a momentous victory and she wants more success this week.
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Blackmore is one of the star jockeys
2022 was a sublime year for the 33-year-old and, given in 2021 she also won six races at Cheltenham, many punters will be keen to know which horses Blackmore will be riding this year.
And you can follow Blackmore and all of her races live on talkSPORT.
Rachael Blackmore’s confirmed Cheltenham Festival horses
Blackmore’s Cheltenham Festival starts on Tuesday, March 14 at 1:30pm with the Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle on board Inthepocket, which is placed at 12/1.
She will then reunite with Honeysuckle before the nine-year-old is retired after the pair made history last year in the Champion Hurdle when they made it back-to-back titles.
And they will ride together again in the Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle on Tuesday, March 14 at 4:10pm.
And despite Honeysuckle suffering a couple of defeats earlier in the season, Blackmore has backed her horse to come good again.
Speaking to Betfair, she said: “There is not much more that I can say about Honeysuckle that I haven’t said before.
“She is an unbelievable mare and she has been an unbelievable mare for me.
“She has been incredible for my career. All that she has achieved, and I have been lucky enough to get to ride her.
“As has been well publicised, this will be her last race, I won’t be looking back. We can look back when it’s over.
“She has given us all the big days that she could have given us so far, the crowds have been brilliant and I would love her to have one more big day.”
Rachael Blackmore’s confirmed Cheltenham rides
Tuesday, March 14
Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle: 1:30pm – Inthepocket – 12/1
Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle: 4:10pm – Honeysuckle – 7/2
Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle: 4:50 – Bad – 8/1
Wednesday, March 15
Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase: 2:10pm – Amirite – 50/1
Coral Cup: 2:50pm – Watch House Cross – 18/1
Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase: 3:30pm – Captain Guinness – 50/1
Glenfarclas Chase: 4:10pm – Gin On Lime – 22/1
Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Challenge Cup Handicap Chase: 4:50pm – Epson Du Houx – 20/1
Wetherby’s Champion Bumper: 5:30pm – Western Diego – 14/1
Thursday, March 16
To be confirmed
Friday, March 17
Gold Cup: 3:30pm – A Plus Tard – 15/2
More to follow
Honeysuckle and Blackmore are looking for one more famous day
Blackmore will be in action straight after her final ride with Honeysuckle as she will be on board Bad in the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle.
And in the Cheltenham Gold Cup – the biggest and most famous race – Blackmore will once again ride A Plus Tard looking to defend her crown at 15/2.
A Plus Tard’s preparation has been far from ideal due to a couple of niggly injuries but Blackmore is confident he will be fine.
Speaking to the Daily Mail, she said: “He was obviously very disappointing in the Betfair Chase, but a few niggly issues were found and they seem to be straightened out now.
“He got the knock at Christmas, but I’d be very happy with him. He seems very well at home and all roads lead straight to the Gold Cup.
“He hasn’t had the preparation we’d have liked, but I have no doubt Henry will get him there in perfect order for the day.
“A Plus Tard was incredible last year, he really was. I got a lovely ride off him the whole way round and the way he quickened up after the last was pretty sensational.
“There’s going to be a lot of depth in the race this year, Galopin Des Champs looked very good at the Dublin Racing Festival, but I’m very much looking forward to the Gold Cup again.
“I’m not too bothered that people are forgetting about A Plus Tard – that doesn’t make any difference to me going into the race. I certainly haven’t forgotten about him.”
AFP
A Plus Tard is back to try and win the Gold Cup again
Blackmore is almost certain to be aboard Envoi Allen in the Ryanair Chase on Thursday, March 16 at 2:50pm.
But she will be riding several other horses over the course of the week.
On Wednesday, March 15, she will take part in six races and will be aboard Amirite in the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase at 2:10pm.
Then comes the Coral Cup at 2:50pm and Watch House Cross will be her horse for that one.
Then in the Champion Chase at 3:30pm, Blackmore starts on 50/1 shot Captain Guinness.
Her busy Wednesday continues when she hops on Gin on Lime in the Glenfarclas Chase at 4:10pm.
And she rounds off her day aboard Epson Du Houx and Western Diego in the Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Challenge Cup Handicap Chase and the Wetherby’s Champions Bumper, respectively.
Blackmore has yet to have her other rides confirmed because the card is still being sorted, but talkSPORT.com will have all the up to date information you need to follow this star jockey.
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