Betfair launched her one-of-a-kind charity initiative, ‘Rachael Blackmore – Serial Winners Fund’, to benefit both the ‘Injured Jockey Fund’ and the ‘Irish Injured Jockeys’ at Betfair Chase Day last November.
They started the fund with an initial donation of £100,000 and added an additional £5,000 each time Rachael Blackmore rides a winner. The fund is expected to reach £250,000 by Grand National Day, Saturday April 13, when the fund will come to an end.
It was a quiet week for Rachael, but with a busy travel book on Saturday and Sunday, she hopes to contribute to the ‘Betfair Serial Winners Fund’, which currently stands at £160,000.
Rachael Blackmore has a busy book of attractions this weekend at Gowran Park and Punchestown
Gowran Park, Saturday
2.17 – Lady Lantry
I’m looking forward to riding Lantry Lady in the Red Mills Trial Hurdle at Gowran on Saturday. She hasn’t raced for a while, since she won her first hurdle race on her debut at Gowran Racecourse last March. She was impressive in winning that day, she beat Silent Approach who is a Grade 2 winner over hurdles this season.
She is in very good form at home and the fact that she is a winner at Gowran is obviously a plus. She should handle the terrain and we’re eager to see how she fares.
2.52 – In time to dream
Atimetodream will race here for the first time since November, when she finished very low in a mare handicap hurdle race at Thurles. She didn’t run any kind of race that day, she just wasn’t the one running.
She is best judged by her performance in winning a steeplechase at the Listowel Festival in September, and I hope she can regain that kind of form now. She seems to be doing well after her break and in good shape at home. She is a very well bred mare and we believe she has more progression in her.
4.35 – Aslukwoodhavit
Aslukwoodhavit was beaten in the race Quilixios won at Naas last time, but it was a classy race and he just didn’t jump as well as he could.
He jumped very well on his chaser debut at Punchestown in November, when he was an impressive winner in his novice chase. Let’s hope that now he can continue to progress over the hurdles. He will love the terrain and he is another one we are waiting for.
Blackmore has three attractions at Gowran Park on Saturday, including Atimetodream
His four Sunday rides at Punchestown include Arctic Bresil, Senior Chief and Queen Jane.
Punchestown, Sunday
1.35 – Arctic Brazil
Arctic Bresil was running a good race at Gowran last time until he made a mistake at the penultimate fence, at just the wrong time in the race. He got back into the race, was right there at the penultimate fence, but weakened from there.
He has a lot of skill, but he just hasn’t managed to do it all since winning his first hurdle race last season. However, he has little competition, so he still has a lot of potential to improve and I hope he does well here.
2.05 – Senior boss
The senior chief did well on his last day in Navan. He simply couldn’t take on Minella Cocooner after making a mistake at the penultimate fence, but in the end he wasn’t badly beaten and finished well ahead of the rest.
That was only his second race over fences, it was a step up from his previous race behind Gaelic Warrior and Inothewayurthinkin at Punchestown, and I hope he can step up again. He won over two and a half miles and over two miles and six furlongs on heavy ground last season over hurdles, he won the first two and a half mile hurdle race on this card last year, the 3.40, so this should be a good distance for him over the fences.
2.35 – Queen Joan
Queen Jane is advancing her journey here for the Grand National Trial, but that shouldn’t be a problem for her. She is keeping well.
She held up well to take Brides Hill to the lead in a two-and-a-half-mile mare chase at Fairyhouse in December, and was unlucky to be knocked down in the Tim Duggan Chase at Limerick over Christmas.
I showed her the other day and she jumped well, she seems to have recovered a lot after Limerick. The conditions should be right for her and we are hoping to have a great race.
3.40 – Majestic Force
Majestic Force seems like a nice mare, she seems very easy at home.
She won her point-to-point by almost 30 lengths by giving way on soft ground, and is a half-sister to Our Friend, who won on both heavy ground and good ground, so hopefully she will be fine in the conditions. . She has studied well at home and we can’t wait to get things going.