Rachael Blackmore busier than any rider during the first quarter of 2019

Rachael Blackmore is trying valiantly to catch Paul Townend at the top of the Irish jump jockeys' championship and her quest to become the first female champion in Ireland won't come unstuck through a lack of trying as she was the busiest rider in Ireland during the first quarter of 2019.

Blackmore, who had two Cheltenham Festival winners during a stunning spring, has already ridden 86 winners in Ireland this season, just 16 fewer than Townend.

That impressive tally has been aided by having 138 rides during January, February and March – three more than Townend.

Jack Kennedy also had 135 rides during the first quarter of the year, while Sean Flanagan had 123 and Danny Mullins had 108.