Punters put faith in Blackmore to be crowned top Cheltenham rider

Rachael Blackmore, who provided one of the biggest stories of the 2019 Cheltenham Festival with her first two winners at the prestigious meeting, has been supported to be crowned top jockey at next month’s festival.

Punters have reacted to Blackmore’s enviable book of rides, which includes Notebook, 11-4 favourite for the Racing Post Arkle Chase, and Honeysuckle, 15-8 second-favourite for the Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle, and her odds have been halved from 8-1 to 4-1 by William Hill.

Minella Indo, who Blackmore partnered to a 50-1 Grade 1 success in last year’s Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle, is generally a 4-1 shot for the RSA Insurance Novices’ Chase, while A Plus Tard, successful in the Close Brothers Novices’ Handicap Chase last year, is 9-4 favourite for the Ryanair Chase.

Rachael Blackmore celebrates A Plus Tard's wide-margin win in last season's Close Brothers Novices' Handicap ChaseCredit: Michael Steele

The rider, currently enjoying another magnificent season for her boss Henry de Bromhead, will also partner Aspire Tower, a 13-2 shot for the JCB Triumph Hurdle, and is sure to be in demand by trainers such as Gordon Elliott for fancied contenders in the handicaps.

“Rachael Blackmore is expected to have a great book of rides and our customers cannot get enough of her,” said William Hill spokesman Rupert Adams.

The firm quote Paul Townend as 15-8 favourite, and have another Irish-based rider, Davy Russell, second best at 3-1.

Paddy Power have also reported support for Blackmore. “We were 6-1 on the opening show last week, but she’s now down to 9-2,” spokesman Paul Binfield said.

“Rachael Blackmore is enjoying a brilliant season, and has given so many horses wonderful rides.

Rachael Blackmore: a strong book of festival rides has seen her odds slashed to hold aloft the leading riders' trophyCredit: Patrick McCann

“Punters have latched on to that as well as the fact that she will have the opportunity to partner leading contenders such as Honeysuckle and Notebook, who appears to have strong claims in the Racing Post Arkle.

“She is a superb rider, and is bound to pick up plenty of fancied, outside rides in the handicaps. It’s not surprising that plenty of people think she has a massive chance of winning the Cheltenham Festival jockeys’ title.”

Nicola McGeady of Ladbrokes said: “Rachael Blackmore is a live contender to be crowned top festival jockey with an enviable book of rides including Notebook and Honeysuckle. If she makes it happen, it would spell a momentous occasion for the sport.”

Blackmore has partnered 59 winners in Ireland this season, including several big-race victories, notably Grade 1s on Honeysuckle, Notebook and A Plus Tard.

Hills have reported significant support for Willie Mullins to be top trainer at Cheltenham. The firm quoted 13-8 on the opening show, but the Closutton trainer, who will have a plethora of strong contenders throughout the four days, including Chacun Pour Soi in the Betway Champion Chase and Al Boum Photo, 7-2 joint-favourite to retain the Magners Gold Cup, is now 10-11.

“Willie has a fantastic record at Cheltenham and punters are expecting another good year,” said Adams.

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