Who is Rachael Blackmore riding in the 2022 Grand National at Aintree?

It was confirmed on Tuesday that last year's winning jockey Rachael Blackmore will once again partner the defending champion Minella Times in the Randox Grand National (5.15 Aintree) on Saturday.

After their monumental success in the race last year, the duo will bid to emulate jump racing legends Tiger Roll and Red Rum by winning back-to-back Grand Nationals.

Randox Grand National: start time, TV details, tickets and contenders

Twelve months ago, Blackmore and Minella Times, trained by Henry de Bromhead, safely navigated all 30 fences of the historic Aintree course and stretched away to claim victory in the most famous jumps race in the world.

In doing so, Blackmore became the first female jockey to win the Grand National and crowned a sensational rise that has seen her become one of the biggest stars in the sport.

Minella Times and Rachael Blackmore cross the line in first in last year's Grand NationalCredit: Tim Goode (Getty Images)

After becoming the first female jockey to be named leading rider at the 2021 Cheltenham Festival – when recording six wins over the four-day spell including on Honeysuckle in the Champion Hurdle – Blackmore followed up her exploits at this year's festival when winning the Cheltenham Gold Cup in emphatic fashion on A Plus Tard.

She returns to Aintree this year once again riding the crest of a wave and although Minella Times' challenge this time around will be a much different and more difficult ask than last year, having been hiked up the weights, it may not pay to back against the on-fire jockey striking again.

Grand National: confirmed runners and riders for Saturday's big race

2022 Grand National festival offers

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• bet365 have a new customer offer available when you sign up to a new account. You can also claim six places on the Grand National. Get started here.
• New William Hill customers can claim a free bet for Sunday if they bet on Saturday and also get six places on the Grand National here.
• 888 Sport have free bets for all new customers. Sign up here. New and existing customers can get six places on the Grand National.
• If you're a new customer, Tote will give you a free bet. Sign up here to claim and bet on the Grand National.

Read more on the 2022 Grand National:

Who will win the 2022 Grand National based on previous trends?

Big-race tips: why this horse can win the Grand National at Aintree

Grand National steamers: five horses who could shorten before the big race

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