Rachael Blackmore makes US debut on old ally Bedrock in Grade 1 Belmont hurdle

Rachael Blackmore will be in action in the US for the first time on Thursday when she renews her association with Bedrock in the Grade 1 Lonesome Glory Handicap at Belmont Park (8pm).

Ireland’s top female rider twice won on Bedrock last season when the six-year-old was trained in Scotland by Iain Jardine. She will be one of seven Irish-born riders, along with Britain’s Tom Garner and Michael Mitchell, competing in the nine-runner 2m4f event.

Blackmore has enjoyed major success this year, riding a double for Henry de Bromhead at the Cheltenham Festival in March when she rode her first Cheltenham winner on A Plus Tard in the Close Brothers Novices' Handicap Chase before landing the Grade 1 Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle on Minella Indo, who followed up with another top-level victory at the Punchestown festival.

Lonesome Glory card

She achieved her first Irish Grade 1 success on Honeysuckle at the Fairyhouse Easter meeting and only recently added another major prize to her CV when partnering Poker Party, trained by De Bromhead, to Guinness Kerry National success at the Listowel festival.

Speaking on Wednesday, Blackmore said: “I’m really looking forward to Belmont. I’ve ridden Bedrock twice before and won a Grade 3 at Tipperary and the Grade 2 WKD Hurdle at Down Royal on him last season. I’m delighted to have been asked to travel over by his new connections.”

Bedrock (left): defeated Samcro in the WKD Hurdle at Down Royal last year when trained by Iain JardineCredit: Patrick McCann

Bedrock was making his US debut for owner Irvin Naylor and trainer Leslie Young when finishing sixth behind Winston C, who will be bidding for a Grade 1 hat-trick on Thursday, in the AP Smithwick Memorial at Saratoga in July.

Garner returned from a broken collarbone to win the New York Turf Writers Cup on Winston C at Saratoga last month and continues his association with the Jonathan Sheppard-trained five-year-old, previously trained by Harry Fry.

Blackmore’s US-based compatriots riding in Friday’s race include Jack Doyle, Sean McDermott, Ross Geraghty and Willie McCarthy.

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