Move over, Ruby, day one is now all about Rachael Blackmore
Day one of Cheltenham used to revolve about Ruby Walsh. This year it is all about Rachael Blackmore.
When Barry Geraghty ended the week as leading rider at the 2012 Cheltenham Festival for a second time with five winners, Blackmore had just one for that whole season in Ireland. Now she is a shorter price than JP McManus’ number one to ride the most winners at the 2020 Cheltenham Festival.
Blackmore was successful 12 times from 2010 to the end of the 2015-16 season. That is an average of two winners a season. Over the last four seasons she is averaging 54 winners and the current campaign is not near finished yet. That will grow. The rise of Rachael has been nothing short of spectacular and the biggest surprise of all would be if she failed to add to her two festival winners over the next four days.
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