Another day, another Cheltenham victory for Rachael Blackmore. It was yet another win for the Henry De Bromhead camp as Blackmore rode Captain Guinness to a dramatic victory in the Champion Chase yesterday afternoon.
The win marks not just the Tipperary Jockey's Sixteenth win, but adds to her impressive set of accolades as the first female jockey to win a Champion Hurdle, the first female jockey to win the Gold Cup, the first female jockey to win the Grand National and now the first female Jockey to win the Champion Chase, earning her the plaudits of current Cheltenham wins record-holder Ruby Walsh.
While it was euphoria for Blackmore, it came at the expense of disaster for Willie Mullins as the race favourite El Fiablo pulled up on just the fifth fence with jockey Paul Townend left with no choice but to withdraw her from the race.
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Even with favourite El Fiablo out of the picture, there was plenty of work left to do for Rachael Blackmore as she found herself in a three-way face-off with Gentleman de Mee and Edwardstone. While Edwardstone fell on the penultimate fence, Blackmore was left fighting off a last-minute surge from Gentleman de Mee in a truly dramatic finish.
👀 A dramatic Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase goes the way of the @HenrydeBromhead-trained Captain Guinness under @rachaelblackmor
Edwardstone OK after his fall at the second-last pic.twitter.com/G8lVVb5oa9— Racing TV (@RacingTV) March 13, 2024
READ ALSO: Willie Mullins' 'Famous Last Words' Come Back To Haunt Him As El Fabiolo Pulls Up
Walsh lauds Rachael Blackmore after yet another win
Speaking to RTE's Game On live from Cheltenham, Walsh was left in awe by Blackmore's performance, claiming that regardless of the successes Willie Mullins, Gordon Elliot, Jack Kennedy or Paul Townend may enjoy, Blackmore's success will trump them all.
And then it was left to Rachael Blackmore and Captain Guinness and what a career, that's her 16th Cheltenham Festival victory I think.
There's not exactly many big races left that Rachael Blackmore hasn't won. Incredible and wonderful to watch.
Every sport needs a story and needs a headline star and we're lucky to have Willie Mullins and Paul Townend and Gordon Elliott and Jack Kennedy, but whatever Rachael Blackmore does just exceeds whatever those gentleman do.
It's the ultimate compliment from a jockey of Ruby Walsh's stature and while Blackmore would be doing well to equal Walsh's record-breaking 59 Cheltenham victories, there's no doubt that her unprecedented success across the sport will go down in the history books.
While 59 is a long way away, Rachael Blackmore could still add a few more notches to her belt, with plenty of racing left in the festival. We've all the results and reaction right here.
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