Yet another opening day triumph as Blackmore Steels show
RACHAEL Blackmore has grown to love Tuesdays at Cheltenham.
In 2019, she won her first race at the Festival on the opening day, and she’s followed up every year, mostly with Honeysuckle, with a first day winner.
This time, it was Slade Steel (7/2) who was too sharp for allcomers in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle yesterday as Blackmore and trainer Henry de Bromhead chalked up another Grade One in harness.
‘It’s what every jockey wants to happen — to win the first race, to get that done. Getting to win the first race on the Tuesday is just massive,’ said Blackmore, who has 15 Festival wins and is one shy of breaking into the top ten of the all-time most successful jockeys.
She is ahead of such accomplished riders as Paul Carberry, Mick Fitzgerald and Peter Scudamore — what a feat for the 34-year-old Tipperary titan.
The opener was mapped out for a Willie Mullins benefit with six runners but de Bromhead’s decision to avoid Ballyburn and opt for the two-miler was vindicated.
At the last flight, Slade Steel jumped sluggishly and Mystical Power surged to the front. It should have been decisive but Slade Steel did what very few
“Getting to win the first race is just massive”
horses on the famed Cheltenham Hill do — battled back to regain a lead that was lost.
‘Rachael was superb, brilliant as usual. Cool as a breeze,’ said de Bromhead.
‘She said she couldn’t believe how well she was going turning in. I was slagging her, saying she obviously wanted a lead longer to let the other horse go past her, but she said the horse was just a little bit slow at the last and that probably helped her.’
‘The view was that Ballyburn has beaten us a few times now and that’s the one thing we don’t need to do again.’
De Bromhead didn’t add to his early triumph but his runners performed credibly, especially in the Mar es’ Hurdle where T el me something girl, Hispanic Moon and Lantry Lady were second, third and fourth to Lossiemouth.
‘We try and aim for this time of year and hopefully keep going. And you have to pick your battles when you’re against the guys we’re against.’
Joseph O’Brien’s late call to run Lark In The Mornin (9/1) in the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle paid off as his cousin JJ Slevin booted home his third winner of the Festival.
‘We thought he was coming here with a real live chance, but so much rain fell last night that we had a conversation about whether we’d run or not. Luckily we did, and he seemed to handle it,’ said O’Brien.
‘JJ gave him a fantastic ride and found the best of the ground all the way around. He had plenty in the locker jumping the last, then pricked his ears,’ said O’Brien.
The runner-up, Eagles Reign, was a first ride for claimer Tom Harney, who was chuffed.
‘I would have loved to have won it, but it was some thrill coming up that hill today. I’m delighted for JJ, he’s the nicest guy in the weighing-room,’ he said generously.
Gordon Elliott didn’t get off the mark but Firefox was third in the ‘Supreme’, Found A Fifty second in the Arkle Chase, Irish Point second in the Champion Hurdle and Ndaawi third in the ‘Boodles’.
His string are clearly on their blow and he should strike before long.
In contrast, Nicky Henderson’s string performed poorly.
Five out of his six runners pulled up, with Luccia the only flagbearer to perform, as she chased home the top two in the Champion Hurdle.
That’s a worry for Henderson who has been one of the few trainers guaranteed to staff the barricades and strive to repel the Irish raiders.
The sole race to elude the green-wash was the Ultima Handicap Chase which was no shock as Irish runners have only won it twice since 2000.
Even with the first, third and fourth favourite, the visitors missed out as Kim Bailey’s Chianti Classico gave the home guard cause to raise a rare glass.
Meetingofthewaters was a gusty third under a big weight to leave Willie Mullins’ zero from 44 runners in handicap chases at the Festival.
Given his astonishing record overall at the meeting, it’s not something that will perturb the all-conquering Closutton trainer.