TOP WOMEN AT THE FESTIVAL

JESSICA HARRINGTON TRAINER The most successful female trainer in Festival history. her eight wins include two Champion Chases with Moscow Flyer (2003 and 2005) and the 2014 Champion hurdle with Jezki, who is back this year in Thursday’s Stayers’ hurdle. Sizing John is harrington’s first runner in the Gold Cup. her horse Someday, second favourite for tomorrow’s Bumper, will be ridden by amateur jockey daughter Kate. KATIE WALSH AMATEUR JOCKEY RuBY’S sister was a dual winner in 2010 on board Poker De Sivola (National hunt Chase) and Thousand Stars (County hurdle). She should pick up rides for Willie Mullins but here her best chance looks like being the Paul Nicholls-trained Wonderful Charm in Friday’s Foxhunter Chase. DEBRA HAMER TRAINER The Carmarthenshire-based trainer only has eight horses and has never had a Festival winner but victory with big improver Tobefair, owned by a syndicate of pub regulars, in Thursday’s Pertemps hurdle would be the feelgood story of the meeting. REBECCA CURTIS TRAINER BIGBADJohN, last-ditch winner of the Reynoldstown Novices’ Chase, in today’s four-mile National hunt Chase, looks the Pembrokeshire trainer’s best chance of adding to her four Festival wins. She also runs 66-1 outsider Irish Cavalier in Friday’s Gold Cup. RACHAEL BLACKMORE PROFESSIONAL JOCKEY The in-form Blackmore has broken into Ireland’s top 20 riders with 26 wins this season. She starts with outsider Magna Cartor in this afternoon’s Supreme Novices’ hurdle and should be on board Linger in tomorrow’s Fred Winter Juvenile handicap hurdle. SANDRA HUGHES TRAINER The sister of retired champion Flat jockey Richard runs the Curragh stable of her late father Dessie and has a leading contender for tomorrow’s RSA Chase in Acapella Bourgeois.