Blackmore tops Ladies Day bill as she makes her first appearance at Perth

Record-breaking Rachael Blackmore is the star attraction on sold out Edinburgh Gin Ladies Day at Perth today as she makes her first appearance at Britain’s most northern racecourse. first female jockey to win the Aintree Grand National and Cheltenham Gold Cup, she is booked for the ride on Brave Way in the £15,000 DM Hall 125th Anniversary Novices’ Chase.

Having opened her account as an amateur in 2011, Blackmore has become a household name after landing the 2021 Grandnationalaboardminella Times and this year’s Gold Cup in March on A Plus Tard.

Brave Way carries the colours of locally-based Kenny Alexander - owner of Blackmore’s multiple Grade 1 partner Honeysuckle - and she is also the first Perth runner for Co Waterford trainer Henry de Bromhead.

Hazel Peplinski, Perth Racecourse CEO, said: "I feel I need to give Kenny Alexander the credit for providing us with the icing on the cake to our sell-out Edinburgh Gin Ladies Day in the shape of a surprise appearance from the world class jockey Rachael Blackmore. Rachael is stable jockthe ey to Henry de Bromhead with whom Kenny has a few horses including the legendary Champion hurdler, Honeysuckle.

"Ireland has long provided Perth with a huge number of runners, to now have Henry de Bromhead also setting the satnav for Perth has given us all a real kick. I often see Kenny walking his dogs here at Perth, he once advised me that he has this good young mare worth a follow – Honeysuckle – and then after all Rachel’s success I made encouraging noises about introducing Perth’s race programme to Henry in the hope our loyal racegoers might enjoy Rachael’s incredible talent on home soil.”

Elsewhere, Amalfi Doug, who has recorded a modernday record of seven wins at Perth, is set to shoulder top weight of 12st 2lb in the Edinburgh Gin Raspberry Handicap Chase. The Keith Dalgleish-trained spring-heeled grey gained the landmark success at his favourite track by a neck last September.

At York today, Magisterial can rule for John and Thady Gosden in theal Basti Equiworld Dubai Dante Stakes.

Fourth on his debut at Newmarket in September, his owner Bjorn Nielsen stepped up to the plate by giving his friend Oisin Murphy a valuable success in his quest to be champion when winning a Haydock maiden in October. It always takes an above-average sort to defy a penalty in novice company, but Magisterial did it with a bit to spare on his return at Leicester last month, coming home a length and a half clear of the heavily-backed Charlie Appleby-trained debutant Ruling Dynasty, who is entered at Royal Ascot.

Frankie Dettori made all at the Midlands venue, which is always dangerous for his opponents, but Magisterial never looked in any danger and the Frankel colt is well worth a shot in what is undoubtedly the strongest UK trial for the Derby to see if he can book his place at Epsom.