ALL ABOUT RACHAEL
RANDOX Grand National plunge horse Minella Times is not a certain starter for Cheltenham queen Rachael Blackmore.
Henry de Bromhead’s chaser was backed into joint 14-1 third-favourite from 33-1, after the 31-year-old raced to the top jockey award at The Festival.
No female rider has won the Aintree showpiece but punters believe in Blackmore (right).
If given the chance, she would head to Liverpool on the back of her six victories at jump racing’s flagship meeting, plus a second in the Gold Cup.
But connections are yet to decide whether the spring marathon on April 10 is right for the market mover.
Frank Berry, racing manager for owner JP Mcmanus, said: “He’s in the Irish National on Easter Monday as well – we’ll make a decision on that in the morning.
“It’ll be whether he stays in the Irish National, or comes out tomorrow. It’s very much up in the air at the minute. Minella
Times is one of 17 possible Irish Grand National contenders for Mcmanus, a list which also includes 12-1 second favourite Any Second Now. Cloth Cap heads the betting after his sparkling warm-up earlier this month at Kelso.
Stamina over a trip in excess of four miles is the big question mark for Blackmore’s potential big-race partner.
Usually seen running over distances like two miles and six furlongs, Minella Times has only raced at three miles twice.
Betfred’s Matt Hulmes said: “The Grand National is The People’s Race and the one that name that people have seen plastered on every newspaper last week was Rachael Blackmore.
“It will be the most sought after name on the racecard come National day and if appears next to Minella Times, I expect he will be very heavily backed.”