Rachael’s horrible fall... and a lucky escape

EVEN for the leading jockey at the Cheltenham Festival and winner of the Grand National this year, accidents still lurk at every corner.

Rachael Blackmore finished the regulation season as the hottest property in racing. The 32-year-old is one of the toughest jockeys on the circuit and they are all incredibly brave. For example, at Newcastle’s Northumberland Plate meeting last month Ben Curtis’ shoulder popped out with about one furlong to run. He soldiered on to finish second.

Some summer jumps action with just less than a fortnight to the Galway Festival ought to keep Blackmore ticking over in fine fettle until then. But every race presents an element of danger and Blackmore (left) suffered a horrible fall at Killarney on Friday when Merry Poppins fell at the fifth hurdle.

She was rushed to hospital and escaped with a broken ankle and a hip injury. Blackmore is reportedly in ‘good spirits’ and has been here before. She won six races at Cheltenham but did hit the deck on the odd occasion, most notably on Panic Attack in the Kim Muir Handicap Chase.

Friday’s fall was a harrowing sight. Merry Poppins barely lifted a leg at the hurdle, rolled over and very nearly crushed the jockey. With all this happening at roughly 30mph, Blackmore can consider a broken ankle and a sore hip as a lucky escape. lTHERE might be a few racing chiefs in Britain and Ireland suffering from Panorama paranoia right now. The BBC’s flagship investigations programme has horse racing in its sights tomorrow night and is looking into the treatment of horses after they race.

One imagines we may see that picture of trainer Gordon Elliott crop up again. The staging of the Cheltenham Festival in 2019 just when Covid lockdowns were looming large was a PR disaster for the sport and the industry will be hoping not too much damage is done after the show airs at 8.30pm tomorrow.

■ SO just how good is Snowfall?

The Cazoo Oaks winner by 16 lengths at Epsom ran out a comfortable eight-and-a-half length winner of yesterday’s Irish equivalent.

Granted, there was not much in opposition and odds of 2-7 reflected that.

Jockey Ryan Moore was briefly caught in a pocket turning for home but Snowfall put the race to bed quickly and effortlessly. No British representation in the race was disappointing.

■ RICHARD HANNON just loves Newbury and, in particular, the Super Sprint Stakes.

Gubbass led home Symphony Perfect in a one-two and Hannon won the sprint last year with Happy Romance, who won the Group Three at the track yesterday.