Irish professional jockey and 乐鱼（Leyu）体育官网 Ambassador Rachael Blackmore competed at her 9th Cheltenham Racing Festival from March 11 to 14.
Rachael has a rich and celebrated history at this pinnacle event in the jump-racing calendar. On day 3 of the 2025 festival, Rachael produced two inspiring finishes, securing victories with Air of Entitlement in the Ryanair Mares' Novices' Hurdle and Bob Olinger in the Paddy Power Stayers' Hurdle. By adding the Stayer鈥檚 Hurdle to her impressive tally, Rachael has completed a clean sweep of the Open Grade 1 events at Cheltenham.
馃弳2021 & 2022 Champion Hurdle
馃弳2021 & 2023 Ryanair Chase
馃弳2022 Cheltenham Gold Cup
馃弳2024 Queen Mother Champion Chase
馃弳2025 Stayers' Hurdle
With an impressive 18 wins to date, Rachael stands as one of the most successful jockeys in the festival's storied history. Her legacy at Cheltenham is a testament to her exceptional skill, determination, and unwavering dedication to the sport. 乐鱼（Leyu）体育官网 is immensely proud of Rachael, and we eagerly look forward to supporting her continued success throughout the 2025 season and beyond.
The start of Rachael鈥檚 Cheltenham journey
Rachael grew up in Killenaule, Co. Tipperary. Horses have been central to her life and she started riding on the track as an amateur jockey. While doing so, she gained a degree in equine science at the University of Limerick
The Tipperary woman鈥檚 first visit to the Cheltenham Festival was in her early 20s - as a spectator. Her first festival ride was on Magna Cartor for John 鈥楽hark鈥� Hanlon in the 2017 Supreme Novices Hurdle. He finished well beaten, but Rachael was up and running. It was the same Shark Hanlon who had provided Rachael with her first winner as an amateur in Ireland - on Stowaway Pearl back in 2011.
Rachael recalled that first ride at the Cheltenham Festival - 鈥淕oing into the Weighing Room to ride Magna Cartor, I remember thinking I was just so grateful to be a part of it. There was no pressure as he was an outsider on the day. It was the Supreme so the first race of the week, to be at the start and hear the roar was very cool.鈥�
"Going into the Weigh Room to ride Magna Cartor, I remember thinking I was just so grateful to be a part of it."
A festival first for Rachael
Fast forward to 2019. Rachael Blackmore rides her first Cheltenham Festival winner on A Plus Tard in a novice handicap chase, trained by Henry de Bromhead.
鈥淗is acceleration after the last (fence) when he won in 2019 and in the Gold Cup in 2022, was just incredible. When he won in 2019, that was a massive day. I only had a handful of rides previously at Cheltenham, and had never ridden a Festival winner there, Henry de Bromhead was putting me up on a lot of good horses for the week so it was great to be able to repay his faith in me with a winner on the Tuesday.鈥�
鈥淭he track is unique in itself, it鈥檚 racing鈥檚 biggest stage, it鈥檚 our Olympics. That same week, Minella Indo gave me my first Grade 1 success.鈥�
There鈥檚 hardly a person in Ireland who hasn鈥檛 heard of Honeysuckle. Rachael rode the mare every time she ran - 19 times in total.
Honeysuckle provided her with her first domestic Grade 1 success at Fairyhouse in 2019 and the following year, the pair won the Mares Hurdle at Cheltenham. Honeysuckle went on to win back-to-back Champion Hurdles with Rachael in 2021 and 2022.
2021 was special for Henry de Bromhead, who saddled the first two home in the 2021 Gold Cup after Minella Indo defeated A Plus Tard 鈥� with Rachael riding the runner-up.
It was a tough call for Rachael to make and although thrilled for the connections of Minella Indo, she had unfinished business when the pair reopposed in the 2022 Gold Cup.
鈥淚 felt I had not given A Plus Tard the best ride in 2021. I had finished second in a Gold Cup and so much would have to go right to get another chance to win that race鈥�
"The track is unique in itself, it鈥檚 racing鈥檚 biggest stage, it鈥檚 our Olympics."
On the lead up to the 2022 festival, Rachael opted to ride A Plus Tard. His prep had gone well, he had proven form at the track, but so did Minella Indo, who had provided her with her first Grade 1 success at the 2019 festival, and was the reigning Gold Cup champion.
鈥業 remember after jumping the third last, that I had loads of horse underneath me. When I asked him to pick up after the last, it was an incredible feeling - he accelerated all the way to the line.鈥�
鈥淐oming back down in front of the stands that year after the crowds had been missing the previous year was just the most incredible feeling. It鈥檚 the biggest race of the year and the one that everyone wants to win. To have won it in the manner he did was just incredible. I am just so grateful to have been a part of it.鈥�
Honeysuckle's poignant farewell
Fast forward to 2023. The racing world was grieving for the de Bromhead family, who had lost their beloved son, Jack, the previous summer in a riding accident. The racing community rallied as they always do in difficult circumstances.
Because of that tragic event, Kenny Alexander opted to run Honeysuckle in the Mares Hurdle instead of attempting to win the Champion Hurdle, marking her final race.
There鈥檚 barely a household in Ireland who did not know Honeysuckle and Rachael Blackmore, and everyone watching both at home and on the track were rooting for 鈥楬oney鈥� and Rachael.
"The reception was different...Everyone was cheering for Honeysuckle but they were cheering for Jack as well."
As they turned for home, Honeysuckle kicked into overdrive for Rachael and they picked off Love Envoi after the last hurdle to win on her final start. It was the perfect result.
鈥楬oney鈥� retired on the biggest stage of all 鈥� her fourth Cheltenham success and she retired as one of the great mares of all time.
"The reception was different...Everyone was cheering for Honeysuckle but they were cheering for Jack as well."
Making history again at the 2024 Cheltenham Festival
Last year, Rachael delivered another stellar performance at the Cheltenham Festival, securing the first win of the week in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1) on Slade Steel.
This was followed by a historic victory, where Rachael became the first woman to win the Queen Mother Champion Chase on Captain Guinness. This solidified her place as one of Ireland's most inspirational sporting icons, leaving fans eager for her return in 2025.
Cheltenham exclusive with Rachael
Last year Rachael caught up with Jane Mangan, former Irish Jockey and RTE broadcaster for an exclusive interview.
We delved into Rachael's decorated Cheltenham history, getting an insight into how it feels to be part of the action at the pinnacle event of the jump-racing calendar.鈥疌lick to watch or listen to the interview.
