Who are Rachael Blackmore’s winners at the Cheltenham Festival?

Blackmore is riding four horses on day one of the festival including in the opening race which she won last year

Thursday 13 March 2025 17:51 GMT

Brighterdaysahead takes in Cheltenham Racecourse surroundings ahead of Champion Hurdle

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March is the month that the Cheltenham Festival dominates the back pages for four days of horseracing action which can send winning jockeys into the mainstream.

One such champion is Ireland’s Rachael Blackmore. A favourite with the general public following her triumph in the 2021 Grand National which made her the first female jockey to win the famous race.

At Cheltenham, Blackmore has cemented her place as one of the best jockeys around riding 16 winners at the festival including A Plus Tard in the 2022 Gold Cup where she repeated her previous feat and became the first female jockey the prestigious trophy.

Cheltenham Festival LIVE: Results and tips as Rachael Blackmore goes for double glory on Day 3

Last year she opened the four-day meeting with a win in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle atop Slade Steel before taking victory in the Queen Mother Champion Chase with Captain Guinness. Those were her only two winners in 2024 but she’s back to challenge for the greatest honours and titles this time around.

Below, we’ll list all the horses Blackmore is riding on each day of the festival 2025 and rank their chances of winning:

Which horses is Rachael Blackmore riding?

Friday 14 March

1.20pm – JCB Triumph Hurdle

Blue Lemons – Age: 4, Weight: 11-2, Trainer: Willie Mullins

3.20pm – Albert Bartlett Novices Hurdle

Argento Bay – Age: 6, Weight: 11-7, Trainer: Willie Mullins

4pm – Cheltenham Gold Cup

Monty’s Star – Age: 8, Weight 11-10, Trainer: Henry de Bromhead

Rachael Blackmore rode two high-priced winners on day three at Cheltenham to end her 2025 drought (AFP via Getty Images)

Thursday 13 March

1.20pm – Ryanair Mares’ Novices Hurdle

Air of Entitlement – Age: 6, Weight: 11-4, Trainer: Henry de Bromhead - Won

3.20pm – Ryanair Chase

Envoi Allen – Age: 11, Weight: 11-10, Trainer: Henry de Bromhead

4pm – Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle

Bob Olinger – Age: 10, Weight: 11-10, Trainer: Henry de Bromhead - Won

Rachael Blackmore rode Slade Steel to victory in the Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle in 2024 (Mike Egerton/PA Wire)

Wednesday 12 March

2.40pm: Coral Cup Hurdle

Ballyadam - Age: 10, Weight: 11-12, Trainer: Henry de Bromhead

4pm: Champion Chase

Captain Guinness - Age: 10, Weight 11-10, Trainer: Henry de Bromhead

4.40pm: Grand Annual Chase

Dancing On My Own - Age: 11, Weight 11-10, Trainer Henry de Bromhead

Queen Camilla presented the trophy to Blackmore after her victory in the Queen Mother Champion Chase (David Davies for The Jockey Club/PA Wire)

Tuesday 11 March

1.20pm: Michael O’Sullivan Supreme Novices’ Chase

Workahead - Age: 7, Weight: 11-7, Trainer: Henry de Bromhead

2.40pm: Ultima Handicap Chase

The Short Go - Age: 8, Weight: 10-8, Trainer Henry de Bromhead

3.20pm: Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle

July Flower - Age: 6, Weight: 11-5, Trainer: Henry de Bromhead

4.40pm: Boodles Fred Winter Handicap Hurdle

Murcia - Age: 4, Weight, 11-2, Trainer: Willie Mullins

Which horses have the best chance of winning?

Two outstanding victories on St. Patrick’s Thursday with Air Of Entitlement and Bob Olinger got Blackmore off the mark in this year’s festival and she’ll be looking to end it on a high note with three more chances at victory on Gold Cup day.

Claiming a second Gold Cup, after her win in 2022, might be a bit of a stretch but after her wins yesterday you can’t count it out. Here’s how we see Blackmore’s chances for the final day of the festival:

3. Monty’s Star - This choice has nothing to do with Blackmore’s horse and everything to do with his competitior Galopin Des Champs. The two-time Gold Cup winner from the previous two festivals seems a shoe-in to make it three in a row but Monty’s Star may push him for a close race.

Blackmore will likely team up with Irish trainer Henry de Bromhead (left) at Cheltenham (PA)

2. Blue Lemons - Won his last race by three lengths when ridden by Paul Townend at Gowran Park. This is a step up in class and odds of 14/1 ahead of the race may reveal some uncertainty from the bookies on how he’ll perform.

1. Argento Bay - Another recent winner with Townend, this time at Punchestown, this six-year-old holds surprise on his side. The Big Westerner is the overnight favourite at 5/1 so odds of 10/1 for Blackmore’s horse isn’t too far off and with a feel for the new course she could pull off another fine win.

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