Day three of the Cheltenham Festival and once again it was the Rachael Blackmore show at Prestbury Park.
The dominance of Blackmore is phenomenal having had more winners over the first three days than all of the trainers based in the UK combined.
The two winners on Thursday made it five for the week, and were completely contrasting but brilliant rides.
🚀 That is awesome from Allaho
An incredible performance from Allaho who runs his rivals ragged to capture the Grade One Ryanair Chase for @WillieMullinsNH & continue a golden week for @rachaelblackmor @CPStudOfficial #CheltenhamFestival pic.twitter.com/CdKfIpbrm8— Racing TV (@RacingTV) March 18, 2021
Allaho made every yard of the running having been well backed for the Ryanair Chase. Blackmore got the fractions and tactics spot on.
The ride had Ruby Walsh and AP McCoy gushing on ITV Racing afterwards. While Walsh admitted to a little coaching. "If you are pulling, he is going too slow, if you are pushing you are going too fast," Walsh told Blackmore before the race.
Blackmore wasn't going too fast, just too fast for anyone else in the race. Allaho's giant stride ate up the ground when Blackmore made her now customary move off the final turn and in reality the rest were nowhere.
There were shades of Denman about the relentless nature of the victory, but in reality, it was a combination of a jockey sensibly using her mount's best attributes, a high cruising speed and quality jumping, to great effect.
Rachael Blackmore - Top Festival Jockey
The win on Allaho brought Blackmore further clear at the top of the jockeys' leaderboard at the Festival. Blackmore is breathing rarefied air.
The Mares Novices Hurdle brought the total to five in yet another suberbly judged ride. Telmesomethinggirl had her tactics changed and was dropped well off the frantic early pace set by stablemate Magic Daze.
🤯Can anyone stop her!?@rachaelblackmor drives home another #CheltenhamFestival winner, as the @HenrydeBromhead trained Telmesomethinggirl runs away with the Parnell Properties Mares' Novices' Hurdle 👏#GreenCorner 🇮🇪#RachaelBlackmore 👑 pic.twitter.com/tdflnZDQtn
— Horse Racing Ireland (@HRIRacing) March 18, 2021
Magic Daze was running at a frantic pace, looking somewhat uncontrollable under Robbie Power, again Blackmore didn't panic.
Creeping into position down the outside Blackmore then found a perfect gap to land upsides Magic Daze after the second last.
“Where others find trouble, Racheal Blackmore finds not just time but gaps, and serenely moves horses into challenge and Telmesomethinggirl is another winner," was beautifully put by ITV Commentator Richard Hoiles.
The jockeys to ever ride five or more winners at a single Cheltenham Festival is a short list. Jamie Osborne, AP McCoy, Ruby Walsh, Barry Geraghty, Paul Townend and now Rachael Blackmore.
It has not all been plain sailing with four falls to her name in the three days too, but Blackmore is top of the charts and there is still a day to go.
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