Betfair ambassador Rachael Blackmore has previewed her four rides on day one of the Cheltenham Festival. The Tipperary native Blackmore will ride "Slade Steel" in the opening race of the festival, the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.
She will then ride "Qulixious" in the Arkle at 2:10, "Eklat De Rire" in the Ultima, and "Telmesomethinggirl" in the Mares Hurdles.
The Cheltenham Festival is the pinnacle event of the jump-racing calendar and runs from Tuesday to Friday.
Here's a full rundown of Blackmore's selections for the event:
1:30: "Slade Steel"
"Slade Steel" runs in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle instead of the Gallagher. "Before I rode him in the Tattersalls Ireland Novice Hurdle over two miles at the Dublin Racing Festival, I would have said that he would have been better in the longer race. But he was sharp at Leopardstown, and I don't think that the two-mile trip will be an issue for him. Obviously, this is a very good race; it's a Supreme Novices' Hurdle, and it's very competitive, but I think that he is bang there with his chance. He's a horse we've always held in high regard, and soft ground won't be an issue for him. We're hoping for a big run."
QULIXIOS wins the Triumph Hurdle 🏆
Yet ANOTHER winner for Cheltenham Queen Rachael Blackmore đź‘Źpic.twitter.com/F8org5lgu1— GG (@ggcouk) March 19, 2021
2:10: "Qulixios"
"I'm really looking forward to riding "Qulixios" in the Arkle. We were very happy with his run at Naas last time; he dropped back down to two miles. His jumping was good, and he won well.
"This is a very competitive Arkle, but "Qulixios" is a Triumph Hurdle winner; he has a touch of class, and he won his only race at the track. I think that he can run a really big race."
2:50: "Eklat De Rire"
"Eklat De Rire" has had its issues, but he put up a much-improved performance last time at Fairyhouse. Only two of us finished in the end, but his jumping was good, and he kept on well.
"Unfortunately, he unseated me in the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase at Cheltenham three years ago when we thought that he would run a big race. He is 10 now, but the handicapper has given him a chance. He goes into the race in good form; he should enjoy the ground, and I hope that he can go well."
4:10: "Telme Something Girl"
"This is very competitive again. Lossiemouth is last year's Triumph Hurdle winner, and she looked impressive at Cheltenham on her return this season, but "Telmesomethinggirl" goes there with a live chance. She won the Mares' Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham in 2021, and she was unlucky to be brought down at the second last flight in the Mares' Hurdle the following year when she was travelling well. She was chasing last season, but she has improved with each of her runs this season back over hurdles. She ran really well last time in the Grade 3 Limestone Lad Hurdle at Naas, and I hope that she can run a big race."
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