RACHAEL BLACKMORE has offered her verdict ahead of her six rides on day two at the Cheltenham Festival.
Blackmore, 34, got her 2024 Festival off to a perfect start by winning the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle on Slade Steel.
Rachael Blackmore triumphed on Slade Steel in the Supreme Novices’ HurdleSportsfile
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The champion jockey will be looking to add to her victory tomorrow, and will have a great chance to do so.
She is set to ride Junta Marvel in the 17:30 Champion Bumper.
Speaking to Betfair ahead of day two, Blackmore said of the 20-1 runner: “I have picked up the ride on Junta Marvel in the Champion Bumper for Willie Mullins.
“Willie has plenty of runners in the race, but they all go there with chances and it’s great to pick up a ride for him here.
“Junta Marvel is a Masked Marvel mare who won her two bumpers last spring, one on yielding ground and one on soft ground, so she shouldn’t have an issue with the ground.
“She beat Bioluminescence on her debut, which was a good performance, Bioluminescence won a Grade 3 mares’ novice hurdle at Limerick there on Sunday. I’m looking forward to riding her.”
Blackmore will begin her day riding Monty’s Star in the Novices’ Steeple Chase at 14:10.
Previewing the race, she said: “I am really looking forward to riding Monty’s Star in the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase on Wednesday.
“He was good in winning his beginners’ chase on New Year’s Eve at Punchestown. His jumping was very good, and that will be a big asset here.
“He’s bred for it too, he’s a half-brother to Monalee, who finished second in this race in 2018.
“It’s a small enough field this year, but it’s still a very good race. Fact To File looked good at Leopardstown last time and his times were impressive.
“Stay Away Fay is last year’s Albert Bartlett Hurdle winner, and he ran really well in the Cotswold Chase last time.
“But we couldn’t be happier with our lad, he travelled over well and hopefully he can go one better than his brother did.”
Fans will get to see Blackmore on Ballyadam at 14:50 and Captain Guinness at 15:30.
She fancies her chances on Minella Indo in the Cross Country Chase at 16:10.
Ahead of the race, she said: “Minella Indo ran really well in the cross country race at Cheltenham in December.
“That was a handicap, and he was giving weight away to all his rivals, but he took to the fences really well and he put up a really good performance.
“I can’t wait to ride him over the course again now. This is not a handicap, so he doesn’t have to give weight away.
“He’s a Gold Cup winner and he loves Cheltenham. He has run at the Festival five times, he has won twice and he has finished second twice.
“This is a really good renewal of the Cross-Country Chase, and he doesn’t have as much experience over the course as some of his rivals do, but he jumped the obstacles great the last day, and I hope that he can run another big race.”
In the 16:50 Grand Annual Handicap Steeple Chase Challenge Cup, Blackmore will ride Dancing On My Own.
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