It is just a few weeks until the Cheltenham Festival kicks off – but Rachael Blackmore admits the excitement is already starting to build at the thought of trying for a second successive Randox Grand National success.
While becoming the first woman to be crowned leading rider at the Festival 12 months ago seemed an achievement like no other, there is one race alone that reaches out to the public above all else – and in surpassing her Cheltenham feat to win aboard Minella Times at Aintree, Blackmore’s life changed forever.
The Henry de Bromhead-trained nine-year-old has been allotted 11st 4lb this year on a mark of 161, a full 15lb higher than last season.
