At this point, there are no glass ceilings left for Rachael Blackmore to smash.
Between 2021 and 2022, the Irishwoman became the first female to be crowned champion jockey at the Cheltenham Festival, the first woman to win the Gold Cup and the first to win the Grand National in a stellar 12 months or so.
Blackmore picked up another couple of winners at Cheltenham in March, with one of them – Envoi Allen – potentially her mount of choice for the 2023 Grand National.
Those seeking Grand National festival 2023 tips could do a lot worse than a second look at Envoi Allen, who defeated the odds-on Shishkin with Blackmore on board in the Ryanair Chase. The 50/1 chances form could not be any better heading into the Aintree meeting.
What a team – @rachaelblackmor 🤝 @HenrydeBromhead
🏆 Envoi Allen – Ryanair Chase
🏆 Honeysuckle – Mares’ Hurdle#CheltenhamFestival pic.twitter.com/Z1mORGRPRT— Racing TV (@RacingTV) March 16, 2023
The question marks will be over whether he can stay the strength-sapping four-and-a-bit mile trip, with the nine-year-old very much an unknown quantity over the steeplechase distance. Envoi Allen’s jumping was also called into question in the King George VI Chase at Kempton in December, a test that trainer Henry De Bromhead had fancied him for, which raises further doubts.
But if anybody can cajole this inconsistent sort to victory in the Grand National, it’s surely Blackmore.
No Shame in Trying
The 33-year-old is very much De Bromhead’s star jockey, so she should get the pick of the Irishman’s entries into the Grand National.
Maybe she will swerve Envoi Allen and instead try her luck aboard Ain’t That a Shame? Having been handed a weight of 10st 5lb by the handicapper, this nine-year-old has every chance of going the distance given his supreme jumping capabilities.
He’s another that hasn’t run over three miles, but the Robcour-owned horse did carry 12 stone up the tough finish at Navan in January when finishing a short neck behind Champagne Platinum.
Since then, Ain’t That a Shame has finished a narrow second in the Munster National, gave a good account of himself with Blackmore on board in a high-quality chase at Leopardstown in December before winning a beginners’ chase at Gowran Park in January by a comfortable six-length margin.
Other De Bromhead entries into the Grand National include Gin on Lime and Gabbys Cross, although at odds of 100/1, neither would necessarily fit the profile of a Blackmore ride.
The former hasn’t won since a remarkable edition of the SSS Super Alloys Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham in November 2021, where both runners in a two-horse field almost fell at the second-last fence. Blackmore was able to scramble Gin on Lime back onto all four legs to claim victory after she slid along on her stomach, but a lack of form since suggests her best days are gone.
😲 Drama at Cheltenham!
In a two-runner race, My Drogo falls two out and Gin On Lime is on her knees, only to get back up under @rachaelblackmor and take victory!pic.twitter.com/KddTzyqWDg
— Sporting Life Racing (@SportingLife) November 12, 2021
Gabby’s Cross is somewhat more interesting. He’s a two-time winning chaser who stayed on well in the Leinster National in March, although a mark of just 10st 2lb reveals just how much improvement he will have to do to contend over the huge Aintree fences.
If anyone can make it happen it’s Blackmore, although a ride on Envoi Allen or Ain’t That a Shame seems the most likely course of action as the Irishwoman seeks to create another slice of racing history.