Rachael Blackmore’s “Fantastic Opportunity” In Irish Derby!

One of the most talked-about jockeys in the National Hunt universe, the ever-improving Rachel Blackmore has scooped up some big pots over the jumps, including at the Cheltenham Festival. She will look to add to her resume later today in the Irish Derby, after securing the ride on Emmet Mullins’ King Of The Throne in Ireland’s third flat classic of the campaign.

Just The Third

Blackmore will become just the third female jockey to take a ride in an Irish Classic, with Ana O’Brien and Joanna Morgan being the trailblazers before her. It can be little surprise that Blackmore has become the third, given her fantastic exploits in the National Hunt sphere. She’s proven her flat credentials too, landing Listed honours for Emmet Mullins aboard Oriental Eagle at Limerick earlier this month.

More Blackmore Brilliance?

It won’t be an easy ride for Blackmore, with general 50/1 shot King Of The Throne yet to score in five career starts. He did finish sixth in the Vertem Futurity Trophy at Newcastle back in November, but further improvement has been difficult to find since. Mullins has his string in good form of late, however, and Blackmore will be hoping to work her magic on another outside, with Oriental Eagle being a longshot in her earlier pattern success.

Blackmore On A “Very Cool” Opportunity

“It’s a fantastic opportunity” said Blackmore on her chance to ride in the Classic, continuing to say: “It’s very cool to be riding in an Irish Derby and I’m delighted to be riding for Emmet“. Perhaps the most open Irish Derby in recent memory, Blackmore will be also riding in the biggest Irish Derby field since 1977, with fifteen horses lining up for what promises to be an incredibly exciting renewal of the contest.

Profitable Blackmore

If you’re a stats man, then you’ll be happy to know that Blackmore has ridden three winners on the flat this year from twenty-one rides. Perhaps more crucially, if you were backing her to level stakes, you’d have made a profit of £31.00. She certainly has it all to do later today, but she’s already beaten the odds three times this season, given that healthy profit margin!