Rachael Blackmore shines again as magical Allaho leaves Willie Mullins ‘gobsmacked’

Rachael Blackmore celebrates victory on Allahao in The Ryanair Chase

Michael Verney

March 19 2021 02:30 AM

When legends of the game like Ruby Walsh and Tony McCoy are hailing her as the best jockey in the land, it must be true as Rachael Blackmore continued her scintillating Festival with yet another big-race double.

The Ryanair Chase was billed as one of the races of the Festival given its star-studded field, but Blackmore totally dictated affairs from the front aboard the brilliant Allaho (3/1 favourite) and hardly saw another rival in an awesome career-best performance.

It was yet another example of Blackmore’s brilliance in the saddle as she controlled the tempo, and had Allaho in a superb rhythm over his fences before pushing the seven-year-old 12 lengths clear.

Fakir D’oudairies (11/2) was again the bridesmaid with the winner’s stablemate Tornado Flyer (25/1) plugging on for third as Willie Mullins was left “gobsmacked” by an extraordinary display.

“It was an awesome performance. Allaho did everything right. The first thing I did when Rachael came back in was lift her number cloth to see if the lead bag was in there, as it looked like Allaho was just carrying Rachael around there!” Mullins said of his 76th Festival winner.

“He was just awesome. His galloping and his jumping, if you put it together I was hoping he could do that over three miles – but if he is only a two-and-a-half-mile horse, that will do me.

“I felt that he could stay but that trip suits him better. We will see what races are there for him – and maybe over a less demanding track, you would look at a King George with that style of running.”

Henry de Bromhead is hanging on Mullins’ coat tails in their Leading Trainer battle, with four winners apiece, heading into the final day after Telmesomethinggirl (5/1) showed the more patient side of Blackmore’s skills to land the Grade Two Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle.

Sporting the Honeysuckle colours of owner Kenny Alexander, the six-year-old came from off the pace to easily trump free-running stablemate Magic Daze (22/1) and fire Blackmore to her fifth winner of the Festival.

The 31-year-old’s haul is even more remarkable having been on the deck four times already this week, with De Bromhead lauding her as the “ultimate professional” after her latest triumph.

“I’m delighted for Rachael. She is such a good rider, an ultimate professional and she is brilliant to work with. She earns everything she gets,” De Bromhead said.