Somptueux to continue National hero Blackmore’s winning run at Fairyhouse

Rachael Blackmore will hope to narrow the gap in the jump jockeys' title race at Fairyhouse today. Photo: Tim Goode/Getty Images

Michael Verney

April 13 2021 02:30 AM

Only a fraction of the 8.8m audience that tuned in to see Rachael Blackmore make history in the Aintree Grand National will be watching her in action at Fairyhouse today, but it’s business as usual for the Tipperary rider.

With title rival Paul Townend currently sidelined by a foot injury and his return date still up in the air, there is a glorious opportunity for Blackmore to eat into his advantage (95-85) as it edges towards the finale of their Irish jump jockeys’ championship duel.

The 31-year-old Blackmore is the busiest jockey in the weighing room and her six mounts at the Meath track offer the chance to move another step closer to being crowned champion jockey.

Fangio De Vassy, trained by her boss Henry de Bromhead, is likely to carry plenty of support in the first division of the maiden hurdle (3.40), but stablemate Somptueux may be the best of a strong book of rides for the Killenaule native in the rated novice chase (6.15).

Just seven go to post, with Gavin Cromwell’s Peaches And Cream an obvious danger, but Somptueux – an easy winner of a Navan beginners’ chase last September – will love the drying ground as the six-year-old returns to commence a summer campaign.

Attention will also be on the Flat at Newmarket today as Aidan O’Brien will be attempting to continue his scintillating start to the season with Arturo Toscanini tackling the Listed Feilden Stakes (3.20) on the first day of the Craven meeting.

Big things are expected from the Galileo colt after he defied plenty of greenness to score on his sole start at The Curragh last November, with the Ballydoyle maestro also saddling Duke Of Mantua in the conditions stakes (2.10) on a day which sees the Pat Smullen Memorial Handicap (2.45) run to honour the legendary Offaly jockey after his sad passing last year.