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March is the month that the Cheltenham Festival dominates the back pages for four days of horseracing action which can send winning jockeys into the mainstream.
One such champion is Ireland’s Rachael Blackmore. A favourite with the general public following her triumph in the 2021 Grand National which made her the first female jockey to win the famous race.
At Cheltenham, Blackmore has cemented her place as one of the best jockeys around riding 16 winners at the festival including A Plus Tard in the 2022 Gold Cup where she repeated her previous feat and became the first female jockey the prestigious trophy.
Last year she opened the four-day meeting with a win in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle atop Slade Steel before taking victory in the Queen Mother Champion Chase with Captain Guinness. Those were her only two winners in 2024 but she’s back to challenge for the greatest honours and titles this time around.
Below, we’ll list all the horses Blackmore is riding on each day of the festival 2025 and rank their chances of winning:
Which horses is Rachael Blackmore riding?
Tuesday 11 March
1.20pm: Michael O’Sullivan Supreme Novices’ Chase
Workahead – Age: 7, Weight: 11-7, Trainer: Henry de Bromhead
2.40pm: Ultima Handicap Chase
The Short Go – Age: 8, Weight: 10-8, Trainer Henry de Bromhead
3.20pm: Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle
July Flower – Age: 6, Weight: 11-5, Trainer: Henry de Bromhead
4.40pm: Boodles Fred Winter Handicap Hurdle
Murcia – Age: 4, Weight, 11-2, Trainer: Willie Mullins
Wednesday 12 March
2.40pm: Coral Cup Hurdle
Ballyadam – Age: 10, Weight: 11-12, Trainer: Henry de Bromhead
4pm: Champion Chase
Captain Guinness – Age: 10, Weight 11-10, Trainer: Henry de Bromhead
4.40pm: Grand Annual Chase
Dancing On My Own – Age: 11, Weight 11-10, Trainer Henry de Bromhead
Which horses have the best chance of winning?
Wednesday at the Cheltenham Festival looks set to be a more profitable day for Blackmore who came away with no winners on the opening day of the Festival. Captain Guinness won here last year and faces a tough test battling Jonbon while Dancing On My Own could be a surprise winner.
Below we’ve ranked which of Blackmore’s rides have the best chance of winning a race on the opening day of the festival:
3. Dancing On My Own – Beaten into third place when last running at Cheltenham in October of last year and a stronger field reflects the 18/1 price. Would be a surprising winner
2. Ballyadam – Victorious at Punchestown on New Year’s Eve, Ballyadam will bring some confidence into this race but the field is of a higher standard and odds of 14/1 don’t show massive confidence in Rachael Blackmore’s charge.
1. Captain Guinness – Winner of the Champions Chase in 2024 and back to defend his title. A popular horse at last year’s festival but triumphed in a field without Jonbon who will be his closest rival.
