• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Cheltenham Betting Offers

  • Home
  • Free Bets
  • Meetings
    • New Year’s Day Meeting
    • Festival Trials Day
    • Cheltenham Festival
    • April Meeting
    • Race Night
    • Showcase Meeting
    • November Meeting
    • International Meeting
  • News
  • Articles
    • Stats & Trends

Rachael Blackmore Makes History With Champion Hurdle Win On Honeysuckle

March 16, 2021

trophy room at cheltenham racecourseIt’s fair to say that female jockeys have been making a name for themselves more and more in recent years, with the victory of Rachael Blackmore in the Champion Hurdle just the next step on that journey. It’s a step that had to be taken, however, and Blackmore’s victory in the Grade 1 event on the back of Honeysuckle is an incredibly impressive one. By crossing the finish line before anyone else, Blackmore became the first female jockey to win the race.

Honeysuckle was the favourite going into the race, having won every event that she’s taken part in so far in her racing career. The victory was her 11th in succession, keeping last year’s runner-up Sharjah in second-place and easily beating last year’s winner Epatante. Yet it’s the achievement of Blackmore that will steal the headlines, such is the extent to which she’s been able to push the achievements of female jockeys into the limelight.

Women Are The Equal Of Men

female jockey graphicHorse racing is one of the few sports in existence where women are the equals of their male counterparts, which is demonstrated by the fact that Rachael Blackmore finished second in the Irish Jockeys’ Championship last season. She is at the forefront of women in the sport, being given top rides by the trainers that she works with when in the past they might well have gone to a male jockey for first refusal.

Honeysuckle was always well-fancied in the Champion Hurdle, which is the key race of Day One of the Cheltenham Festival, so the owners and trainer would have had their pick of jockeys to ride her. They opted for Blackmore, however, and will be delighted that she’s repaid their faith by making history with the horse. The win comes around three months after another female jockey, Bryony Frost, made history when she won the King George VI Chase on Frodon.

This could turn out to be the Festival of women, with Frost taking Frodon into the Gold Cup in the hope of repeating her King George success. Blackmore will ride in that race too, this time on the back of Honeysuckle’s stablemate, A Plus Tard. After the ride that Blackmore gave her mare in the Champion Hurdle, it’s likely that we’ll see the betting for the Gold Cup shift in her favour too. Little wonder after such an impressive performance in this race.

What’s Being Said About The Win

speech bubbles opinionUnsurprisingly, people have been falling over themselves to comment on Blackmore’s historic success. The trainer of Honeysuckle, Henry de Bromhead, said that Blackmore is a ‘brilliant rider on any horse’ and that the combination worked because Honeysuckle is a ‘brilliant horse’. He said, “It was unbelievable. She’s a very laid-back, chilled out mare; she’s amazing,” having watched Blackmore wait until just before the final fence to make her move.

Katie Walsh, who is herself a former winning jockey at the Cheltenham Festival, used the same word as de Bromhead to describe Blackmore’s victory when commentating on the race for BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra. She said:

“Absolutely brilliant. I just think it is brilliant. She deserves this so much. She works hard and it is history. I am delighted for the person she is and she is a credit to the sport and a fantastic jockey. She has brought it to another level. It is great and so special to be watching on.”

It was referred to as a ‘joyous day for racing’ by former jump jockey Charlie Poste, whilst Blackmore herself spoke of the ‘privilege’ she feels. She said:

“Absolutely incredible. I am speechless to be honest. I really am. I can’t believe we just won the Champion Hurdle. Incredible. Unbelievable for everyone in the yard, they all work so hard. It doesn’t matter what you are. We are jockeys. It is just a privilege to be here.”

Applauded Into The Winners’ Enclosure

applause audience silhouette

There’s no doubt that this year is one of the strangest Cheltenham Festival’s that there has ever been, given the lack of supporters in attendance at Prestbury Park. That didn’t stop Rachael Blackmore and Honeysuckle being applauded into the Winners’ Enclosure, however. Those in attendance, which is largely made up of other jockeys, trainers and other necessary professionals, gave horse and rider a rousing reception as they made their way to the Enclosure.

It will ensure that the lack of race-goers in the venue for the race won’t take the shine off Blackmore’s historic achievement. She has now added her name to an exclusive list of female jockeys that have won a race during the Cheltenham Festival and an even more exclusive one of those that have won one of the meeting’s standout events. Many will now be wondering whether she can go one step further and win the Gold Cup.

A Smooth Ride

champion hurdle race board at cheltenhamPerhaps the most impressive thing about Blackmore’s win was just how little fuss or bother there was for her during the race. Abacadabras, as an example, fell at the third hurdle and Goshen, who had also been well backed in the build-up to the race, lost his chance of victory when taking a wide route. It was better than last year when he unseated Jamie Moore at the final jump, but still meant that he wasn’t in the race at the final moments.

Honeysuckle, meanwhile, rode smoothy round the circuit and waited until she’d jumped the penultimate hurdle before Blackmore moved her into the lead. From there she had no trouble up the hill, leaving the others in her wake. It was an accomplished performance from both jockey and steed that will leave many thinking that there’s a promising future for both, if they didn’t already think as much. For Blackmore, it might well prove to be a beautiful partnership.

Charlie Poste hinted at as much when he said that her relationship with Honeysuckle is ‘a joy to behold’, declaring Blackmore to be ‘as good as any jockey right now’. He also said that the victory and the manner of it ‘highlights all that is good in our sport’. Though not explicitly stated, this might well be a reference to the Gordon Elliott affair that has overshadowed the Festival in recent weeks. The victory of Blackmore will make headlines for all of the right reasons.

Primary Sidebar

Cheltenham Free Bets

Meetings at Cheltenham

  • Cheltenham Festival
    • Champion Day
    • Ladies Day
    • St Patrick’s Thursday
    • Gold Cup Day
  • Festival Trials Day
  • New Year’s Day
  • November Meeting
    • Countryside Day
    • Gold Cup Day
    • November Meeting Sunday
  • Race Night
  • Showcase Meeting
    • The Showcase Friday
    • The Showcase Saturday
  • The April Meeting
    • April Meeting Day One
    • April Meeting Day Two
  • The International Meeting
    • International Friday
    • International Saturday

Race Types

  • Amateur Races
  • Championship Races
  • Conditions Races
  • Cross Country Races
  • Cup Races
  • Fillies' Races
  • Grade 1 Races
  • Grade 2 Races
  • Grade 3 Races
  • Handicap Races
  • Hurdle Races
  • Juvenile Races
  • Listed Races
  • Maiden Races
  • Mares' Races
  • Novices' Races
  • Premier Handicap Races
  • Standard Open Flat Races
  • Steeplechase Races
  • Trial Races
  • Trophy Races
  • Discontinued Races

Latest News

  • 2023 Cheltenham Festival Attendance Significantly Down On 2022
  • Why Is Horse Racing More at Risk from the Gambling Review?
  • Cheltenham Festival 2023 Review: Constitution Hill Is A Superstar, Mullins & The Irish At It Again
  • Soft Ground Expected For Cheltenham Following Snow
  • Will Willie Mullins Train More Winners Than Britain At The 2023 Cheltenham Festival?

Articles

  • Why Was The 2001 Cheltenham Festival Cancelled?
  • What Is The National Stud?
  • What Is A NAP?
  • Did The Romans Create Our Love Of Racing & Gambling?
  • The Biggest Bets Placed On Horse Racing
  • What Is The Maximum Field Size?
  • Careers In Racing
  • What Happens To A Horse When It Falls
  • Do Bookies Leave Racecourses Early To Avoid Paying Out?
  • Are There Any Truly Wild Horses?
  • Who Are The BHA?
  • Origins Of Steeplechasing
  • Is Horse Racing Too Traditional? Why Is It So Confusing?
  • Robot Horse Racing
  • Are There More Fatalities On Hard Ground In Horse Racing?
  • Types Of Jump Racing Fences
  • Biggest Comebacks In Horse Racing
  • Difference Between A Hurdle & A Fence In Jump Racing
  • What Are Hurdles & Fences Made From?
  • Why Are Race Distances Measured In Miles, Furlongs & Yards
  • Stag And Hen Do's At Cheltenham
  • Each-Way vs Place Betting: Which Is Better?
  • What Are Final Declarations
  • Does Illegal Horse Racing Still Happen?
  • What Is Pony Racing? How Is It Different To Horse Racing?
  • Ladies At The Races
  • What Do Nose, Head, Neck and Length Mean?
  • What Is A Furlong?
  • When Is A Race Declared Void?
  • False Starts In Horse Racing
  • What Are Official Ratings in Horse Racing?
  • Can You Run A Race With Only One Horse?
  • What Is Point To Point Racing
  • Best Day Of The Cheltenham Festival
  • How Much Does It Cost To Buy and Train a Racehorse?
  • Cheltenham Festival Ticket Types
  • How Much Does Racing Make From The Betting Levy?
  • Are There Less Horse Deaths In Racing Today?
  • Origins Of Jockey Silks In Horse Racing & Rules
  • Can A Jockey Remount A Horse?
  • What Happens If No Horse Wins A Race?
  • Why Do Horses Jump Fences?
  • How High and Far Can A Horse Jump?
  • Use Of The Whip In Horse Racing
  • What Are The Different Types Of Racehorses?
  • Who Sponsors Cheltenham Races
  • How Do Racehorse Owner Syndicates Work?
  • How Much Do Racehorses Weigh?
  • How Does Travelling Affect Racehorse Performance?
  • What PPE Do Jockeys Wear And Why?
  • Can Racehorses Overheat?
  • Benefits Of Owning Race Horses
  • What Is The Top Speed Of A Racehorse?
  • Do Racehorses Have Special Diets & Nutrition?
  • How Are Racehorses Transported & What Are The Rules
  • What Happened To All-Weather Jumps Racing?
  • What Was Tic Tac? The Sign Language For On-Course Bookmakers
  • The Road To Cheltenham
  • Retraining of Racehorses
  • What Happens To Retired Racehorses?
  • Horse Racing Mix-Ups
  • Youngest Jockeys In Horse Racing History
  • What Are Blinkers & Why Do Race Horses Wear Them?
  • How Long Do You Have To Claim A Winning Bet At A Racecourse?
  • Female Jockey Pioneers
  • Oldest Jockeys In Horse Racing History
  • Record Jockey Wins For Cheltenham Festival Races
  • Record Trainer Wins For Cheltenham Festival Races
  • Cheltenham Festival Races Record Horse Wins
  • Biggest Prize Money Races At The Cheltenham Festival
  • The Life Of A Racing Jockey
  • Races With The Most Fences At The Cheltenham Festival
  • How Often Do Mares' Win At The Cheltenham Festival
  • Average Winner Age Cheltenham Festival Races
  • Longest Races At The Cheltenham Festival
  • Cheltenham Festival's Newest Races
  • How Often Does the Favourite Win at the Cheltenham Festival?
  • Average Winner Odds Cheltenham Festival Races
  • Cheltenham Festival Stats & Trends
  • Veganism & Horse Racing
  • Horse Doping In Horse Racing
  • Most Feared Fences In Horse Racing
  • Jockey Injuries
  • How To Become A Jockey
  • Horse Injuries
  • What Is Going In Horse Racing
  • Richest Races In Horse Racing
  • What Is The Starting Price In Racing
  • When Is The Best Time To Bet Ante-Post
  • Impact Of Wetter Winters On UK Jump Racing
  • How Long Do Racehorses Live For?
  • How Much Do Jockeys Weigh?
  • Rules For Naming Race Horses
  • What Is A Dead Heat In Horse Racing?
  • Who Would Win A Race Between A Horse And A Dog?
  • What Makes A Good Jump Stayer?
  • What Is A Stewards Enquiry?
  • Why Are Horses Disqualified and Who Decides?
  • Courses At Cheltenham: Old, New and Cross Country
  • How Are Jump Horses Trained Differently To Flat Horses?
  • Longest Odds Winners In Horse Racing History
  • How Much Money Is Bet At Cheltenham?
  • How Much Is Cheltenham Worth To The Economy?
  • Top 5 Cheltenham Festival Owners
  • Accessibility At Cheltenham The Cheltenham Festival
  • Cheltenham Festival's Oldest Race Still Running
  • Biggest Female Trainers
  • Celebrity Race Horse Owners
  • Can Jockeys, Trainers & Owners Bet?
  • British vs Irish Trainers And Stables At Cheltenham
  • Things To Do & Places To Visit In Cheltenham
  • The Royal Family And The Cheltenham Festival
  • How Much Does It Cost To Be An On-Course Bookmaker?
  • How Much Money Do Race Horse Owners Make?
  • How Much Money Do Trainers Make?
  • Cheltenham Race Types
  • Cheltenham Hotels & Cheltenham Festival Accommodation
  • Top 5 Cheltenham Festival Trainers
  • Top 5 Cheltenham Festival Jockeys
  • Top 10 Cheltenham Festival Horses
  • How Much Money Do Jockeys Make?
  • Richest Jockeys In Horse Racing History
  • Getting To Cheltenham Racecourse
  • Cheltenham Festival vs Grand National, Which Is Better?
  • Cheltenham Racecourse History
  • Why Is The Cheltenham Festival So Big?
  • Cheltenham Festival History
  • The Prestbury Cup
  • Cheltenham Festival Quiz
  • Cheltenham Festival Top Trainer
  • Cheltenham Festival Top Jockey
  • Cheltenham Racecourse During The War
  • Ante-Post Betting - Risk vs Reward
  • Jump Racing Distances
  • How to Read a Race Card
  • How To Bet On Horse Racing
  • Disqualification, Non-Runners and Rule 4
  • Age, Sex and Weight in Horse Racing
  • History And About National Hunt Racing
  • A-Z Glossary Of Horse Racing Terms
  • Horse Racing News, Statistics & Blogs
  • Live Streaming of Horse Racing
  • Live Betting In Play On Horse Racing
  • Cash Out And Partial Cash Out On Horse Racing
  • Grades and Classes In National Hunt Jump Racing

Offers

  • Cheltenham Free Bets
  • Irish Free Bets
  • Acca Offers For Horse Racing
  • Extra Places Each-Way & Enhanced Each Way Terms Cheltenham Festival 2024
  • Horse Racing Loyalty Free Bet Clubs
  • Horse Racing Money Back
  • Best Odds Guaranteed For The Cheltenham Festival
  • Tote and Totepool Betting
  • Lucky Bets and Bonuses For Horse Racing
  • Non-Runner No Bet
  • Free Bets And Bonuses For Winners
  • Best Odds Guaranteed For Horse Racing
  • Faller & Fail To Finish Insurance For Horse Racing

Copyright © 2023 CheltenhamBettingOffers.com | 18+ Gamble Aware | Privacy & Cookie Policy