RACHAEL BLACKMORE emerged from a winter of discontent to capture the Paddy Power Stayers' Hurdle on Cheltenham specialist Bob Olinger — and complete a full house of the Festival’s championship prizes.
Blackmore has endured a season to forget, suffering a neck injury in a fall at Downpatrick in September and riding just five winners in Ireland since returning to the saddle in December.
But the jockey’s boss Henry de Bromhead (below) can be relied upon to have the Co Waterford stable’s horses at their peak for Cheltenham - a place Bob Olinger adores.
So punters got stuck into the overnight 20-1 about the 10-year-old’s prospects for the three-mile test.
And they were counting their winnings as Bob Olinger, down to 8-1 at the off, made ominous headway towards the leaders after evading trouble at the sixth flight where Crambo took a heavy fall and caused JJ Slevin to part company from Home By The Lee.
Hitting the front on landing at the final obstacle, Bob Olinger surged up the hill to deny defending champion Teahupoo by a length and three-quarters, with the runner-up's stablemate The Wallpark back in third.
"I'm very lucky to get on these horses," said Blackmore, collecting the rider's prize to go with trophies for the Champion Hurdle, Champion Chase, Ryanair Chase and Cheltenham Gold Cup.
"Any time getting on that podium is very special."
Bob Olinger looked a future star when running away with the Turners Novices' Hurdle in 2021 but was a lucky winner of the Turners Novices' Chase 12 months later as he was held in second when clear leader Galopin Des...
Blackmore has endured a season to forget, suffering a neck injury in a fall at Downpatrick in September and riding just five winners in Ireland since returning to the saddle in December.
But the jockey’s boss Henry de Bromhead (below) can be relied upon to have the Co Waterford stable’s horses at their peak for Cheltenham - a place Bob Olinger adores.
So punters got stuck into the overnight 20-1 about the 10-year-old’s prospects for the three-mile test.
And they were counting their winnings as Bob Olinger, down to 8-1 at the off, made ominous headway towards the leaders after evading trouble at the sixth flight where Crambo took a heavy fall and caused JJ Slevin to part company from Home By The Lee.
Hitting the front on landing at the final obstacle, Bob Olinger surged up the hill to deny defending champion Teahupoo by a length and three-quarters, with the runner-up's stablemate The Wallpark back in third.
"I'm very lucky to get on these horses," said Blackmore, collecting the rider's prize to go with trophies for the Champion Hurdle, Champion Chase, Ryanair Chase and Cheltenham Gold Cup.
"Any time getting on that podium is very special."
Bob Olinger looked a future star when running away with the Turners Novices' Hurdle in 2021 but was a lucky winner of the Turners Novices' Chase 12 months later as he was held in second when clear leader Galopin Des...
You're reading a preview of
Daily Record (Digital) - 1 Issue, March 14, 2025