Betfair ambassador Rachael Blackmore guides us through her rides at Cheltenham on New Year's Day.
Cheltenham, Monday
12.20 – Innatendue
I’m at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day, where I start the day off by riding Innatendue for John McConnell in the opening maiden hurdle.
I have never ridden her before, but she ran well to finish second in a novice hurdle at Cheltenham in November. She stayed on well up the hill to get to within a neck of the winner Cannock Park, who made all the running, and who ran in a Grade 1 novice hurdle at Aintree on Tuesday.
I hope that she will be able to improve for that run, her seasonal debut. She’s the only mare in the race, she gets the mares’ allowance, and the fact that she ran so well there, on her only run to date at Cheltenham, is an obvious positive. There is stamina in her pedigree, and the way that she finished off last time, I’m hoping that the step back up to two and a half miles will suit her.
3.15 – Bob Olinger
I’m looking forward too to riding Bob Olinger in the Dornan Engineering Relkeel Hurdle. We were delighted to see him back at Navan the last day, he did really well, he battled on strongly to get the better of Zanahiyr and win the Lismullen Hurdle.
He came out of the race really well, so hopefully he can build on that now. We know that he goes well at the track, and this extended two and a half miles is a good distance for him.
It’s only a four-horse race, but it’s a competitive race, and we have to give 7lb to Marie’s Rock, who won the Mares’ Hurdle at the 2022 Cheltenham Festival and who won this race last year. But Bob is in great form, and I hope that he can go well.
