Rachael Blackmore was at her easiest on St Patrick’s Thursday – the struggling and stress was all banished in entrance of crowds that adore her, writes DOMINIC KING

She played it down, as is her way. The spotlight isn’t something Rachael Blackmore has really enjoyed even though her pioneering achievements have made it impossible to escape its glare.

It’s six years since she made her Cheltenham Festival breakthrough and, since then, she has become the big race queen. After two beautiful rides on St Patrick’s Thursday, her tally now stands at 18 – 14 of which have come at Grade One level – and you could see what this all meant.

Air Of Entitlement, a 16/1 scorer in the Mares Novices Hurdle, mugged hot favourite Sixandahalf in the opening race before Bob Olinger – whose name derives from the last man killed by Billy The Kid – scythed through his rivals so smoothly it looked poetic. It was Blackmore at her very best.

For all that the occasional racegoer will just assume that Blackmore, with her sharp tactical mind and soft hands, collects victories as easily as you can shell peas, it cannot be forgotten that this winter has been one of huge personal struggle, caused by a dreadful injury.

Blackmore, now 35, had three months on the sidelines after damaging her neck in a fall at Downpatrick, one of Northern Ireland’s two courses; so delicate was the issue, she needed to wear a brace and spent most of her time at the Irish Injured Jockeys facility in Kildare.

All that, however, was forgotten. The suffering, the anxiety, the stress, it was all banished in front of crowds that adore her. There will, inevitably, be a time in the future when she isn’t around and what a bleak thought it is, as she remains the one who can take racing to different audiences.

Rachael Blackmore was at her very best as she enjoyed two beautiful rides on St Patrick’s Thursday

Air Of Entitlement, a 16/1 scorer in the Mares Novices Hurdle, mugged hot favourite Sixandahalf in the opening race

Bob Olinger – whose name derives from the last man killed by Billy The Kid – then scythed through his rivals so smoothly

‘I’m very lucky to get on these horses,’ she said after returning on Bob Olinger, who has been to the Festival three times and retains a 100 per cent record. ‘He was brilliant. He’s so much speed and was able to use it there. We went a good gallop and he was still able to pick up off the back of it.’

Bob Olinger is owned by Brian Acheson and to say he adores him would be the understatement of the year. He has a son, Rob, and a daughter, Courtney, then he has third child, who is now 10 and is the only horse to inflict defeat on Galopin Des Champs (who, admittedly, fell) around here.

Acheson is besotted with Bob Olinger because he’s the kind of horse who makes anything look possible, like he’s laughing at his rivals as he gallops serenely by them. Critics wondered whether his resolution could be questioned but nothing was in doubt this time.

‘Everyone had the same plan from the team,’ said Blackmore. ‘It either works riding like that, or it doesn’t. When everyone is committed to it, it makes it easy. He’s unbeaten around here. I know one day it was fortuitous but he’s got luck on his side around here. He’s a phenomenal horse.’

You could see how much she appreciated it. Air Of Entitlement, also owned by Acheson and trained by Henry de Bromhead, had left her emotional given it came so soon after a family bereavement; this has been a week full of poignancy and Cheltenham remains a venue were things play out differently.

‘It’s a magical place to be up here,’ Blackmore said, as she returned. ‘It’s brilliant, this mare did it really well. She came through the race lovely. I want to dedicate this to my cousin, Robert Blackmore, who passed away at the weekend, his funeral was today, so I want to dedicate this to him.’

‘We (the de Bromhead team) have had a quieter [first] two days. Walking home on Tuesday, I feel I’ve be spoilt the last couple of years getting to go home with a winner on the Tuesday. Henry just does such an incredible job with them when he brings them over here for Cheltenham, they all run above themselves and I’m very lucky to be on some of their backs.’

But they are lucky to have her on their backs, a difference maker with impeccable judgement and timing. It was a fabulous day, which featured all manner of stories, and one that should go under the radar is the success of Jagwar, who featured on these pages.

Blackmore said she is ‘very lucky to get on these horses’ following her successful day

Jagwar was a 3-1 winning favourite of the Trustatrader Plate and Oliver Greenall, who trains the horse with Josh Gurreiro, could not believe lightining had struck twice, given they had saddled Iroko for JP McManus to land the 2023 Martin Pipe Hurdle

‘He’s just a big baby,’ said Greenall. ‘He’s the biggest horse we’ve ever had, he measures 18hh, so he’s still fairly weak and needs to muscle up behind. Once he does I think his jumping will probably improve. You see him drag his back legs through the fences a bit, which isn’t ideal.

‘This is our second Festival winner and we’re absolutely delighted. I was listening to something on TV where JP said this was one of the races he hasn’t won before, and I instantly got goosebumps. To win it is very special.’