- Lossiemouth is the favourite for the Mares Champion Hurdle at Punchestown
- However, Blackmore is ready to mebrace a ‘tough task’ with Telmesomethinggirl
What a week it has been at Punchestown, and what a final set we are set for.
Willie Mullins became the most successful trainer in Irish history on Friday as Ballyburn gave him his 4,378th win by triumphing in the Champion Novice Hurdle.
Lossiemouth, trained by Mullins, will be the centre of attention in the Mares Champion Hurdle at 3.42, having won only been beaten once in eight outngs under rules.
Betfair ambassador Rachael Blackmore delivers the inside scoop on her rides this Saturday.
Betfair ambassador Rachael Blackmore has given her thoughts ahead of her four races
Punchestown Saturday
3.42 – Telmesomethinggirl
The first three home in the Mares’ Hurdle at Cheltenham line up here again, and we thought that Telmesomethinggirl ran really well to finish second behind Lossiemouth. She loves it around Cheltenham and she put up another really good performance. Lossiemouth was just too good on the day, but the pair of us finished well clear of the rest.
It’s going to be a tough task to turn things around with Lossiemouth, but we’ll give it a try. Telmesomethinggirl is in great form coming into the race, we’re happy with her at home and hopefully she’ll run another solid race.
4.15 – Gold Bullion
This is obviously a really competitive handicap, but Gold Bullion gets into the race with a lovely racing weight. He’ll only have 10 stone on his back, and he’s just 1lb out of the handicap.
This is the first time that he will step back up to three miles since he won his maiden hurdle in Cork last May. His last three runs over fences were all over distances just short of three miles. I think that conditions should suit, ground and trip should all be in his favour, and we’re hoping for a big run from him.
Blackmore, pictured riding Telmesomethinggirl, hopes her ride can challenge Lossiemouth at 3.42
4.50 – Miss Manzor
This is going to be a really competitive race. Willie has a few in it, including Kargese, who is owned, like Miss Manzor, by Kenny Alexander, and who ran well in each of the two big juvenile hurdles at Cheltenham and Aintree.
Miss Manzor has a little bit to find on ratings, but she won well at Fairyhouse in January, and she wasn’t beaten far by Bottler’secret in the Grade 2 juvenile hurdle at Fairyhouse at Easter, so hopefully she can run well. I rode her out the other day and she seemed to be in really good form.
Blackmore is also riding Gold Bullion, Mizz Manzor, and Lucky Zebo in what she calls ‘really competitive’ races
5.25 – Lucky Zebo
This is going to be a really competitive race. Willie has a few in it, including Kargese, who is owned, like Miss Manzor, by Kenny Alexander, and who ran well in each of the two big juvenile hurdles at Cheltenham and Aintree.
Miss Manzor has a little bit to find on ratings, but she won well at Fairyhouse in January, and she wasn’t beaten far by Bottler’secret in the Grade 2 juvenile hurdle at Fairyhouse at Easter, so hopefully she can run well. I rode her out the other day and she seemed to be in really good form.