Rachael Blackmore back on Cheltenham throne with magnificent double
Bob Olinger rolled back the years after an earlier win for Age Of Entitlement
/bob-2.jpg?ext=.jpg)
Rachael Blackmore returns to the winners' enclosure on board Bob Olinger
Henry does such an incredible job when he brings them over for Cheltenham, they all run above themselves and I’m very lucky to be on their backs
Rachael Blackmore has long been dubbed the Queen of Cheltenham and she returned to her throne in style on Thursday as Festival favourite Bob Olinger rolled back the years, writes Paul Martin.
The 10-year-old is unbeaten at Cheltenham and continued that record with an impressive win in the Stayers’ Hurdle, pulling clear of favourite and reigning champion Teahupoo up the home straight.
The victory completed Blackmore’s set of the Festival’s features – the Champion Hurdle, Champion Chase, Ryanair Chase, Stayers’ Hurdle and Gold Cup – and completed a double on the day for the 35-year-old, who steered home Air Of Entitlement in the opener.
She dedicated that victory to her cousin Robert, who passed away at the weekend, and later hailed the efforts of Bob Olinger after he helped the jockey to win number 18 at jump racing’s Olympics.
“I’m very lucky to get on these horses,” she said. “He was brilliant, he’s got so much speed and he was able to use it today.
“We went at a nice gallop and he was still able to pick up off the back of it. Everyone had the same plan, 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, he has luck on his side around here and he’s a very good horse.”
This has not been a vintage season for Blackmore, who missed three months a neck injury following a fall at Downpatrick in September.
She has 28 victories to her name over the Irish season – she has not won fewer than 55 in a campaign since 2017/18 – while Henry de Bromhead’s stable have also not been firing on all cylinders.
But few are able to prepare their horses to peak at Festival time quite like the Waterford handler and though he went winless over the first two days, he was delighted to bounce back in emphatic fashion.
“I’m delighted for the horse, he (Bob Olinger) is an incredible horse, he had such a good reputation a few years ago,” he said.
“Things didn’t work out as well as we thought but to see him come back and do that is amazing.
“I’m delighted for everyone involved. Rachael gave him such a ride, she was brilliant on him. She is an incredible lady and I’m delighted for her as well."
Bob Olinger may be advancing in years but he comes alive when the whiff of Prestbury Park air hits his nostrils and de Bromhead – not a man to follow odds closely – admitted he could scarcely believe when he saw his charge priced at 66/1 at a preview night a few weeks ago.
He was a more modest 8/1 when the tape went up here but stayed in contention throughout, benefiting from a slice of luck when Crambo’s fall hampered Home By The Lee, who unseated JJ Slevin, rather than the two-time Festival winner.
His previous victories came in the Ballymore in 2021 and the Turners Novices’ Chase the following year, a race which saw Galopin Des Champs fall at the last when leading.
The pair’s careers have gone in different directions since – Galopin will go for a Gold Cup hat-trick on Friday – but this was proof of the old adage that form is temporary, class is permanent.
The same could be said of Blackmore, whose status as an inspiration shows no sign of letting up, judging by the cheers on each of her returns to the winners’ enclosure.
“It’s a magical place to be up here,” she said.
"We have had a quieter two days, I have been spoiled the past few years getting to go home with a winner on a Tuesday.
“But Henry does such an incredible job when he brings them over for Cheltenham, they all run above themselves and I’m very lucky to be on their backs.”