CREPELLO - Blackmore rewrites the History Books with Aintree victory

She Came, She Saw, She Conquered!

Fresh from her Cheltenham exploits where she became a mould-breaker by becoming the first female to win the Champion Hurdle and take the leading rider award, Rachael Blackmore's next port of call was Aintree on Saturday and in these hallowed surroundings she once again rewrote the history books as she became the first female to ride the winner of the Grand National when she guided Minella Times to a facile victory, and in doing so proved to other female jockeys winning this great race is not an impossible task.

And there is also trainer Henry de Bromhead, who also took Cheltenham by storm by becoming the first trainer to land the Champion Hurdle, Champion Chase and for good measure first and second in the Gold Cup, otherwise known as the holy trinity. Turning his attentions to Aintree not only did he turn out Minella Times to run the race of his life, but he took runner-up honours as well courtesy of Balko Des Flos and we must pose the question will we ever see such a riding and training performance again? Not only have this pair of superstars carved their names indelibly in racing folklore in this part of the world but to the millions who were watching on TV they have become role models for the generations to come.

A product of John Nallen's famous nursery in South Tipperary, Minella Times fell with the race at his mercy on his only point-to-point outing at Belclare before opening his account in a Kilbeggan maiden hurdle. Chasing victories at Navan and Listowel followed before his crowning glory on the biggest stage of all.

Ms Blackmore took the brave decision to go down the inside route right from the drop of the flag and her bravery was rewarded as she enjoyed a trouble-free run. She had a willing partner in Minella Times who was jumping from fence to fence so much so that he arrived cantering going to the second last.

Timing her effort to perfection, Rachael sent her mount about his business on the run to the final fence and from there the combination strode majestically clear to gallop into the history books and land the spoils by six and a half lengths from stable companion Balko Des Flos with the Ted Walsh trained Any Second Now filling third place a further length and three-parts in arrears.

The race was not only a triumph for owner JP McManus who had first and third but also for Irish trained horses who filled ten of the first eleven places. The pity was that only a handful of spectators were on hand to witness history being made but for so many across the globe it will be remembered as the day that the mould was broken forever.

Slattery's On The Mark at Gowran Park

Andy Slattery, senior and junior, were on the mark on the opening evening of the two-day Gowran Park meeting on Wednesday last when they combined to take the extended mile and a furlong 45-65 handicap with Pineapple Express.

Shedding her maiden tag at the twelfth time of asking, the daughter of Ruler Of The World enjoyed strong market support. She suffered traffic problems shortly after the start but recovered to be on the tail of the leaders turning for home. Briefly short of room at the two-furlong marker, she picked up well when she saw daylight to take over inside the final furlong and win going away by two and a quarter lengths from Matilda With Me.

This was a bitter-sweet victory as the filly's owner, the well-known tenor Ronan Tynan, lost her dam the previous week, however, the pain was eased somewhat as he now has a winning daughter to carry on the line.

Joseph O'Brien made the short trip from his base at Owning a winning one when he landed the seven-furlong fillies handicap courtesy of Queenship.

A Dundalk maiden winner before Christmas, the three-year-old was well supported and the confidence was not misplaced as she came with a sustained challenge from early in the straight to take over at the furlong marker and go right away to win unchallenged by five lengths from her main market rival Elizabethan which is trained by Joseph's father Aidan.

Well regarded by connections, the winner looks respectable and will now go chasing some blacktype at Listed level before being stepped up to Group action. Winning rider Mikey Sheehy, who is the son of trainer Dusty Sheehy, reported that the filly acted well in the tacky ground but will improve the proverbial ton when she encounters better underfoot conditions.

There was a shock in store for punters in the mile and three and a half furlong fillies maiden when Vera Verto battled well to defeat Cappy at odds of 125/1. After making little impression on her debut at Naas a couple of weeks earlier, the Prince Of Lir filly broke smartly and made every post a winning one in the hands of Ronan Whelan, however, she had to show plenty of resolve to shake off the attentions of Cappy in the closing stages.

Trainer Ger Lyons and stable jockey Colin Keane have made a solid start to the flat season and they added to their collection when combining to land the opening seven-furlong maiden with Lust. An easy to back 13/2 chance, Lust came with a wet sail in the straight to hit the front a furlong or so out before hitting the wire three-parts of a length to the good from the Aidan O'Brien runner Handel.

This was a likeable display by the winner who has been gelded since his last outing back in July. According to the trainers’ brother and assistant Shane Lust, he needed time to develop and has grown a lot over the winter months. This was his first time away from home this spring and he is expected to show plenty of improvement.

Killenaule jockey Ben Coen has made a great start to his new role as first jockey to the Johnnie Murtagh stable and gained further success when piloting Create Belie to victory in the opening mile filly’s maiden at Thursday’s second session.

Always close to the pace in spite of her wide draw, the Awtaad filly held a definite advantage turning to face the judge and from there found plenty to win with a little in hand by two and a quarter lengths from Adelisa.

This was the first leg of a double for the trainer and rider which was completed by Ottawa Fire in the 45-65 mile handicap. Having his first outing for the yard, the four-year-old took plenty of money out of the ring. He was always up with the pace before taking charge inside the two-furlong pole and with Coen keeping him up to his work had a two and a quarter advantage as he passed the post.

According to the trainer’s wife Orla, the winner was running on grass for the first time and also making his handicap debut, so it looks as though he is going to pay his way as the season progresses.

Gowran is not Gowran without a Jim Bolger winner and it duly arrived when Stylistic Approach got the better of Skilled Warrior in the mile colts and geldings maiden.

Never too far out of his ground, the Dawn Approach gelding had to be well stoked up by rider Kevin Manning before edging out the front running Skilled Warrior by half a length.

On paper at least this looked just an average maiden and it will be interesting to see how Stylistic Approach progresses from here.