Blackmore & O'Shea combine for Amschel win

Rachael Blackmore continues to go where no woman has gone before in leading the Irish National Hunt Jockeys' Championship, and today partnered her 19th winner of the season when steering the John O'Shea trained Amschel to win the Connolly's Red Mills Rated Novice Hurdle at Roscommon.

This season's Jockeys Championship is at a very early stage but Blackmore's early purple patch has her five winners clear of nearest pursuer Danny Mullins (19-14), to become the winning-most woman at this stage of any senior jockeys' campaign.

Blackmore's winning ride on Amschel was another power-packed gem and in the end she forced the four year old gelding's head in front close home, for a three parts of a length success over Boot Camp under current Champion Jockey Davy Russell.

“I thought he was beaten jumping the second last after making that mistake but he's a horse that finds loads off the bridle”, reported O'Shea.

“We were a bit nervous when we went out and saw that he had drifted in price because I thought he'd be favourite.

“He's a horse with a big future and for a four-year-old to beat those kind of horses over that trip, I think he's a horse with a bright future.

“He'll go on to Galway now and as I've said before he's capable of winning one of those staying flat maidens.

“He'd have to give a bit of weight in the two-and-a-half mile novice at Galway and he's not eligible for the first one.

“I think there is a Listed two-mile and we wouldn't mind dropping back to two mile if they went a good gallop there or we could even go for one of the staying flat maidens. He has a good future wherever he goes.”

The winner carries the colours of Ray Cody, formerly assistant to trainer Ellmarie Holden.

Quotes from Gary Carson