Blackmore trims Townend's lead to eight

Rachael Blackmore cut sidelined Paul Townend's Jockeys' Championship lead to eight winners (95-87) at Ballinrobe today as the Grand National winner landed the McGrath Limestone Works Handicap Hurdle on the Denis Hogan trained Zoffanien (6/4f).

Townend's recovery time from a foot injury, sustained on Easter Sunday, is as yet unknown with news expected over the coming days and Blackmore's own hectic schedule has seen her take 15 rides over the past three days' racing.

Today on Zoffanien, she was forced wide rounding the home-turn but quickened well when beating runner-up Andratx by two and a half lengths.

Zoffanien was an unlucky in-running short-head second at Cork 12 days ago and following today's race trainer Hogan said “it was Liam’s (Mulryan, owner) idea to come here and he suggested that we should try and get Rachael. He’s a big fan, it’s him paying the bills and we went with it and we’ll certainly take it after the last day.

“He might be a horse for the Galway Hurdle if he crept into it, given Liam is a Galway man. He’s in the Grade One at Punchestown as well, which is an option, but we’ll see - he has been busy and he’ll need a break.

“The track today wouldn’t have been ideal so he did well to win.”

Quotes from Eamonn Murphy