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Tom Weekes

Tom Weekes

Blackmore trims Townend's lead to eight

Fri 16th Apr 2021, 18:41

Zoffanien (yellow sleeves) Zoffanien (yellow sleeves)
© Photo Healy Racing

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

About Tom Weekes
A lifelong racing fan, Tom began writing point to point reports in 2002 and has reported for irishracing.com since 2003, when he joined Irish Racing Services - since taken over by the Press Association. Has ridden a point to point winner and won the 2018 Irish Field Naps Table.