Rachael Blackmore reveals Cheltenham Festival betting tips, including Gold Cup

Horse racing legend Rachael Blackmore has revealed her predictions and betting picks for the biggest race at this year’s Cheltenham Festival.

The Greatest Show on Turf returns for another year as the best jockeys and horses descend on Gloucestershire for four days of exhilirating action.

The Festival will host 28 races, seven on each day of the meeting, with each race available to watch on TV or online via live stream.

Irish trainer Willie Mullins and resident jockey Paul Townend will hope to continue their impressive form at the Festival, while Mark Walsh will look to guide Inothewayurthinkin to a defence of their Gold Cup crown.

The late withdrawals of Constitution Hill and Marine Nationale will come as a huge disappointment to punters, as will the absence of fan-favourite jockey Blackmore, who retired from the sport last May.

The 36-year-old rode 18 winners at the Cheltenham Festival, including the 2022 Gold Cup aboard A Plus Tard.

And speaking exclusively to Metro ahead of this week’s action, Betfair Ambassador Blackmore revealed her top betting picks for the five marquee races.

Champion Hurdle (Tuesday, 4pm)

If I were riding, I’d want to be riding The New Lion.

Champion Chase (Wednesday, 4pm)

It could get a bit boring now because I’m going to pick the favourite again, but Majborough, the last time out with the cheek pieces on, he looked incredible.

It was a very, very powerful performance and, Marine Nationale or not, I think he would be the one in that for sure. 

The Stayers’ Hurdle (Thursday, 3:20pm)

Definitely Bob Ollinger.

I think if I took back out my licence to ride anything next week, it would be Bob Olinger. He’s just such an incredibly talented horse.

Henry de Bromhead does an unbelievable job with all of his horses, peaking them for the week of Cheltenham and, Bob Olinger will be no different next week. 

Just that feeling that he gave me last year when we turned in and I was able to just, just fill him a bit and get a feeling of like, ‘oh, I still have a horse here under me’, like that’s unbelievable.

I’d love to feel it again on him. I’d definitely be on him.

Ryanair Chase (Thursday, 4pm)

You’d have to go with either, whichever Willie [Mullins] runs, Gaelic Warrior or Fact To File. Both of those would be very hard to beat, whichever runs.

From what we can kind of hear, I’m not sure both are going to run the Ryanair.

The Gold Cup (Friday, 4pm)

I still think Gallopin Des Champs.

He’s a powerhouse of a horse, and just the positivity that we’re hearing from Willie about him in the last few days, I think you’d have to ride him.

Rachael Blackmore was speaking ahead of the Cheltenham Festival, play different at this year’s festival with Betfair.

Full Cheltenham Festival Schedule

Tuesday, March 10 (Champion Day)

• 13:20 – The Supreme Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m 87y
• 14:00 – The Arkle Novices’ Chase (Grade 1) 1m 7f 199y
• 14:40 – The Juvenile Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap) 2m 87y
• 15:20 – The Ultima Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) 3m 1f 
• 16:00 – The Champion Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m 87y
• 16:40 – The TrustATrader Plate Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) 2m 4f 44y
• 17:20 – The Princess Royal National Hunt Novices’ Handicap Chase 3m 5f 201y

Wednesday, March 11 (Ladies’ Day)

• 13:20 – The Turners Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m 5f
• 14:00 – The Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase (Grade 1) 3m 80y
• 14:40 – The Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap) 2m 5f
• 15:20 – The Cross Country Handicap Chase 3m 6f 37y
• 16:00 – The Queen Mother Champion Chase (Grade 1) 1m 7f 199y
• 16:40 – The Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) 1m 7f 199y
• 17:20 – The Champion Bumper (Grade 1) 2m 87y

Thursday, March 12 (St. Patrick’s Thursday)

• 13:20 – The Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 2) 2m 179y
• 14:00 – The Jack Richards Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (Grade 2) 2m 4f 127y
• 14:40 – The Mares’ Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m 4f 56y
• 15:20 – The PaddyPower Stayers’ Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m 7f 213y
• 16:00 – The Ryanair Chase (Grade 1) 2m 4f 127y
• 16:40 – The Pertemps Network Final Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap.) 2m 7f 113y
• 17:20 – The Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Amateur Jockeys’ Handicap Chase 3m 2f

Friday, March 13 (Gold Cup Day)

• 13:20 – The Triumph Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m 179y
• 14:00 – The County Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap) 2m 179y
• 14:40 – The Mares’ Chase (Grade 2) 2m 4f 127y
• 15:20 – The Albert Bartlett Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m 7f 213y
• 16:00 – The Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup (Grade 1) 3m 2f 70y
• 16:40 – The Festival Challenge Cup Open Hunters’ Chase 3m 2f 70y
• 17:20 – The Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle 2m 4f 56y

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