Racing

Rachael Blackmore makes winning return from injury with July Flower at Leopardstown

The Enabler held out for Gordon Elliott against I Am Lorenzo to win Maiden Hurdle

Rachael Blackmore onboard July Flower in the Beat The Bank.ie Irish EBF Mares Hurdle at the Leopardstown Christmas Festival. Photograph: Laszlo Geczo/Inpho
Rachael Blackmore onboard July Flower in the Beat The Bank.ie Irish EBF Mares Hurdle at the Leopardstown Christmas Festival. Photograph: Laszlo Geczo/Inpho
Sun Dec 29 2024 - 14:36

July Flower provided Rachael Blackmore with her first winner since returning from injury in the Beat The Bank.ie Irish EBF Mares Hurdle at Leopardstown.

The Grand National and Cheltenham Gold Cup-winning jockey was sidelined for three months after suffering a neck injury in a fall at Downpatrick in September.

Blackmore returned to action at Naas two weeks ago and had since had 16 rides without success.

The Henry de Bromhead-trained July Flower was a 15-2 shot to get her back in the winner’s enclosure at Grade Three level and rounded the home turn in third place behind the strong-travelling Kala Conti.

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Blackmore’s mount took over going around the dolled-off final flight and while Kala Conti tried her best to stay in the race, July Flower kicked clear late on to register a four-length verdict.

“It is just lovely to get one again, it’s brilliant. Everyone wants to be riding winners at a festival like this and it’s great to get it done,” said Blackmore.

“I feel like I was off for a long time – I was off for a long time. It’s brilliant to get back doing what you want to be doing.”

Rachael Blackmore celebrates winning the Beat The Bank.ie Irish EBF Mares Hurdle with trainer Henry de Bromhead. Photograph: Laszlo Geczo/Inpho
Rachael Blackmore celebrates winning the Beat The Bank.ie Irish EBF Mares Hurdle with trainer Henry de Bromhead. Photograph: Laszlo Geczo/Inpho

Reflecting on her injury, she added: “It was a bone in my neck up high, so it was quite serious. Ordinarily if you’re feeling good and you can do certain movements doctors are happy to go with you, but they were obviously being very cautious when it is your neck.

“Stupidly I kept setting myself an unachievable target over the three months and the doctors kept saying I had to sit out my time. Being back for Christmas is important, so at least I got back for that.”

Of July Flower, De Bromhead added: “She jumped great and Rachael was brilliant on her.

“I’m delighted for Duncan (Angove, owner) who was happy to buy her during the summer and obviously she’s a valuable broodmare as well.

“We had her when she was a younger mare and we liked her then, so when she came back on the market we were delighted to get her.

“We bought her to win the Mares’ Hurdle (at Cheltenham) so the dream is alive and we’ll probably head straight there now.”

Sam Ewing onboard The Enabler alongside Paul Townend on Argento Boy during the Grant Fit Out Maiden Hurdle at Leopardstown. Photograph: Laszlo Geczo/Inpho
Sam Ewing onboard The Enabler alongside Paul Townend on Argento Boy during the Grant Fit Out Maiden Hurdle at Leopardstown. Photograph: Laszlo Geczo/Inpho

Earlier, The Enabler resisted the late surge of I Am Lorenzo to provide Gordon Elliott with his 2,000th Irish National Hunt winner in the Grant Fit Out Maiden Hurdle at Leopardstown.

A field of 10 runners went to post for the opening contest on the fourth and final day of the Christmas Festival, with Argento Boy the 8-13 favourite for Willie Mullins and Paul Townend in the colours of Galopin Des Champs.

However, he was a spent force from the home turn, whereas The Enabler – second to Argento Boy’s Champion Bumper-winning stablemate Jasmin De Vaux at Navan three weeks ago – galloped on strongly up the straight in the hands of Sam Ewing.

I Am Lorenzo was the one finishing best from the final flight and almost joined The Enabler on the line, but the judge confirmed the latter had held on by a short head.

“He was good and just got a bit close to the last. I’m not sure what his trip is as he wasn’t getting home over three miles and two miles looked too short,” said Elliott.

“Michael and Anita (O’Leary) are racing here today and it’s great to get them a winner. He looks a chaser for next year.”

On reaching his latest milestone, the trainer added: “You dream about doing something like that but it’s a testament to all the owners and our staff.

“We have a great bunch of young horses and we have been rebuilding for the last couple of years.”

Ol Man Dingle completed his hat-trick in some style in the SIS Supporting Irish Racing Irish EBF Novice Handicap Hurdle.

Despite successive October wins at Clonmel and Wexford respectively, Eoin Griffin’s charge appeared to a face a stiffer task on his return to action and was priced up accordingly at 20-1.

However, the five-year-old continued his progress with a dominant display under Ricky Doyle, scoring by four and three-quarter lengths from 11-8 favourite Taponthego.

“Brian (Caherty, owner) has a big crowd down with him from Armagh and I’m delighted for him,” said Griffin.

“We had him kind of laid out for this race. He hadn’t run for a while as we gave him a little break. You are always a little bit apprehensive if you have done enough or given him too much time off, but I couldn’t have been happier with him coming here.

“This was his midseason target, so we’ll have to reassess things from here.”