Rachael Blackmore Cheltenham Preview: International Women's Day special

• Watch Blackmore talk Cheltenham 2024 runners

• Find out what's popular on Betfair at Cheltenham Festival

• Non-runner money back for every Cheltenham race

• Betfair doubling donation from £5k to £10k into Serial Winners Fund during Cheltenham - read more here!

• New Customer Offer - Get £20 in Free Bets

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This International Women's Day Betfair brought together three prominent female figures in racing for a very special Cheltenham Festival preview.

With multiple big race wins, including the first by a female jockey in both the Gold Cup and Grand National, trailblazing jockey Rachael Blackmore is the best known jumps jockey in the business and a Cheltenham legend already.

This season every winner Rachael rides has seen Betfair contribute £5,000 to the Serial Winners Fund pot but, following an in-show ask from Rachael, we will up those donations to £10,000 any time she crossed the line first at the 2024 Cheltenham Festival.

Rachael said: "During the preview I called on Betfair to raise their game for Cheltenham and double the amount donated to the Serial Winners Fund if I'm lucky enough to get into the winners enclosure.

"I may have caught them slightly off guard but I knew they would get on board and we got the thumbs up. I'm fully focused on next week and looking forward to getting over there now."

Rachael was joined by Vanessa Ryle, presenter of Betfair's Racing...Only Bettor, and Flutter's UKI Racing Director Karen McMahon in this 30 minute show.

The trio focus on the 2024 Festival, looking at the event through the Rachael lens, talking through her leading chances at Prestbury Park next week and much more.

Watch the show here and read below a selection of key quotes.

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Blackmore on the pre-Cheltenham buzz

"Everyone is ready for Cheltenham to kick off but we have to get through this week and get the horses through this week. I am very much looking forward to Tuesday morning.

"I enjoy Monday [before the Festival begins]. The horses are all there, I ride out, the dreams are still alive, I walk the track. Get settled in and it's go time then."

On De Bromhead yard vibes

"Everyone is excited. People have been working hard all year looking after these horses.

"So much work goes into these horses to get them ready and keep them right and everyone wants to go over there and see them perform."

On the Serial Winners Fund

"It is such an honour to be involved and such a generous initiative from everyone involved to do that.

"They are two such important charities in the UK and Ireland so to be part of what is being done is fantastic. Hopefully we can get a bit more money in the fund next week."

On previous Cheltenham form

"It is a bonus when you know that they have done it.

"There are certain horses that have performed fantastically on tracks in Ireland and, whether it's travelling over there or the atmosphere, they just don't seem to perform as well.

"When you know that your horse has travelled and performed over there it's just a bonus but [that's] not to say that if they haven't done it it is a negative."

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Blackmore on her Tuesday rides at Cheltenham

Arkle - Quilixios

"I thought he was very good the last time. Put up a really solid performance, jumped really well, travelled well. He is a horse that acts around Cheltenham and that's a big thing.

"I'm very much looking forward to riding him in an open Arkle. Those colours have been very good to me at Cheltenham so it would be lovely to get a winner on the board on the first day."

Mares Hurdle - Telmesomethinggirl

"It's going to be a cracking race. Don't discount Willie's other mare Astro Diamond. Henry De Bromhead has three in there and the three are going to be bang there. Whether they are good enough to beat Lossiemouth on her performance the last day we don't know but they are three very good mares"

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Blackmore on her Wednesday rides at Cheltenham

Gallagher Novices Hurdle - Slade Steel

"We ran a very solid race behind Ballyburn at Leopardstown. It felt a good race, we went a good gallop and my lad, over that trip, it opened the door to think Supreme could be an option. Before I was thinking Baring Bingham.

Brown Advisory - Montys Star

"Fact To File looked pretty awesome last time. Lots of information on how good a run it was but just visibly it looked a really good run.

"But I couldn't be more confident in Montys Star. He was really good the last time. His jumping is really good, he is straightforward and is a horse you just enjoy riding and I just think he will be bang there."

"He is progressive and I think this race is made for him. I think there is a big day for him and hopefully it's [going to be] at Cheltenham next week."

Champion Chase - Captain Guinness

"He is quite under the radar again. Maybe because of his below par run at Leopardstown at Christmas but he had an issue with his heart that day and was better at the Dublin Racing Festival and is in really good form at home.

"He ran a really solid race last year and I think he will do that again. I just have a feeling about that race. He could run a big race."

Karen McMahon added: "It is a good price at 20/121.00. You need El Fabiolo and Jonbon to not be at their best but it's a good horse and not without a chance at a big price each-way."

Cross Country Chase - Minella Indo

"He was brilliant [at Cheltenham last time]. It's such a thrill as a rider when a horse takes to the Cross Country, it's really enjoyable. I got a great ride off him that day. He was giving weight away to everything. It was a tough ask but he ran really well to finish fourth.

"He has been to Cheltenham five times, he has finished second twice, won twice and one of those was the Gold Cup. He is an incredible horse."

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Blackmore on her Thursday rides at Cheltenham

Ryanair Chase - Envoi Allen

"He has been incredible and he's got a great record at Cheltenham.

"He has not met all his targets that Henry had at the start of the season but he is very happy with him at home and he runs really well fresh.

"I know he is a year older but I think the Ryanair is a race there to be won and he seems to thrive over there so he will hopefully run a big race again."

"He is a horse that really shows his feelings but when he is in good form the people riding him can tell. He bounces around the place."

"It was incredible day last year to get to win the Ryanair and we will give it a good crack this year."

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Blackmore on her Friday rides at Cheltenham

Gold Cup - Jungle Boogie

"He ran really well in the Savills Chase and I think the step up in trip will improve him. He will obviously have to improve again to get close to Galopin Des Champs who I think is very solid here.

"If the step up in trip does help him then he could surprise people at a very big price."

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Karen McMahon on Rachael's rides at Cheltenham

"Rachel is very popular with our customers, you cause me a few headaches for sure! You are always very popular with our multiples and we expect next week to be no different. Slade Steel, Envoi Allen, Minella Indo, Montys Star.

"We are already getting ahead of what selections are proving popular with customers. We anticipate Wednesday is going to be a big day in multiples. You've got Slade Steel, Montys Star, Minella Indo in the Cross Country. That treble is paying at 89/190.00 currently.

"This is probably where we get the biggest sweat on. We are going to see liabilities of 6-7 figures. We need to get ahead and be prepared. If you get one of those winners in the bag early on it would get good momentum behind it from a customer perspective."

Popular bets with punters

Karen McMahon said: "One that is popular is The Real Whacker at 25/126.00 in the Gold Cup. He is not one that traders are expecting to deliver for punters but Brown Advisory winners are always popular with punters in the Gold Cup. Hewick would be a big loser for us on the Gold Cup. It's just popularity. Shark Hanlon and connections."

(Rachael Blackmore tab to find her Festival rides instantly.)

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Watch Racing...Only Bettor Cheltenham preview

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Now read Paul Nicholls Cheltenham Festival Preview: Bravemansgame can go close in Gold Cup

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