Serial Winners Fund: Pot finishes on £250,000 after culmination at Aintree

• Rachael aims to raise £250K for IJF and IIJF charities

• Betfair doubled donations from £5k to £10k during Cheltenham Festival

• Serial Winners Fund finishes on £250k

• Watch Serial Winners film with Rachael Blackmore here!

• Coaching Carter - Daryl Carter heads to the Injured Jockey's HQ to see how the SWF will help - watch here!

---

Betfair Serial Winners Fund finishes up at £250k

Betfair throughout the National Hunt season has been challenging the brilliant Rachael Blackmore to raise up to £250,000 for two racing charities by doing what she does best - winning horse races.

On Saturday 25 November (Betfair Chase day) Betfair launched the Serial Winners Fund with an initial £100,000 donation.

We have added £5,000 to the pot for every winner Rachael gets over the finishing line up until the Grand National on April 13, with an exception at the Cheltenham Festival where the donation was doubled to £10k for her two winners.

This inniative was all for a great cause and finished on Grand National Day at Aintree, with the pot reaching £250,000.

---

Up to £250K will go to IJF and IIF

Proceeds will be shared evenly between the two charities that make a major difference to the lives of jockeys in both the UK and Ireland, the 'Injured Jockeys Fund' and 'Irish Injured Jockeys'.

The Injured Jockey's Fund has helped more than 1,000 jockeys and their families since 1964, distributing more than £20 million, and Betfair's donation will help fund continue their great work.

Betfair Ambassador Rachael Blackmore said: "This is a very generous initiative from Betfair and one that I am excited to be a part of over the coming season.

"The work of IIJ and IJF is vital in providing support services for jockeys past and present. It's great to have Betfair supporting not only me, but two organisations that are so important to us as jockeys."

---

Betfair doubled winning donations to £10k

During the 2024 Cheltenham Festival, Betfair were proud to announce that we doubled our donations to Rachael Blackmore's Serial Winners Fund from £5k to £10k for any winner she managed at the 2024 Cheltenham Festival.

Having already got the pot to £185k since Betfair Chase Day, Rachael then added a further £20k thanks to her winners Slade Steel and Captain Guinness.

The money from the Serial Winners Fund will go towards injured jockey charities in the UK and Ireland. Managing to ride a winner at the Cheltenham Festival is one of the most special moments in a jockey's career, and for such a special moment we feel it deserved to be recognised and that is the basis behind the doubling of the winner donation.

During her exclusive Cheltenham Festival Preview, Rachael called out Betfair and suggested we should be doubling the contributions for every winner at the 2024 Cheltenham Festival. And when Rachael asks she gets.

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."

She also decided to place her £250 EW Festival Charity bet on Captain Guinness, which beat El Fabiolo on Day 2 to take the Serial Winners total to over £200k!

Prophetic words from our ambassador @rachaelblackmor...

Back-to-back Cheltenham preview Charity Bet winners!

£250 E/W on Captain Guinness to win the Champion Chase pic.twitter.com/4rov4cDkUZ

-- Betfair Racing (@BetfairRacing) March 13, 2024

---

Rachael Blackmore's charity winners list

Current Total: £210K

The Winners:

• 28/11/23 - Banprionsa - Tramore
• 09/12/23 - Slade Steel - Navan
• 16/12/23 - Chigorin - Fairyhouse
• 17/12/23 - Birdie Or Bust - Thurles
• 17/12/23 - Easy Fella - Thurles
• 26/12/23 - The Folkes Tiara - Leopardstown
• 28/12/23 - Music Of Tara - Leopardstown
• 31/12/23 - Monty's Star - Punchestown
• 01/01/24 - Bob Olinger - Cheltenham
• 12/01/24 - Quilixios - Naas
• 25/01/24 - Ain't That A Shame - Gowran Park
• 04/02/24 - Heart Wood - Leopardstown
• 17/02/24 - Lantry Lady - Gowran Park
• 18/02/24 - Senior Chief - Punchestown
• 21/02/24 - Majestic Force - Punchestown
• 24/02/24 - Theatre Native - Fairyhouse
• 10/03/24 - Ragland Road - Naas
• 12/03/24 - Slade Steel - Cheltenham
• 13/03/24 - Captain Guinness - Cheltenham
• 11/04/24 - Bob Olinger - Aintree (justice payout for losing by a nose and losing Stewards enquiry)

Bob and Rachael were nutted but the @IJF_official & @InjuredJockeys still benefit thanks to a £5,000 justice payment to the Serial Winners Fundhttps://t.co/fM3b7oU5ek

-- Barry Orr (@BetfairBarry) April 11, 2024

---

Win #1 - Rachael off the mark at Tramore

This is where you can keep track of every winner Rachael rides in her bid to raise £250K between now and 13 April. We will update list with each winner and new total.

The first win on her journey to £250K came on Tuesday 28 November at Tramore by riding 2/51.40 favourite Banprionsa to victory for trainer Henry De Bromhead.

Fingers crossed for plenty of more winners to come.

A winner for Rachael at Tramore which means...

£5k to Rachael Blackmore's #SerialWinners Fund for @IJF_official / @InjuredJockeys pic.twitter.com/Qcg1qG9VpZ

-- Betfair Racing (@BetfairRacing) November 28, 2023

---

Win #2 - Slade Steel makes it £110k in the pot

Slade Steel added the second amount of £5,000 into the Serial Winners Fund on Saturday to bring the total up to £110k.

Rachael steered the five-year-old to victory at Navan in the 2m4f Grade 2 Hurdle by 1/2 a length, and Slade Steel now sees himself as a 10/111.00 chance from 25/126.00 for the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

---

Win #3 - Chigorin breaks maiden to take the pot to £115k

Rachael's third winner since the charity fund began came at Fairyhouse on Saturday 16 December, taking the total raised so far to a healthy £115k.

Chigorin, trained by Henry de Bromhead, won the Lacey's Plumbing & Heating Supplies Maiden Hurdle at the Irish venue, as a well-backed 7/24.50 second favourite, eventually winning by over three lengths with the Willie Mullins 4/61.67 favourite O'Moore Park back in third.

---

Wins #4 & #5 - Pot now at £125k thanks to Thurles double

It's been a good weekend for Rachael who recorded her third victory from just five rides when Birdie Or Bust won the Mares Novice Hurdle at Thurles on Sunday afternoon, followed shortly after by Easy Fella winning the Novice Hurdle.

It was another winner for Rachael's regular trainer Henry de Bromhead (Bridie Or Bust), and once again the combination got the better of an odds-on Willie Mullins-trained favourite in Fun Fun Fun.

It's certainly Fun Fun Fun for our Serial Winner Fund which now sits at £125k after Rachael's fifth winner since it began, Easy Fella, comfortably landed the Novice Hurdle.

---

Win #6 - Tiara takes Serial Winners Fund to £130k

The Rachael Blackmore Serial Winners Fund is now up to £130k after Rachael bagged a Christmas winner aboard The Folkes Tiara at Leopardstwon on St Sttephen's Day.

Trained by Henry De Bromhead, the 7yo skipped clear round the home turn, and held on well after the last as he began to tire, adding another £5k to the charity fund.

---

Win #7 - Another festive winner takes fund to £135k

It was Tiara on St Stephen's Day and today it's Tara, Music OF Tara to be precise, who gives Rachael another winner and raises the Serial Winners Fund to £135k and counting.

It was also another winner provided by trainer Henry De Bromhead, with Music Of Tara coming with a well-timed run to win the Irish Daily Star Handicap Hurdle at Leopardstown.

---

Win #8 - Monty stars at Punchestwon

Rachael rode her fourth winner of the festive period when steering Monty's Star to victory in the Beginners Chase at Punchestown on New Year's Eve.

Another winner for Henry De Bromhead, the 9/43.25 second favourite tracked odds-on favourite Three Card Brag for much of the 3m journey before jumping to the lead at the second last and going clear on the run-in, and in doing so, taking the Serial Winner Fund to £140k.

---

Win #9 - Grade 1 success takes pot to £145k

The Serial Winner Charity Fund reached £145k on New Year's Day thanks to Rachael steering Bob Olinger to success in the Grade 1 Relkeel Hurdle at Cheltenham.

The victory was Rachael's ninth winner since the Serial Winner Fund commenced and it was her fourth victory of a very successful festive period and her seventh triumph since the middle of December.

---

Win #10 - Naas success takes pot to £150k

The Serial Winners fund hit its latest milestone on Friday when Rachael Blackmore rode the Henry De Bromhead-trained Quilixios to victory at Naas.

The seven-year-old travelled strongly and lead clearly when raced wide before the third. He held off the challenge of Sa Fureur befoe going clear approaching the last, taking the victory and boosting the charity pot.

---

Win #11 - Thyestes success takes pot to £155k

A further £5,000 was added to the Rachael Blackmore Serial Winners Fund on Thursday 25 January when the Betfair ambassador landed the Goffs Thyestes Chase at Gowran Park on Ain't That A Shame.

The Henry DeBromhead bay gelding's victory means the Fund rose to £155,000 as Rachael aims to reach the £250K mark by Grand National Day on 13 April.

---

Win #12 - Pot reaches £160k with Heart Wood win

Rachael's Serial Winners Charity Fund reached £160k on Sunday when she rode Heart Wood to success in the Grade 3 Handicap Chase at Leopardstown at the Dublin Racing Festival.

Rachael was very bullish before the race, writing in her exclusive Betfair column, "He's a very straightforward horse, and he has been in great order at home. The trip should suit him well and he has a lovely weight of 10-1 on his back."

Her confidence was well placed when Heart Wood sauntered to a 14 length win in a highly competitive race, suggesting there is much more to come from the six-year-old.

---

Win #13 - Charity fund upto £165k thanks to Lantry Lady win

Lantry Lady won the Grade 3 Red Mills Trial Hurdle at Gowran Park this afternoon meaning a further £5k was added to Rachael's Serial Winner Charity Fund.

The pot is now upto £165k thanks to the win, which was secured in easy fashion as Lantry Lady won at 15/82.88 for trainer Henry De Bromhead, finishing almost 10 lengths ahead of the 11/102.11 favourite What's Up Darling.

---

Win #14 - Pot reaches £170k thanks to odds-on win

It's a good weekend for Rachael who bagged her second winner in 24 hours when Senior Chief won the Beginners Chase at Punchestown on Sunday afternoon.

However, the win was far less convincing than many would have expected as the 7yo was sent off a red hot 2/91.22 favourite to beat his six rivals. But it was only in the final strides that Rachael got Senior Chief to the front, beating 28/129.00 outsider Duffle Coat by just under a length.

The victory is Rachael's 14th since we started the Serial Winner Charity Fund and it means another £5k is added, taking the pot to a very handsome £170k.

---

Win #15 - Serial Winners Fund up to £175k with Majestic Force win

Rachael continued her great form on Wednesday at Punchestown as she rode Majestic Force to success in the Maiden Hurdle over 2m4f.

The Henry De Bromhead trained mare swept aside the odds on favourite Dr Eggman to land a debut success over hurdles by over four lengths.

It saw Rachael add another £5k to the pot that now stands at £175k with the rider looking to add to the fund again on Thursday at Thurles.

---

Win #16 - Theatre Native takes pot up to £180k

Rachael's excellent week continued on Saturday with another £5k being added to her Serial Winner Charity Fund thanks to an easy success on Theatre Native in the Maiden Hurdle at Fairyhouse.

The 4/51.80 favourite never looked in any danger and won by seven lengths, giving Rachael her fourth winner within a week, which means her charity fund pot is now up to a very impressive £180k as we head towards the big spring festivals.

---

Win #17 - Raglan Road sees Fund go to £185K

Rachael started off Cheltenham Festival week as she means to go on by rattling in a nice winner at Naas on Sunday.

This saw the Serial Winners Fund pot climb to £185k ahead of the four-days at the Cheltenham Festival.

Raglan Road went on to land the handicap Hurdle over 2m3f by 1/2 a length, giving weight to the winner.

Let's hope Rachael can add to the Fund this week where Betfair are doubling her donation from £5k to £10k any time she rides a winner at Prestbury Park.

---

Win #18 - Slade Steel Lands the Supreme to take pot to £195k

Slade Steel landed the opening race of the 2024 Cheltenham Festival under a superb ride from Rachael to take the Serial Winners Fund to £195k.

Rachael's win in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle sees the first donation double of £5k to £10k for any winner she has during the four days of the Cheltenham Festival.

The Serial Winners Fund now stands at £195 with her set to have three more rides across the afternoon at Prestbury Park.

That was her 15th Festival winner, with 13 of them being Grade 1s. Remarkable.

Win #19 - Captain Guinness win Champion Chase to take pot to £205k

Rachael added a further £10k to the Serial Winners Fund when winning the feature race of day two at the Cheltenham Festival, the Champion Chase on Captain Guinness.

Betfair are doubling their donation from £5k to £10k for every winner Rachael has at this week's festival.

In an incident packed race - which saw 2/91.22 favourite El Fabiolo depart after a mistake at the fifth fence - Rachael steered the Henry De Bromhead-trained chaser to a comfortable success, jumping to the front two out before winning with a few length to spare.

The win is Rachael's 19th winner since the Serial Winners Fund began, and it was her second £10k winner following Slade Steel's success on Tuesday. The charity fund pot now stands at an impressive £205k, with the ultimate aim to get it to £250k on or before the Grand National meeting next month.

#20 - Bob Olinger finishes second by a nose but Betfair add £5k to pot

On her first ride at the 2024 Aintree Festival, Rachael Blackmore finished second onboard Bob Olinger, in what was a three-way photo finish.

In an incident packed race - which saw favourite Impaire Et Passe jump the last as a co-leader alongside Langer Dan (and the Skelton brothers), Rachael managed to get back in line with the front two despite her line being altered a couple of times when two out.

Paul Townend and Impaire Et Passe were declared the winners before a Steward's enquiry was held, with all three jockey's asked to give their verdicts as all three believe they would have won if they were not impacted by the others.

However, the decision remained following that enquiry, with Bob Olinger having to settle for second.

Betfair did not deem that fair, therefore we have added the £5k to the pot as if she won the race, as after all, the Serial Winners Fund is donating the full amount to injured jockey's charities!

With more rides to come this week, including the big one on Saturday, the pot now stands at £210k with the Fund coming to an end after the 2024 Grand National.

---

Watch the Rachael Blackmore Serial Winners film here...

---

Serial Winners Rachael Blackmore: Full film out now! Watch wherever you are

---