Ruby Walsh expects Rachael Blackmore to fall short of Irish champion jockey prize
- Kevin Palmer
- 26 April 2021
Champion jockey Ruby Walsh believes Rachael Blackmore will miss out on ending her remarkable season as Irish champion jockey.
Champion jockey Ruby Walsh believes Rachael Blackmore will miss out on ending her remarkable season as Irish champion jockey.
Ireland's newest national hero is chasing down Paul Townend to claim the big prize and with the leader of the champion jockey recovering from injury, Rachael appears to have a shot at glory.
Yet Ruby told the Paddy Power's From The Horse's Mouth podcast that she is likely to come up short.
"When you go on her season statistics, her strike rate for the year, she has ridden a little less than 90 winners in 11 months," said 12-time champion jockey Ruby.
"Now we are expecting her to ride 10 in a fortnight and the maths don't add up.
"No one will ever question Rachael Blackmore's worth ethic and the amount of rides she takes, but she probably hasn't ridden anywhere near as many favourites as Paul.
"If Paul gets back for the Punchestown Festival and gets a winner, that will probably decide it in his favour."
Townend is expected to be back for Punchestown, so this is one title that might elude the brilliant Blackmore, but the sponsors will certainly be kicking her door down to be part of this wonderful story as her achievements this season at Cheltenham and Aintree will go down in history.
