In 2022 and 2023, her performances were not as successful. She placed last on Ain’t That A Shame and fell at Valentine’s on Minella Times. However, for the 2024 Grand National, she will reunite with an old friend.
Although Jack Kennedy was aboard Minella Indo when it won the Gold Cup in the same year, she has piloted the horse in two out of three starts this season, including their victory in the Irish Daily Star – Best For Racing Coverage Chase last October. She is enthusiastic about reuniting with the 11-year-old, who she believes has the stamina for a serious challenge at the National. When asked about her choice for the Grand National, she expressed excitement about riding in such an important and special race, especially on a former Gold Cup winner.
She hopes that Minella Indo will perform well at Aintree. Throughout the current National Hunt season, Betfair and Blackmore have been supporting the Injured Jockeys Fund and the Irish Injured Jockeys Fund with their Serial Winners charity initiative. Betfair has pledged to donate an extra £5,000 every time Blackmore rides a winner until the end of Grand National Day, adding a total of £105,000 to the initial £100,000 donation.
Blackmore aims to increase this total further with a win at Aintree. She considers Aintree to be a very special race that reaches different parts of the globe. She is looking forward to contributing to the Serial Winners Fund, an initiative she takes pride in being a part of, as it supports the vital work of the Injured Jockeys Fund in Ireland and the UK.
