Which horse could Rachael Blackmore ride in the 2023 Grand National is a question horse racing fans will be debating as the build-up to the famous steeplechase hots-up.
Grand National Free Bets to Back Rachael Blackmore With
Rachael Blackmore Grand National Rides: The Possible Contenders For Aintree Showpiece
Rachael Blackmore cemented herself in the Grand National record books in 2021 when she steered home Minella Times to win the Merseyside Marathon. She became the first female jockey to win the Grand National and punters will be keen to know what horse Blackmore will ride in the 2023 race.
The Henry De Bromhead yard provided Rachael Blackmore with her Grand National winner in 2021 and with the popular jockey their number one rider – therefore anything the De Bromhead camp have entered for the 2023 Grand National will be in the running for Rachael Blackmore to ride.
Of the remaining entries – Henry De Bromhead has three horses left.
AIN’T THAT A SHAME @ 20/1
This 9 year-old looks the most likely 2023 Grand National ride for Rachael Blackmore. The horse is the shortest in the betting, but if the news that Blackmore will get the mount, we can expect this De Bromhead runner to shorten in the betting.
Now might be a good time to get a bet on.
Rachael Blackmore has ridden Ain’t That A Shame in his last two starts too, the last of which was a nice 6 length win at Gowran Park in March. That success came over 2m4f, so the step up in trip in the Grand National will be the big unknown for him. However, Blackmore’s 2021 National winner – Minella Times – was also stepping up in distance for the first time.
The other plus for this horse is that he’s the perfect Grand National age at 9. Fifteen of the last 31 winners were aged 9 or 10. He’s also got just 10st 5lbs in weight, which will be a big help in lasting out. When Blackmore and Minella Times won in 2021, then had a similar weight (10st 3lbs)
ENVOI ALLEN @ 33/1
This classy chaser is an unlikely runner in the Grand National, but still holds an entry at the moment. He was last seen winning the Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham Festival and probably won’t be risked in the National.
The trip would be a big unknown for Envoi Allen, with most of his winning around 2m4f, while being a 163-rated horse he’d also have to lump round a big weight of 11st 8lbs.
Blackmore has, however, ridden the horse in ALL of his last 9 races – winning 4 – so if connections do have a change of heart and run him, then she could easily decide to side with him.
GIN ON LIME @ 33/1
The third Henry De Bromhead entry in the race at the moment is Gin On Lime – who runs in the same colours at Ain’t That A Shame. This 7 year-old mare, would be looking to become the 14th winning female horse of the National.
Is also a 7 year-old and we’ve only had one winning Grand National horse aged 7 since 1940. Yes, that was last year with Noble Yeats, but it’s still a hefty stat for any of the 7 year-olds to overcome this year.
Blackmore has ridden the horse in 9 of its last 11 races – winning 4 times – but she unseated on the 7 year-old last time out in the Cross Country Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, which isn’t ideal preparation for tackling the tricky Grand National fences.
Note: Odds are subject to change.
RELATED: Capodanno Grand National Odds 2023: Could Give JP McManus His Third National
When Is the Grand National 2023?
The Aintree Grand National meeting runs over three days and gets going on Thursday 13th April, with the big race – the Randox Grand National on Saturday 15th April.
📅Time/Date: 5:15pm, Saturday 15th April 2023
🏇Racecourse: Aintree
💰 Purse/Winner: £1m / £561,300
📺 TV: RacingTV / ITV
See the ITV Grand National horse racing coverage and race times here.
Grand National Betting Odds
See the latest 2023 Grand National odds that you can get by joining up with the best UK horse racing betting sites.
- Corach Rambler @ 6/1
- Noble Yeats @ 7/1
- Delta Work @ 10/1
- Gaillard Du Mesnil @ 10/1
- Any Second Now @ 14/1
- Mr Incredible @ 14/1
- Longhouse Poet @ 14/1
- Galvin @ 16/1
- Vanillier @ 18/1
- Le Milos @ 20/1
- Ain’t That A Shame 20/1
- Capodanno @ 25/1
- Coko Beach 25/1
- Lifetime Ambition 25/1
Note: Others on request and odds subject to change (correct 31st March 23)