Grand National favourite Rachael Blackmore must beat her boyfriend Brian Hayes at Aintree to triumph again
- Rachael Blackmore, 33, will race boyfriend Brian Hayes to win Grand National
- She is favourite to win as horse Ain’t That A Shame’s odds fell from 20/1 to 8/1
The favourite to win the Grand National Rachael Blackmore will have to best her boyfriend to take poll position at Aintree today.
She was the first woman the win the race in 2021 will be lining up against her partner, jockey Brian Hayes, 33, riding Mr Incredible.
Blackmore, also 33, is joint favourite to win the Grand National this year, as her and her horse Ain’t That A Shame’s odds fell from 20/1 to 8/1.
The jockey, who has been dating rival Hayes for three years, was spurred on to ‘do it for the girls’ by fans – as bookmakers may have to make an eight-figure payout if she clinches her second Grand National win.
The pair have regularly competed against each other in numerous races including two previous Grand Nationals.
The favourite to win the Grand National Rachael Blackmore will have to best her boyfriend to take poll position at Aintree today
Blackmore (left) was the first woman the win the race in 2021 will be lining up against her partner, jockey Brian Hayes (right), 33, riding Mr Incredible
In fact, Blackmore revealed she still hasn’t paid up after a ‘bet’ with Brian and jockey Patrick Mullins about her first Aintree triumph.
The three riders agreed before the 2021 Grand National that if one of them won, they would pay for the other two to go to Las Vegas on holiday.
She said: ‘They haven’t had the chance to go Vegas yet but they haven’t forgotten that I still owe them that trip!
‘I will 100 per cent fulfil that as I’m good for my word.’
Blackmore’s first victory in the world’s greatest steeplechase came two years ago when she rode 11/1 Minella Times, trained by Waterford’s Henry de Bromhead.
Previously, Katie Walsh’s third placing on Seabass in 2012 was the a female rider’s best finish in the Grand National.
Ain’t That A Shame is also trained by de Bromhead and victory today would come seven months after the death of his son Jack, aged 13, in a pony racing accident at the Glenbeigh Festival on the Dingle peninsula.
The trainer has praised Blackmore for the support she gave him in his darkest days following last September’s tragedy, saying: ‘She just naturally says the right thing and she’s just a really good person.
‘To see her around when we had our tragedy, around the children and with their friends and all of us – she’s an incredible person apart from being a brilliant jockey.’
Jockey Brian Hayes celebrates on Impervious after winning the Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Chase on day four of the Cheltenham Festival on March 17
Blackmore’s historic Cheltenham Gold Cup win came while riding A Plus Tard – a horse she also rode at this year’s Aintree Festival on Thursday.
Bookies predict the Irish woman’s gritty nature and her highly-regarded horse will see them first to the finish line in the four-mile, 30-fence Grand National race, which begins at 5.15pm.
William Hill spokesman Lee Phelps said: ‘The Rachael factor’s coming into play with money absolutely flying in for Ain’t That A Shame.
‘The weight of support is pretty staggering.
‘You see gambles like this hours before the race, but it’s rare to get them this early on and if the money continues to pour in – Rachael’s ride will go off a good deal shorter.’
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