Rachael Blackmore Eyes Grand National Victory with 16-1 Dark Horse
Rachael Blackmore retired last May and will not ride in the 2026 renewal of the Grand National. She is 36 and serves as a Betfair ambassador.
She spoke ahead of the Aintree Grand National Festival and offered her view on several contenders. Her comments came as entries were being assessed.
Monty’s Star and De Bromhead’s entries
Blackmore singled out Monty’s Star as a strong contender for the big race. The gelding was priced 16-1 with Betfair at the time of writing and will be ridden by Darragh O’Keeffe.
She praised Monty’s Star for Grade One form and reliable jumping. Henry de Bromhead was noted for his strong record preparing horses for the National.
De Bromhead also runs Gorgeous Tom, who was quoted at 25-1. That gelding carries 10st9lbs and is considered to have a favourable weight.
Podium picks and race outlook
Blackmore said she expects I Am Maximus to run a big race again. The 2024 winner was listed at 7-1.
She also named Grangeclare West, trained by Willie Mullins, at around 9-1. Her suggested top three would pair that stablemate with Monty’s Star and I Am Maximus.
Final remarks
Blackmore warned the Grand National is difficult to predict and that luck plays a major role. She noted there are many proper contenders on the day.
Rachael Blackmore has highlighted a 16-1 dark horse as a serious Grand National victory prospect. She said both of de Bromhead’s runners have big chances.
