The last day of the Punchestown Festival on Saturday 4 May was also the last day of the 2023/24 Irish National Hunt season, with another successful season for KPMG ambassador Rachael Blackmore.
One of Rachael’s many highlights of the season was her win on Captain Guinness in the Queen Mother Champion Chase at Cheltenham festival in March. It was Captain Guinness’ first Grade 1 win and with that, Rachael joined an elite group of riders winning 4 of the biggest races in the form of the Champion Hurdle, the Gold Cup, the Grand National and the Champion Chase.
The Queen of Cheltenham returned in 2024 with another top-class performance. Riding Slade Steel to victory on Day 1 of Cheltenham in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and winning the Queen Mother Champion Chase on Captain Guinness, Rachael’s title was firmly cemented.
Rachael won a Grade 3 chase on Minella Indo in the early part of the season, with a strong performance by Henry de Bromhead's 11-year old gelding. With Bob Olinger, Rachael rode him to win the Lismullen Hurdle at Navan in November.
Rachael won the Thyestes Chase on Ain’t That A Shame and she won the Leopardstown Chase on Heart Wood and she won the Red Mills Hurdle on Lantry Lady. She also won a beginners’ chase at Punchestown on New Year’s Eve on Monty’s Star.
