Hi all,
Inside today’s main piece I am looking back at Sunday’s French Guineas Day at Longchamp. Plus, there’s a couple of future winners from Chester’s May Meeting.
Rachael Bows Out at the Top
Rachael Blackmore announced her retirement on Monday at the age of 35. It’s the right call. To bow out in one piece after such a glittering career is what every jump jockey dreams of.
Her CV speaks for itself and would be the envy of most in the weighing room:
Grand National winner – Minella Times (2021)
Cheltenham Gold Cup – A Plus Tard (2022)
Champion Hurdle – Honeysuckle (2021, 2022)
Queen Mother Champion Chase – Captain Guinness (2024)
Ryanair Chase – Allaho (2021), Envoi Allen (2023)
Stayers' Hurdle – Bob Olinger (2025)
Cheltenham Festival top jockey – 6 winners in 2021
Cheltenham Festival career wins – 18
Champion Irish Conditional Jockey – 2016–17
Irish & UK winners over jumps – 564 (plus 12 on the Flat)
I remember meeting Shark Hanlon at the Cheltenham Festival. He told me there was a woman jockey coming through who would break into the top ranks. He meant Rachael Blackmore.
It was Hanlon who gave her the early chances, helping her land the Irish Conditional Jockeys’ title. Her big-race glory would come under Henry de Bromhead, but it was Hanlon’s faith that started it all.
Rachael wasn’t just a brilliant rider. She broke boundaries, captured imaginations, and brought jump racing to a wider audience. Rachael handled fame with grace and remained the same down-to-earth figure throughout.
She was a superb jockey—and seemed a lovely person too. She’ll be missed in the saddle but will surely remain a huge asset to the sport.
Wherever her next chapter takes her, I wish her all the very best.
A trailblazer. A winner. And a class act.
Thrillers at Longchamp as French Guineas Deliver Drama and Controversy
All eyes were on Longchamp on Sunday for French Guineas Day. Officially the going was good to soft, but the race times told a different story—it was quicker than advertised, with no hint of soft in the ground.
Both French Classics served up thrilling finishes. In the Poule d’Essai des Poulains (French 2,000 Guineas), Henri Matisse capped off a stellar week for Aidan O’Brien by edging out Jonquil in a head bob.
They went a strong gallop, which suited the hold-up horses. Henri Matisse travelled well, made smooth headway and hit the front 2f out—but he idled, allowing Jonquil to rally and nearly nab him on the post.
Full credit to the runner-up, who was keener early and raced closer to the strong pace than the winner and might well have won in another couple of strides. Camille Pissarro, stablemate of the winner, finished strongly out wide to grab third from the Charlie Fellowes-trained Luther.
If the Poulains was tight, the Pouliches (French 1,000 Guineas) was even closer. She’s Perfect, also trained by Charlie Fellowes, passed the post a nose in front of hot favourite Zarigana—only to lose the race in the stewards’ room.
Kieran Shoemark had given She’s Perfect an enterprising front-running ride, but she drifted across the track late on. That shift saw the eventual fourth Exactly drift left into Zarigana, hampering her momentum. With the margin only a nose, a reversal always looked likely. It was heart-breaking for connections of She’s Perfect but it was probably the right call. Had She’s Perfect stayed straight, Zarigana might have won by at least half a length.
That said, jockey Mickaël Barzalona was fortunate the stewards bailed him out—he rode the favourite a touch too confidently.
Chester Eye-Catchers: Few Hard-Luck Tales but a Couple to Note
It wasn’t a typical Chester meeting in terms of unlucky losers. There weren’t many hard-luck stories or obvious eyecatchers, but a few did enough to come onto the radar.
Jer Batt – David & Nicola Barron
Jer Batt had already gone into the tracker after a solid return at Musselburgh. From a wide draw here, he was always up against it in a race won by Roman Dragon. He finished a 2¾ length fifth, held up and never really put into the contest. His jockey looked after him once the race was gone. Expect him to pop up soon in a decent sprint handicap.
In the same race, Fair Wind was drawn even wider. This time, connections seemed to decide it wasn’t worth chasing an impossible position at Chester. He stayed out the back and wasn’t asked any questions. He’s not one to give up on yet.
Who's Glen – Andrew Balding
Who's Glen ran well in the Chester Cup. The race favoured those ridden prominently, but he finished best of the closers, coming from off the pace to take fifth. His only win came here last September, so he clearly likes the track. Lightly raced and still improving, he’s one to consider for staying races around here — maybe even the Northumberland Plate given he’s effective on the synthetic surfaces.
Leinster also shaped nicely. Up markedly in trip, he made the running and faded into fourth. He possibly didn’t stay the extended 2m2f. A drop back to 2m could suit him better.
Last year’s runner-up Emiyn missed the break from stall 2 and never got to the front. Still, he shaped well in sixth and looks capable of winning off his current mark—especially at Chester, where he’s a three-time course winner.
Not quite an eyecatcher, but Illinois looks to have done well physically from three to four and returned a stronger horse. He gave weight to all five rivals when making a successful reappearance in the Group 3 Ormonde Stakes—despite not really handling Chester. He should come on for the run and looks capable of winning a Group 1 over 1m4f this season, possibly in the Coronation Cup at Epsom. He’s now 8/1 for that, though Aidan O’Brien also has Los Angeles entered.
Elsewhere
Over at Ascot, Gleneagle Bay caught the eye in Saturday’s Victoria Cup. He was well-backed (11/2) and ran a cracker to finish third, beaten just a short neck. Racing more towards the near side, away from the first two home, so you could mark up the run slightly. He goes well on quick ground, so the Buckingham Palace Handicap at Royal Ascot might be next.
In tomorrow’s column, I’ll be previewing the opening day of York’s Dante Festival.
Good luck with your Tuesday bets.
John