Rachael Blackmore made history when she became the first woman to win the Grand National last year. She will return to Aintree on Saturday with Minella Times to try and record consecutive victories in the famous race.
But if history is anything to go by, the 32-year-old faces a mammoth task and is unlikely to achieve the feat. In the race’s long and esteemed history, very few jockeys have won the Grand National two years on the trot while riding the same horse.
History suggests that a jockey is more likely to win the race in consecutive years by riding two different horses. That is what happened to Leighton Aspell, who triumphed in 2014 on Pineau de Re and emerged victorious on Many Clouds the following year.
After galloping over the line first, Pineau de Re finished in a lowly twelfth place just 12 months later. Bryan Marshall is another example, as he won on Early Mist in 1953 and Royal Tan in 1954.
The likes of West Tip, Corbiere, Party Politics, Don’t Push It, and Hedgehunter, all previous winners, were a shadow of their former selves the year after they won. There are several reasons for this, such as carrying too much weight, the good fortune they had the previous year no longer being with them or perhaps they were overtaken by a younger, better handicapped rival.
Despite that, Blackmore is staying loyal to Minella Times - trained by Henry de Bromhead - who will carry top weight of 11st 10lbs - that will require him putting up the best weight carrying performance since Red Rum carried 12st in 1974 if Blackmore is to win. “Poker Party, who will be ridden by Robbie Power, will join Minella Times in the race,” the trainer said.
"Rachael will ride Minella Times. He's back showing me all the right signs at home,” which are encouraging signs for the Irishwoman, especially given Minella Times' previous two outings this season saw him unable to finish the race, including a crashing fall first time out.
Blackmore's allegiance to the horse was never called into question, although she may have had more chance of another win with Poker Party, who will be ridden by 2017 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner, Robbie Power.
If she is able to pull off an unlikely win, Blackmore will become just the 10th jockey to win consecutive Grand Nationals and the fourth to do so with the same horse.
