RACHAEL BLACKMORE hopes to bring the good Times back to Aintree on Saturday afternoon – and 70,000 punters will be there to raise the roof.
A year ago Blackmore became the first female jockey to win the National, when Minella Times romped to glory.
Rachael Blackmore celebrates winning the Grand National Handicap Race in 2021 atop her mount Minella Times.
Blackmore won on Minella Times last year and is out to repeat the trick on Saturday
The only downside was winning in front of empty stands because of the pandemic… yet this time a sell-out crowd will pack the course hoping to cheer her to a fantastic double.
It will need a dramatic return to form if Minella Times is to double up, after failing to finish in both his races this season.
Despite that, Blackmore will be riding one of the favourites, with Any Second Now, Snow Leopardess and Delta Works also well fancied.
You can read our runner-by-runner guide to all the entries here.
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Whatever happens, with fans back, the 2022 Grand National promises to be a race to remember.
Fans have been flocking to Aintree for the last couple of days with racegoers looking more glamorous than ever.
Despite Minella Times’ recent struggles, the money has come flooding in over the last few days – and Rachael is confident trainer Henry De Bromhead has got the top weight back to his brilliant best.
She said: “Henry found a few niggly problems with him but he’s sorted them out and he’s in top form at home now. We couldn’t be happier with him.
“He’s one of those horses who just likes Aintree. He really enjoyed it last year and that has to be a big plus.
“Everyone knows you need a lot of luck in the National, and we got plenty of that last year so hopefully we get some more this time.”
There has been nothing lucky about Blackmore’s rise to glory, with Minella’s National coming just after she had been crowned top jockey at the Cheltenham Festival.
Three weeks ago Honeysuckle gave her a Champion Hurdle double, and A Plus Tard romped home in the Gold Cup.
Yet while glory at the Festival turned her into a sporting hero in England and her native Ireland, winning the National meant global stardom.
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Delta Work will be a major threat to Blackmore’s mount after cruelly denying National legend Tiger Roll at Cheltenham
The shy, quiet girl from Killenaule, County Tipperary is still coming to terms with being recognised wherever she goes – but she sure would like a bit more of it.
Blackmore, 32, added: “The Grand National definitely has a massive global reach and I really felt that after last year.
“The media attention after Cheltenham was massive, but after the National it just exploded again. It seems to reach parts of the world that no other races do.
“When you go into a random clothes shop in Dublin dressed in your normal clothes and someone comes up to you – that is mad.
“It’s one thing people coming up to you at the races because you’re dressed like a jockey and people can place you.
“But the odd time you’re in a situation like that is something that didn’t happen 12 months ago, and I’ve got loads of fan mail since last year, too.
“A lot of times I know the teacher is setting out an assignment of writing to someone you admire, as I get a bundle of letters – so it’s obviously on the school curriculum somewhere!
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“It’s hard to imagine what winning it again would feel like until it actually happens. You just can’t compare that feeling of crossing the line.
“When you’re growing up, this is the race that captures your imagination and it’s just very special to be able to say you’ve won it.”
