Rachael Blackmore's Grand National 1-2-3 as she tips up 16-1 shot

Rachael Blackmore has her eye on a 16-1 shot in this year's Grand National. The 36-year-old won't be one of the riders for the 2026 renewal having retired last May.

Iconic jockey Blackmore will be inducted as a Legend of Aintree this month and will have an on-course bar named in her honour. She became the first female to win the race when she was victorious aboard the JP McManus-owned Minella Times five years ago. Henry de Bromhead trained that winning horse and Blackmore thinks that one of the Irishman's charges can be successful in the four-mile-two-and-a-half-furlong contest once again this weekend.

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"It's going to be another cracking, fantastic race," Betfair Ambassador Blackmore exclusively shared. "I think Henry's runner, Monty's Star, has got a really good chance. Henry is so good at preparing them for a day like the National and he's got such a good record in it. The year I won, he had the second horse as well.

"So I think he's a horse that could really just take to it. He's got Grade One form. He's a very straightforward, good jumper. I think he's one you'd like to be on. But I could be here for 10 minutes listing off the different horses. It's one of those races, it's so competitive and it's whoever gets a bit of luck on the way around as well. That's a very important factor in this race."

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Monty's Star, to be ridden by Darragh O'Keeffe, is priced at 16-1 with Betfair at the time of writing, but he isn't the only horse De Bromhead has entered in the race.

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The 25-1-priced Gorgeous Tom is another who will be tilted at the National. Blackmore added: "That horse has a nice profile going into the race as well. He's only 10st9lbs on his back. He's a nice weight. Both of Henry's go there with big chances I would say."

But this gelding doesn't make Blackmore's 1-2-3 for the big race, as she thinks the 2024 winner, I Am Maximus (7-1) and Willie Mullins stablemate Grangeclare West (9-1) could complete the top three with Monty's Star.

"I think I Am Maximus is going to run a big race again," she said. "I'd also obviously love to see Grangeclare West up there again too. But I find it a really hard race to nail your colours to any horse.

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"Because I know from riding in it there's just so many moments in the race when you need that bit of luck to go your way and it's whoever gets that on the passage around. It's a big thing."

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