RACHAEL BLACKMORE is set to ride in four races on Day 2 at Cheltenham after her opening day victory with Slade Steel.
The 33-year-old became the first female jockey to win the Gold Cup in 2022, storming home by 15 lengths with A Plus Tard.
Blackmore will be looking to add to her successes this year with some big races on Wednesday and Thursday.
The Irish jockey is not going to be in Gold Cup action this year, however.
But she’s in action today and will be racing against her boyfriend Brian Hayes.
The record-breaking female jockey is in a relationship with fellow rider Brian Hayes.
He was born in July 1988 and was brought up in Rosscarberry, County Cork.
Blackmore and Hayes have been dating for a couple of years now.
In an interview with the Guardian in 2020, Patrick Mullins revealed the two were dating.
He said: “When I moved in with her and her boyfriend, Brian Hayes, myself and Brian would have been going racing most days.
“Rachael wasn’t. She used to do a lot of baking on those days – which was like her way of punching the wall.”
Hayes rode many horses at last year’s Cheltenham Festival.
He rode Adamantly Chosen, Dads Lad, Chapeau De Soleil and Cinsa so far, and they are all trained by Willie Mullins.
Hayes even competed against girlfriend Blackmore in last year’s Grand National, riding Mr Incredible at Aintree.
They’ll compete against each other again today in the 5.30 with Blackmore riving Junta Marvel and Hayes riding Argento Boy.
