Rachael Blackmore the toast of Cheltenham Festival after riding 152/1 double

Rachael Blackmore was the toast of the Cheltenham Festival on Thursday as she completed a clean sweep of the meeting's feature races.

The Tipperary jockey added the Stayers' Hurdle to her victories in the Champion Hurdle, Champion Chase and Gold Cup, all of which were won on horses trained by Waterford handler Henry de Bromhead.

Blackmore partnered Bob Olinger (8/1) to success in the Grade 1 event to complete a 152/1 double after steering Air Of Entitlement (16/1) to victory in the Mares' Novices' Hurdle earlier in the day.

The 35-year-old dedicated the wins, both of which she delivered the horses late to beat favourites, to her late cousin Robert Blackmore, whose funeral took place yesterday.

She said after the first victory: "I want to dedicate this to my cousin, Robert Blackmore, who passed away at the weekend, his funeral is today, so I want to dedicate this to him.”

She added after the Stayers' Hurdle success: “I’m very lucky to get on these horses. He was brilliant. He has so much speed and was able to use it there today. We went a good gallop and he was still able to pick up off the back of it.

“We were all going out there… Everyone had the same plan from his team. It either works riding like that, or it doesn’t. When everyone is committed to it, it makes it easy.

“He’s unbeaten around here. I know one day it was a fortuitous win, but he’s got luck on his side around here. He’s a very, very good horse.”

She said of the winning trainer: “When you’re riding for Henry, it’s a great help.

“It’s an incredible place, it’s where every jockey wants to be and I’ve been very lucky here. Any time you go up onto that podium, it’s very special.”

De Bromhead paid tribute to the jockey after his 25th win at the Festival, commenting: "Rachael was brilliant on him. We’d said if you’re going to get beaten, get beaten for coming too late."

He added: “Rachael gave him such a ride, she was brilliant on him. She’s an incredible lady, delighted for her as well, and the Achesons (owners Robcour), who are tremendous supporters of us and the game.”

Bob Olinger beat 7/4 favourite Teahupoo, who is also owned by millionaire Brian Acheson's Robcour, by a length and three quarters.

It came after Blackmore swooped late on Air Of Entitlement for the same owners in the opening race as she delivered the six-year-old in a power-packed drive to edge a half-length victory over market leader Sixandahalf (85/40).

Irish eyes were smiling at the Festival yesterday as St Patrick's Day was celebrated four days early.

Cheltenham was a sea of green as St Patrick's Thursday saw Irish songs belted out around the racecourse.

Punters were greeted by a shower of sleet as they arrived at the racecourse for day three of the meeting, which saw Fact To File (6/4 favourite) win the Ryanair Chase for owner JP McManus, who also enjoyed success with Jagwar (3/1 favourite).

But things quickly warmed up as a band started in the Guinness Village shortly after 11am, kicking off their set with The Hills Of Donegal, with Cleeve Hill overlooking the stage.

There was drama at the beginning of the first race when after a false start, Maughreen – one of Willie Mullins’ fancied runners – whipped round and was left by the pack at the second attempt to get the race underway.

She was being cheered on by 80 of her owners at the track, but the Closutton Racing Club were ultimately left disappointed as Maughreen came last of the horses that finished the race.

A number of current Liverpool footballers, including Ireland goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher, former Reds striker Peter Crouch, and club legend Kenny Dalglish were among those in attendance

But it was former Manchester United Alex Ferguson boss who was celebrating after Caldwell Potter, who he part-owns, won the Jack Richards Novices' Limited Handicap Chase for English trainer Paul Nicholls under Harry Cobden.

Purchased for a mammoth €740,000 from Gordon Elliott's yard last year, Caldwell Potter was running in the colours of the late John Hales.

And Ferguson paid tribute to his great friend following the race.

“We were thinking of John Hales earlier, because he decided to buy the horse - his colours, grey horse, all the memories of John Hales," said the 83-year-old. "Absolutely brilliant. We shared a lot of great days together.

"I think he introduced us to the level you have to get to to win, and some of the horses we bought were a bit more expensive than we would have done before.

“When you see that today, it doesn’t matter the price - it’s inexpensive. It’s absolutely fantastic."

Crouch, who is a regular visitor to Cheltenham, said: “It’s kind of like a football thing, it’s like a tradition. I played under Harry Redknapp countless times - obviously he introduced me to it and I’ve been coming back ever since.”

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