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Irish Visitors Confirmed for Irish Raceday

Two rising stars of Irish racing have been confirmed as members of Team Ireland as they take on Team Australia in the Australia Vs Ireland Jockey Challenge which kicks off at Murray Bridge on Wednesday 30 August and concludes on Irish Raceday on Saturday 2 September at Morphettville.

Rachael Blackmore and Donagh Meyler are known as two of the most promising riders in their homeland and will have the opportunity to showcase their talents in Australia later this month.

Rachael Blackmore

From Killenaule, County Tipperary, Rachael Blackmore rode 11 point-to-point winners and seven winners as an amateur rider before turning professional in March, 2015. One of only four female professional National Hunt jockeys in Ireland, Blackmore gained her first success in the paid ranks when Most Honourable, trained by ‘Shark’ Hanlon, was a winner at Clonmel on September 3rd of the same year.

Hanlon had also provided Blackmore with her initial success as an amateur rider when Stowaway Pearl won at Thurles on February 10th, 2011. Rachael enjoyed a notable success and her biggest winner to date when partnering the Ellmarie Holden-trained Abolitionist to land the €100,000 Download The Ladbrokes Exchange App Leinster National Handicap Chase at Naas on March 12th, 2017.

With 32 winners, Rachael became the first female jockey to win the Conditional Riders’ title in the 2016/2017 season. Rachael rode her first winner on the Flat when taking a conditions' race at Killarney on May 16th, 2017 on the Denise O'Shea-trained Supreme Vinnie. She rode out her claim when winning the Oulart Maiden Hurdle on the Colin Bowe-trained Sweet Home Chicago at Wexford on June 21st, 2017. It was her 60th racecourse success. Rachael was the first female jockey to ride out her claim since leading amateur rider Katie Walsh achieved the same feat in May, 2008.

Heading into the 2017 Galway festival, Racheal is again the leading conditional rider in Ireland with 11 winners so far this season. Her tally sees her sit in eighth place in the overall National Hunt riders’ championship.

Donagh Meyler

From Kilmacow, County Kilkenny, Donagh Meyler rode his first winner when taking the Athboy INH Flat Race on the Tony Martin-trained Anibale Fly at Navan on March 1st, 2015. He quickly established himself as one of the leading conditional riders and struck up a rewarding partnership on the Karl Thornton-trained Colms Dream on whom he won five races.

However, Donagh’s first notable success came on the Gordon Elliott-trained Lord Scoundrel which won TheTote.com Galway Plate, by far the biggest races over fences during the summer months in Ireland, at the iconic Galway festival on July 27th, 2016. It was his 30th career win and by far the biggest.

Donagh landed another big success over fences when he won the €100,000 JT McNamara Munster National Handicap Chase on the Gordon Elliott-trained Tiger Roll at Limerick in October, 2016. More recently, another nice winner came his was when he partnered the Tony Martin-trained Phil’s Magic to success in the Midlands National Handicap Chase at Kilbeggan in July, his 60th career success and his final winner as a claiming professional.

Donagh finished runner-up to Rachael Blackmore in the Conditional Riders’ championship in the 2016-2017 season with 24 winners, matching his tally from the previous season. Heading into the Galway festival, Donagh has ridden seven winners this season.

 

Irish Raceday will be held on Saturday 2 September at Morphettville Racecourse. For tickets and hospitality packages, click here 

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