Ruby Walsh: Rachael Blackmore pulling out all the stops to be champion jockey

Rachael Blackmore: Her ability to find more outside winners than Paul Townend could prove to be her biggest asset in her bid to become the first lady to be crowned champion jockey. Picture: Healy Racing.

It is hard to understand how Rachael Blackmore overtaking Paul Townend in the jockeys’ championship at the end of last week went so unnoticed. Can you imagine a lady in any other sport competing against her male counterparts on an equal basis not garnering any headlines for taking the lead in that sport’s current championship campaign?

Paul rode a double at Thurles to put himself back one in front and both drew a blank at Gowran on Thursday before Friday’s action kicked off at Navan where he had two rides and Rachael only had the one.