Is Rachael Blackmore riding in the Aintree Grand National? Health update after bad fall

Horse racing fans hoping to back Rachael Blackmore in the Aintree Grand National on Saturday have been handed good news after the Tipperary jockey recovered from a bad fall earlier in the week to take part.

Blackmore won the Aintree Grand National with Minella Times in 2021, making history as the first female to do so in the process, and she is a fan favourite with cute and casual backers alike.

She was attended to in an ambulance on Thursday on the opening day of the Aintree Grand National Festival after a heeavy fall from the Willie Mullins-trained Willy De Houelle.

The incident happened during the Boodles Anniversary Juvenile Hurdle where sadly the horse she was riding died following the heavy fall. 

There was initial concern for Blackmore, who appeared shaken and required medical assessment on-site by ambulance staff, but she has emerged safe and is back in the saddle.

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Providing an update on her condition, Joe Chambers, racing manager for owners Rich and Susannah Ricci, spoke to Racing TV.

He expressed sadness over the loss of Willy De Houelle and added: "It’s a shame about Constitution Hill [who also fell during Thursday's action], that’s twice it has happened to them and we know all about fallers – we lost Willy De Houelle sadly, another great young horse, in the first race and thankfully Rachael [Blackmore] is OK."

For those hoping to get on and have a bet on Rachel in the big race, she rides Minella Indo, a former Cheltenham Gold Cup winner who finished third in the Aintree Grand National last season. The race goes off at 4pm.