VOTE | April Jockey Of The Month

Features | 10th May 2021

It's the final vote of the 2020/2021 Jumps season and featuring three jockeys at the top of their game. Harry Skelton, Rachael Blackmore and Bryony Frost battle out April's Jockey Of The Month vote. 

Rachael Blackmore, Harry Skelton and Bryony Frost have all been nominated for April’s Jockey of the Month competition following their outstanding performances in the final month of the 2020/21 jumps season.

Voting has now closed and here are the results.

April Jockey of the Month 2021 results

The April Jockey of the Month nominees

Harry Skelton

Skelton ended April by securing his first Champion Jump Jockey title and was crowned with his trophy at the bet365 Jump Finale at Sandown Park Racecourse on Saturday 24th April.

His 23 victories in April meant he finished the season on 152 wins and ten clear of runner-up Brian Hughes.

Amongst those 23 successes in April were two Grade 1 wins at Aintree Racecourse, firstly with Protektorat in the SSS Super Alloys Manifesto Novices’ Chase on Thursday 8th April and then a commanding victory aboard My Drogo in the Betway Mersey Novices’ Hurdle on Saturday 10th April.

During the month, the 31-year-old also claimed the Grade 2 Jordan Electrics Ltd Future Champion Novices’ Chase at Ayr Racecourse with Allmankind on Sunday 18th April, as well as a notching a treble at Southwell Racecourse on Tuesday 13th April as he ramped up the pressure on his nearest title rival Hughes.

RACHAEL BLACKMORE

Rachael Blackmore followed on from her sensational success at the Cheltenham Festival (which saw her voted as Jockey of the Month for March) by making sporting history in April. The 31-year-old became the first woman to win the Randox Grand National following a fantastic victory with the Henry de Bromhead-trained Minella Times on Saturday 10th April.

The historic win came after Blackmore had already became the first woman to be the leading rider at the Cheltenham Festival following six victories in all, including the Champion Hurdle aboard Honeysuckle.

Blackmore also claimed the Grade 2 Goffs UK Nickel Coin Mares’ Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race with Me Too Please at Aintree Racecourse on Thursday 8th April.

BRYONY FROST

Bryony Frost finished another successful season with two significant wins at the bet365 Jump Finale at Sandown Park Racecourse on Saturday 24th April.  Frost, who earlier in the season became the first woman to win the King George VI Chase with Frodon, steered her long-term partner to another victory in the bet365 Oaksey Chase.

The 26-year-old then rode Greaneteen to a fantastic win in the bet365 Celebration Chase, beating the likes of Altior and Queen Mother Champion Chase winner, Put The Kettle On.

During April, Frost also claimed victories at both Warwick and Market Rasen.