VOTE | Who’s the March Jockey of the Month?

News | 31^st March 2021

The nominees for the March Jockey of the Month are Rachael Blackmore, Jack Kennedy and Harry Skelton. Vote now!

The March Jockey of the Month competition is now open and the competition for silverware here is fierce with all three jockeys having stellar performances throughout.

To find out the achievements and big race victories of each of the three jockeys nominated, have a read below the results.

The vote has finished and here are the results.

Rachael Blackmore

Rachael Blackmore was the top jockey at the Cheltenham Festival with six victories which included the Champion Hurdle aboard Honeysuckle.

Blackmore’s remarkable achievements served as an inspiration to the next generation of riders, proving that women can compete with and beat their male counterparts at the highest level of the sport.

Blackmore became the first woman to win the Ruby Walsh Trophy at the Cheltenham Festival and was just one win shy of equalling the all-time record for wins at a single Festival.

Blackmore’s tenacity and toughness was particularly put to the test on a remarkable Wednesday. In between registering Grade 1 victories in the opening and closing races, Rachael departed the saddle and hit the deck on no less than three occasions; showing immense fortitude to pick herself up and get back to the weighing room for the next ride.

Jack Kennedy

Jack Kennedy had a Cheltenham Festival week to savour himself, recording four victories.

Kennedy kicked off his week by upsetting the short-priced favourite Concertista in the Mares’ Hurdle aboard Black Tears in a pulsating finish up the Cheltenham hill.

The 21-year-old’s next two winners were in the National Hunt Challenge Cup and the Kim Muir; both long distance and tactically demanding challenges that allowed him to show off his strengths quite brilliantly.

His final win of the Cheltenham Festival week was doubtlessly the biggest win of the young jockey’s career. The count Kerry native steered Minella Indo to success in the Cheltenham Gold Cup ahead of the more fancied stablemate A Plus Tard.

The context surrounding Kennedy’s week makes his achievements all the more impressive. Despite his tender age, he has already had to overcome a long list of terrible injuries in recent years. The outpouring of emotion and affection for the unassuming rider was palpable in the moments after the race.

Harry Skelton

Harry Skelton has been in sensational form through the month of March picking up an incredible 31 winners. Skelton has continued his fantastic form from the start of the year that has seen him draw ever closer to Brian Hughes in the Jump Jockeys’ Championship which includes nine winners in the last three days.

The Champion Jump Jockey title race is really hotting up with just 24 days to go to the end of the Jump Jockeys’ Championship at the Sandown Jumps Finale where the Champion Jump Jockey will be crowned.

Jump Jockeys' Championship table

Flat Jockeys

Jump Jockeys

Annual Flat Jockeys

As well as banging in winners on a consistent basis, Harry Skelton has had big Saturday victories with Mr Drogo in the Grade 2 Premier Novices’ Hurdle at Kelso and in the Grade 3 Imperial Cup at Sandown with Langer Dan.