Blackmore moves alongside Townend with a double

Rachael Blackmore drew level with Paul Townend at the head of the jump jockeys championship when completing a double at Thurles aboard Tintangle in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Mares Hurdle.

The 11/8 favourite, successful in a Listed bumper last term but a faller on her hurdling debut at Galway, appeared to have a tough task as chief market rival Sassy Diva asserted approaching the final flight.

However Blackmore, now level with Townend on the 60 winner mark having also won earlier on Game Of War in the beginners chase, got a tremendous leap out of the Yeats mare at the last.

She landed running and had enough momentum to peg back Sassy Diva close home for a head victory. Like An Open Book was another length and three quarters away in third.

Winning trainer Gordon Elliott said, "She is a good mare and will be better on softer ground.

"She fell on her last run so getting around today was number one and ideally you'd let her stride along but I didn't want to do that.

"She's not an easy ride but she jumped brilliantly for Rachael and the horses run for her and gallop the whole way to the line."

(TW & AM)