Latest news with #CheltenhamGoldCup-winning
Daily Mirror
8 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
JoJo Siwa says Chris Hughes 'makes everything better' as he helps her beat fear
The couple who met on ITV reality show Celebrity Big Brother have been enjoying a visit to the Cotswolds, where they toured the stables run by Grand National and Cheltenham Gold Cup-winning trainer Jonjo O'Neill JoJo Siwa has told her followers that Chris Hughes 'makes everything better' after they visited some of his favourite places. The pop star, 22 and ex-Love Island contestant have started dating after meeting on the set of Celebrity Big Brother. After a trip to Mexico to support Dance Moms star Jojo, where she was performing and celebrating her birthday, Chris was keen to show his new partner the Cotswolds. The 32-year-old grew up on a farm in the area and he has had a long association with racing stable Jackdaws Castle, where Grand National and Cheltenham Gold Cup-winning trainer Jonjo O'Neill is based. Chris, who rides out on the gallops when time allows, took Jojo on a tour of the yard - and started to help her overcome her fear of horses. In an Instagram post sharing pictures of the trip, Jojo was seen stroking a pony in a field, with the caption: "Touching a horse for the first time in 8 years (since I was thrown off one during a filming I've been scared to be around them haha loved this though after I warmed up!).' Chris was keen to show Jojo how gentle horses can be at O'Neill's yard, with the pair posing for a picture next to a thoroughbred he rode, showing his talents in the saddle. READ MORE: ITV racing pundit Kevin Blake correctly predicts 8,000-1 Derby tricast with big race 1-2-3 In 2018 he trained to be a jockey for the Best Western Hotels & Macmillan Ride of their Lives charity race at York, where he steered Carnageo into fifth place. "Gorgeous boy riding a gorgeous horse," Jojo said, with an image of Chris heading up the gallops at Jackdaws, which has state-of-the-art facilities including a swimming pool and solarium for thoroughbred horses. On the same visit, Chris was seen leading Jojo towards the stables to meet the racers, who have their names on the wall next to each box. A friend of the O'Neill family, Chris became besotted with a mare named Annie Mc, who raced in the Marsh Novices' Chase at the 2020 Cheltenham Festival. The reality TV star has worked as an ambassador for bookmakers Coral and they owned her through the firm's racing club. Annie Mc won seven times, including a Grade Two event and two races at Listed level, performances Chris and the members were proud of. After a win at Warwick in February 2021, he tweeted: "I'm gone, emotional wreck. Pure heart. Shaking. I love you so much Annie, you've my heart forever. Superstar. Jumps racing gets you like this. Best sport in the world." Chris has seen Annie Mc at Carisbrooke Stud, where she was retired to become a broodmare and gave birth to a foal by Doctor Dino. On a rainy day, Chris patted the now 11-year-old former chaser and kissed his "legend" on the nose in one clip. "She fills our hearts with happiness, win, lose or draw and she's just such a special, genuine mare to be involved with," he said previously. "She's one in a lifetime and all of us connected are so proud. Heart of a lion." As well as spending time with horses, Chris and Jojo went to Broadway, enjoying coffee and breakfast on the trip as their relationship continues to blossom. "Nothing beats wholesome & pure days like these," Jojo added on Instagram.
Irish Examiner
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Examiner
'The time is right': Rachael Blackmore brings glittering racing career to an end
Grand National and Cheltenham Gold Cup-winning jockey Rachael Blackmore has announced her retirement from riding. "My days of being a jockey have come to an end," she said in a statement released on Monday evening. "I feel the time is right. I'm sad but I'm also incredibly grateful for what my life has been for the past 16 years. I just feel so lucky, to have been legged up on the horses I have, and to have experienced success I never even dreamt could be possible. "The people to thank are endless, it's not possible to mention everyone (as I don't want this to be another book) but I'm going to get a few names in here anyway and to everyone else, you know who you are, as they say. "Firstly, my parents who provided me with the best childhood, and a pony I couldn't hold! This set the seed for a life of racing. Aidan Kennedy gave me my first ride in a point to point. I spent time riding out for Arthur Moore and Pat Doyle which I loved. Sam Curling and Liam Lennon were also big supporters as was Denise O' Shea, John Nicholson, Ellmarie Holden, Harry Smyth and Gigginstown House Stud. "I rode my first winner for Shark Hanlon, who then helped me become Champion Conditional. I will be forever grateful to Shark for getting behind me, supporting me and believing in me when it would have been just as easy to look elsewhere. He was the catalyst for what was to come. "A conversation between Eddie O'Leary and Henry de Bromhead in a taxi on the way to Aintree took my career to a whole new level. Eddie got me in the door at Knockeen, and what came next was unimaginable: Honeysuckle, A Plus Tard, Minella Indo, Captain Guinness, Bob Olinger, Minella Times, among many others… all with one thing in common – Henry de Bromhead. He's a phenomenal trainer, who brought out the best in me. Without Henry, my story is very different. "To my sponsors over the years. Dornan, KPMG, Volvo, Betfair, PCI Insurance, thank you for your support. To Garry Cribbin, who looked after me as my agent since day one with professionalism and friendship. To Rebecca Matthews who managed (and hopefully will continue to manage!) the non-horse related requests. To Willie Mullins who provided me with success throughout my career. "To all the team in Knockeen who do such incredible work looking after all the horses, without you and all the stable staff across the country, winners don't happen. To Davy Roche, who's help was invaluable when I was privileged enough to have a choice in a race. To all the amazing doctors, surgeons and physios who looked after me over the years. To all the wonderful owners who trusted me and gave me the opportunity to do what I love doing. To everyone I shared the weigh room with, I'll miss being in there with you. To all my great friends – you made winning special. Brian Hayes won't enjoy getting a mention, but he was more important to my career than I'll ever be able to thank him for. "It is daunting, not being able to say that I am a jockey anymore… who even am I now! But I feel so incredibly lucky to have had the career I've had. To have been in the right place at the right time with the right people, and to have gotten on the right horses - because it doesn't matter how good you are without them. They have given me the best days of my life and to them I am most grateful."
