Rachael Blackmore helps owner win both races he sponsored over Christmas
A multi-millionaire racehorse owner has hit on a neat way to win at the races - sponsor the contests.
Brian Acheson is CEO of one of Ireland’s biggest engineering companies and has a growing portfolio of top jumps horses which run under the name of Robcour, an amalgamation of the names of his sons Robert and Courtney.
His highest rated jumper is Gerri Colombe, a leading hope for the Cheltenham Gold Cup, who finished second to Galopin Des Champs in the Savills Chase last week.
But Robcour’s two other exciting horses racing over the festive period, Irish Point and Bob Olinger, who became the team’s first Cheltenham Festival winner in 2021, both won.
The races which each won, the Jack de Bromhead Christmas Hurdle at Leopardstown and Relkeel Hurdle at Cheltenham on New Year's Day, were both sponsored by Acheson’s Donman Engineering business.
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“This is the second race I’ve sponsored this season,” said Acheson. “I sponsored the Jack de Bromhead Christmas Hurdle, and I won that as well. My secret to Gerri Colombe is I might have to now sponsor the Gold Cup.”
Bob Olinger captured the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle in impressive fashion two years ago, returning to the Festival a year later to add the Turners’ Novices’ Chase in fortuitous circumstances after Galopin Des Champs came down at the last when holding a clear lead.
A horse close to Acheson’s heart, he has returned to his best back over hurdles and comfortably beat Marie’s Rock in the Grade 2 contest on Monday under Rachael Blackmore.
Rachael Blackmore steers Bob Olinger to victory (Getty Images)“Bob is the third child,” said the owner. “There is Courtney, Rob and Bob.
“The last day at Navan I watched it on my own and shed a tear. When you see a horse that for 18 months was hurt and had a muscular issue that we only found in January, but he was still trying to give his all in every race it is tough.
“You could see in his swagger that he couldn’t understand why he wasn’t giving you it all. We went away and found the issue. He went back with Robbie Power who did dressage and everything with him and got him back. It was then all about his confidence.
“The last time he was here in the Turners against Galopin he was hurt and you were hoping Rachael would just hang on to him and hope the whole thing didn’t get to him, but it is wonderful to see him back.”
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