Randox Grand National - Rachael Blackmore and Minella Times, Aintree, Liverpool, April 10th.
As she returned to the parade ring aboard Minella Times, Rachael Blackmore stood up - supported only by stirrups - with her arms raised loft to acknowledge history: the first woman jockey to ride the winner of the famed Grand National steeplechase at Aintree, outside Liverpool.
In that moment, she seemed superhuman. Certainly, unique.
Throughout the race, in its 173rd staging but the first without any spectators in attendance due to Covid-19 restrictions, Blackmore had produced a faultless ride on the JP McManus-owned, Henry de Bromhead-trained horse which had been sent off as an 11-1 shot.
Ahead of her, lay some of the horse racing’s most iconic fences, made of Norway Spruce. Becher’s and Valentines among them, the Chair - at 5ft 2in.
In negotiating 30 fences in the two circuits of the course, Blackmore bided her time with Minella Times before pouncing on the home stretch.
“I just got such an unbelievable passage through the race. Minella Times just jumped fantastic and brought me from fence to fence. Ruby Walsh and Katie Walsh, I’ve asked them both in the past about riding around (Aintree) and they often talk about a semi-circle in front of you and I felt like I had that everywhere.”
Jett, one of the race’s outsiders in the field of 40 horses, had led for much of the way and was 10 lengths clear at the Canal Turn second time around.
But Blackmore chose her moment and moved into the lead heading to the second last fence, moving two lengths clear at the Elbow and eventually finishing six and a half lengths clear of stable companion, Balko Des Flos. The first five horses home were Irish trained.
“I just cannot believe it. He was absolutely sensation. By god, what Hendry de Bromhead does with these horses. I just can’t believe it. This is unbelievable . . . when we jumped the last and I asked for a bit, he was there.
“I don’t feel male or female, I don’t even feel human. I feel unbelievable,” said Blackmore of her historic success.
De Bromhead, the winning trainer, remarked of Blackmore: “They broke the mould after her. She’s tough and brilliant. She’s breaking through all the records.”
