- ‘I don’t feel male or female right know. I don’t even feel human’
- Cheltenham Festival leading jockey claims historic victory
Rachael Blackmore crowned an extraordinary month with a historic achievement here on Saturday, becoming the first female rider to win the Grand National after a perfectly judged ride aboard the 11-1 chance Minella Times.
The latest landmark on Blackmore’s career arrived 22 days after she was the first female jockey to win the award for the leading rider at the Cheltenham Festival. She settled Minella Times a few lengths off the pace on the run to Becher’s Brook the first time, took closer order heading out into the country for the second time as Jett set a fierce pace up front, and then surged towards the lead on the run back towards the empty grandstands and the final two fences.