AN EMOTIONAL RACHAEL Blackmore said she was ‘blown away’ after making history in winning today’s Aintree Grand National.
Blackmore steered Minella Times to glory, becoming the first woman to ride the winner of the famous steeplechase.
It was the latest landmark moment for the Tipperary native after her stunning success at Cheltenham when she won the Champion Hurdle and the leading jockey award.
“I don’t feel male or female right now, I don’t even feel human. This is just unbelievable,” said Blackmore to ITV in the immediate aftermath of the race.
“This is a massive deal for me personally, not the fact I’m a female. The thing that hit me when I crossed the line was that I’d won the National, not that I’m the first female to win the National. I’m just delighted.”
"I don't feel male or female right now. I don't feel human. This is just unbelievable.
— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) April 10, 2021
"It's unbelievable!"
Rachael Blackmore reacts to winning the Aintree Grand National.
What an icon she is. #GrandNational | #VMTVRacing pic.twitter.com/tAoWFc1KgK
Minella Times won by over six lengths from Balko Des Flos after a ‘sensational spin’ for Blackmore.
“I just cannot believe it. He was an absolutely sensational spin.
“He was just incredible. He jumped beautifully. I was trying to wait for as long as I could. I didn’t feel crossing the Melling Road, I was running away but when we jumped the last and I asked him for a bit, he was there. It’s just incredible.
“This is the Aintree Grand National. I’m completely blown away.
“He was able to travel into a gap, I seemed to have loads of space everywhere and you couldn’t have wished for a better passage. He was just unbelievable, he really was, his jumping was second to none.”
Blackmore hailed trainer Henry De Bromhead, who she had combined with for a memorable success on Honeysuckle in the Champion Hurdle last month, and owner JP McManus.
“My God, what Henry De Bromhead does with these horses, I don’t know but I’m so lucky to be riding them.
“He trained a one-two there which is incredible. That can’t be forgotten in the whole scheme of things.
“It’s great to win it in these colours, too. It’s always a privilege to ride for JP McManus and to win it for him is unbelievable. They’ve had a tough year so hopefully this can make things a little easier.”
Tributes poured in for Blackmore after from winning trainer De Bromhead and two-time Grand National winner Ruby Walsh.
"Thanks Paddy. Thanks. Thanks a million. Well done guys. Thanks Seany. Thanks a million Brian. Thanks Paul."@HenrydeBromhead being congratulated mid-interview by almost every jockey after the Grand National. 😅#GrandNational | #VMTVRacing pic.twitter.com/yzW6XAbHVq
— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) April 10, 2021
"What an ambassador for racing. She's an incredible incredible person."
— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) April 10, 2021
Ruby Walsh on Rachael Blackmore.#GrandNational | #VMTVRacing pic.twitter.com/tfDjTrDUjD
- Additional quotes by Press Association
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I got clubs most improved player at under 12s surely I must be expectating a 6 figure salary in china
€14000 Euro is about 101k Chinese Yuan so you could probably earn that teaching English over there if you accepted an offer as a teacher. Can you afford to turn down a six figure sum like that?
if that lad is worth 20m a year, i am surely worth the avg industrial wage am i ?
I had trials with Monaghan Utd, EMFA, Home Farm Everton and Newcastle West AFC once upon a time like…….
@Liam Dunne: ah he is ☺ juventus will be delighted to hear about him cheering them on.
What a waste of talent, this is going to be. This kid can and should be playing for one of the great european sides. Instead he has gone to chase cash in the Chinese Football pub league
If someone came along and offered you insane money to go to china to to your everyday job,you wouldn’t be interested?
The only reason those European teams are great is because they have the financial clout to go out and buy the best players available to them. What’s happening now is a long overdue case of what goes around comes around.
He went to Zenit for a big wage also, this lad has always put money first!
He’ll be able to look after his family for generations. In 60 years time that will be more important than whether he played a game for an Italian or a Chinese team.
The epitome of the modern day footballer, this youngster. Here’s a player regularly in the first XI of a nation that spent about a year in the top 2 of the FIFA rankings, who has only ever played in the Belgian, Portuguese and Russian leagues. And now he’s off to China.
His ambition is questionable at best, and his love of vast wealth not under any doubt. He went to Zenit for 40 million, so his family can’t be short a few bob.
How long before Continho goes ….
Old news this
Really? He signed 2 hours ago.
Fair play to him. A couple of years in China on mega money and return back to Europe.