Rachael Blackmore

The winning jockey had tough choice between two fine horses, but got it right by staying loyal to A Plus Tard.

Since finishing second last year, Blackmore has added the Grand National and a second Champion Hurdle – among other notable pots – to an increasingly stellar CV. Stuck behind a wall of four horses, she and A Plus Tard looked to have no visible way through. Had she decided to swap, ride Minella Indo and lose to A Plus Tard, her judgment would almost certainly have been called into question by an army of armchair jockeys who have never ridden anything more temperamental or subject to the vagaries of form as a bicycle. Push came to predictably vigorous shove at the business end of the race, when she squeezed through a narrow gap that opened between Protektorat and Al Boum Photo before flicking the switch and sending A Plus Tard to hunt Minella Indo down. Had Minella Indo prevailed again without her on board, her decision to stick with A Plus Tard would have looked similarly foolish, bordering on stubborn. On the eve of the race, Blackmore had said she was “really looking forward” to renewing her Gold Cup acquaintance with A Plus Tard, but we can only imagine the internal anguish that came with being so spoiled for what amounted to a coin-toss choice.

Rachael Blackmore rewrote the history books once again on Friday when she became the first female jockey to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Rachael Blackmore powered clear over the final fence to defeat 2021 victor Minella Indo on A Plus Tard, pulling away to win by 15 lengths; it was another ...

"It definitely does (feel different this year), just the crowds looking here at the stand - it's just incredible. Robbie (Power) was brilliant on Indo and Rachael amazing on A Plus Tard. "Rachael was brilliant on him. Winning trainer Henry De Bromhead added: "The class of him there - he was so impressive and Indo ran an absolute blinder as well, he really did. "You can't do this without the horses and being attached to Henry's yard is just absolutely phenomenal. I just can't explain how lucky I feel."

Jockey Rachael Blackmore's Gold Cup win at Cheltenham was described as the “moment of a lifetime” by her proud father Charles yesterday.

It was a day for sunglasses and sun cream. This is the Gold Cup, you know what I mean?” she said afterwards. There was standing room only around the balconies and the stands to get a glimpse of National Hunt’s superstar jockey as she came into the parade ring. Blackmore’s nervous mother Eimir watched from the sofa at home in Co Tipperary. Blackmore’s nervous mother Eimir watched from the sofa at home in Co Tipperary. She gets a balance that doesn’t upset anyone which is a hard thing to achieve,” her father said.

Rachael Blackmore continued her remarkable rise in jump racing history when she won the Cheltenham Gold Cup on runaway winner A Plus Tard.

I said to her to do whatever she wanted, and she started banging on about what she was going to do as we were about to leg her up. “Cheltenham is such a special place, but it is so special because of the atmosphere and the people,” she said. By the last, A Plus Tard was a split-second in front of Minella Indo and an excellent jump there carried him into an ever-widening lead. “Thankfully he was just good over the last two and he picked up incredibly over the last. She backed herself, in other words, and the punters took the hint, supporting A Plus Tard down to 3-1 favourite at the off. Twelve months ago, Blackmore’s decision to ride A Plus Tard rather than his stable companion, Minella Indo, in the Festival’s showpiece event was the only wrong move she made all week.

Rachael Blackmore has become the first female jockey in history to ride the winner of a Gold Cup after a strong finish on A Plus Tard, with Minella Indo ...

A Plus Tard's impressive display added to De Bromhead's tally at the meeting, after Honeysuckle and Bob Olinger also struck at the highest level. Blackmore was positioned in mid-pack but had to be patient to make her run on the course specialist. "Rachael was brilliant on him and Robbie was brilliant on Indo. Rachael said she wanted to ride him for his pace and use his pace and she did. Blackmore bided her time aboard A Plus Tard, who won at the 2019 Festival – and has not been out of the first three in 19 career starts. It added to her glittering CV, as she was also the last female rider to win the Grand National and Champion Hurdle in 2021. I just can’t. You have all these plans about how things are going to work out.

Rachael Blackmore became the first female rider to win the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup as A Plus Tard ran away with the 2022 renewal.

First thought – how on earth did A Plus Tard win the Cheltenham Gold Cup by 15 lengths, the widest winning margin since Master Oats ploughed through the mud to win in the 'nineties?Had A Plus Tard fallen three out, you wouldn't have thought he would win; two out, in with a chance as he went second after getting held up in traffic; but even at the last, as he went to the front, such a margin seemed scarcely credible. It was amazing to win it last year, but it’s triple amazing this year with all the people here.” Robbie (Power) was brilliant on Indo and Rachael amazing on A Plus Tard. It definitely does (feel different this year), just the crowds looking here at the stand – it’s just incredible. It’s absolutely fantastic to win the Gold Cup. Incredible. My father would have loved it, he watched the Gold Cup for many years and to actually win it is incredible. Rachael was so brave, the way she went about it, it was brilliant.“She was really brave. Always travelling strongly, there was a moment of concern turning in as she was caught in behind horses as stablemate and last year's winner Minella Indo set sail for home.

Rachael Blackmore made history once again in becoming the first female jockey to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup as A Plus Tard stormed up the hill in imperious ...

“I thought (Blackmore) was so brave, she just kept sitting and sitting. I don’t know what to say. Being attached to Henry’s yard is unbelievable.

Jockey and trainer Henry de Bromhead complete Champion Hurdle-Gold Cup double.

This is what it’s all about. Robbie [Power] was brilliant on Indo and Rachael amazing on A Plus Tard. De Bromhead said: “The class of him there, he was so impressive and Indo ran an absolute blinder as well, he really did. “Rachael was brilliant on him. “You can’t do this without the horses and being attached to Henry’s yard is just absolutely phenomenal. Racing doesn’t let that happen all the time and for some reason it’s happened to me today.

Rachael Blackmore has become the first female in history to ride a winner at the Gold Cup after a strong finish on A Plus Tard, with Minella Indo finishing ...

Europa LeagueEuropa League draw RECAP as Rangers set for Braga quarter-final before heavyweight semi-final showdownRangers are safely through to the last eight and it's time to find out who they'll face in that round and potentially the semis. I just can’t explain how lucky I feel." I can’t even speak." I just can’t. "You have all these plans about how things are going to work out. "To give me this horse is unbelievable I don’t know what to say. Blackmore told ITV Racing: "I just can’t believe it.

Blackmore becomes the first woman to ride a Gold Cup winner, adding to her two Champion Hurdles and the Grand National.

This is what it’s all about. Robbie [Power] was brilliant on Indo and Rachael amazing on A Plus Tard. De Bromhead said: “The class of him there – he was so impressive and Indo ran an absolute blinder as well, he really did. “Rachael was brilliant on him. “You can’t do this without the horses and being attached to Henry’s yard is just absolutely phenomenal. Racing doesn’t let that happen all the time and for some reason it’s happened to me today.

Sir AP McCoy shared his view on the Cheltenham Festival's feature contest on ITV Racing. Blackmore rides the favourite A Plus Tard as they bid to better ...

She has two rides before taking the reins on A Plus Tard at 3.30. Blackmore, who landed her first Grade 1 win in 2019, has since added another 22 to her impressive record. But McCoy, who won the race on Synchronised ten years ago, thinks Blackmore has a tricky job of timing her challenge just right. "He's a very good traveller and a very pacey horse but staying is a little worry for him if he gets to the front too soon.

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“What I’m doing now is a dream I could never allow myself to have because it was not even in my reality. It takes about 10 strides after the line before you realise it but it is incredible and I’m very lucky to be getting to ride these kind of horses.” It is just incredible to have people back and I feel very, very lucky.

Rachel Blackmore ended a year of hurt today after becoming the first ever woman to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup - 12 months after coming second in the same ...

Watch a full replay of how Rachael Blackmore became the first female jockey to ride the winner of the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup at Cheltenham on Friday.

“The winner was fantastic and it’s a great Gold Cup for Henry and his team. Charlie Deutsch, rider of Royal Pagaille (5th) said: “It was a good run and we jumped well in the most part. He’s a big wrong at the weights with those other horses and it told, but we’re happy with him.” I thought when I quickened off the bend down to the second last they’d have to come and get me, but A Plus Tard is a year older and a year stronger and he probably saw the trip out a bit better. He was behind the project and this horse was one of the last he saw win before he died. He watched the Gold Cup obviously for many years, and to win it is incredible. Dan Skelton, trainer of third-placed Protektorat, said: “To be honest he shouldn’t have been third after the mistake he made at the last. “I did feel she [Rachael] was quite far back but I knew she had a game plan and I trusted the game plan. “After last year that will mean even more to Rachael. This is the pinnacle. Unbelievable. What a day’s racing, with Rachael winning the Gold Cup. We won the Grand National 30 years ago but this is certainly right up there. De Bromhead said: "The class of him there - he was so impressive and Indo ran an absolute blinder as well, he really did. "You can't do this without the horses and being attached to Henry's yard is just absolutely phenomenal.

Favourite A Plus Tard won the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup for trainer Henry de Bromhead and jockey Rachael Blackmore in the colours of owner Cheveley Park ...

“Cheltenham is such a special place, but it is so special because of the atmosphere and the people,” she said. “To be honest I didn’t question any of it too much, but Rachael said to me about three weeks ago that she was kicking herself and she wanted to ride him to use his pace. When it was put to her that she showed remarkable nerve to delay her challenge so coolly, she added: “I was happy if I was going to get beaten for doing something different as opposed to being in the position I was in last year, as that definitely didn’t work. “The wall of horses in front of me made sure I didn’t get there too soon, but he felt very happy throughout the race this year and jumped fantastically, and I was able to take him back a little bit everywhere. Lucky really is how those of us fortunate to share her orbit feel, for there’s little doubt we are in the presence of greatness. As was the case on Tuesday when she surfed back in aboard Honeysuckle on a wave of euphoria as the returning Cheltenham crowd roared their appreciation of jump racing’s box office star, Blackmore brought the house down again. In A Plus Tard, Blackmore had a partner worthy of her own magnificence, but the ride brought out the best in him. It is an incredible feeling when you do that over the back of the last at Cheltenham. The memory of A Plus Tard’s narrow defeat in last year's Gold Cup has been a stubborn asterisk, and her hurt was exacerbated by the fact she could have ridden the winner. She rolled back into Cheltenham with a new blueprint and delivered it to perfection, dropping A Plus Tard right in, biding her time and riding for a bit of luck. Minella Indo still had to be claimed, but the momentum of destiny had it all covered. Getting beaten by Galvin in the Savills Chase was the last and maybe most lasting lesson.

Revenge was sweet for Rachael Blackmore and A Plus Tard, who came back to beat the 2021 winner and stablemate Minella Indo into a distant second in the Gold ...

This is what it’s all about. Robbie (Power) was brilliant on Indo and Rachael amazing on A Plus Tard. De Bromhead said: "The class of him there – he was so impressive and Indo ran an absolute blinder as well, he really did. "You can’t do this without the horses and being attached to Henry’s yard is just absolutely phenomenal. "Rachael was brilliant on him. I just can’t explain how lucky I feel."

Pioneering jockey Rachael Blackmore says she fulfilled an "impossible dream" by becoming the first female rider to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup, with victory ...

Blackmore created history by powering clear over the final fence to defeat 2021 victor Minella Indo on A Plus Tard, pulling away to win by 15 lengths at the ...

"I feel so lucky to be getting to ride these horses at brilliant places like here, to be in Henry's yard. She gets a balance that doesn't upset anyone which is a hard thing to achieve. "Not every jockey gets to be in this position. I just can't believe it." "This horse is incredible, I don't know what to say. "Being attached to Henry's yard is incredible.