The 2021 Cheltenham Festival was regarded as a great success in March despite no fans in attendance for the first time in history for an event that has been taking place for over 150 years.
Rachael Blackmore became the first female to end the four-day festival as the leading jockey with her six wins.
The Irish rider became the first female to win the Champion Hurdle in the process with Honeysuckle with a six-and-a-half length victory over Sharjah.
After her first victory on the Tuesday, the record-breaking jockey added her second win of the festival the following day, riding Bob Olinger to victory in the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle. In the final race of the day she rode 2/1 Sir Gerhard to a win in the Champion Bumper.
Rachael Blackmore then guided Allaho to first place in the Ryanair Chase on Thursday, and then Telmesomethinggirl in one of the most impressive Cheltenham results of the day.
On Friday afternoon she racked up her sixth victory at Cheltenham by riding Quilixios to a flawless victory in the Triumph Hurdle.
Reflecting on her week, Rachael Blackmore said:
“I can’t even comprehend being leading jockey – it’s crazy stuff.
“It’s phenomenal. It’s been brilliant. Henry de Bromhead is an incredible trainer. I’m just part of that team and getting on those horses.”
No doubt one of the rides of the festival was guiding Honeysuckle to victory on the opening day in the Champion Hurdle. The horse had been the 11/10 pre-race favourite and widely tipped to win, but she did not let her backers or stable down.
Although the 31-year-old put her name in the record books with her performance over the weekend she was only one-and-a-quarter lengths short of becoming the first-ever female jockey to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
AP McCoy held off Blackmore as his 9/1 Minella Indo won the Steeple Chase ahead of her 3/1 A Plus Tard. It was the first time a female rider has finished in the top three of the historic race at least.
The following month Rachael Blackmore defied all prejudices by riding 15/1 Minella Twin to victory at the Grand National – the first female jockey to win the historic event. Speaking about her victory, Blackmore said after the event:
“It’s been such a whirlwind since it happened,” she added. “I haven’t really processed the fact that I have won the Aintree Grand National. I’ve watched the replay a few times – but it’s still just hard to comprehend it all.
“I just feel extremely lucky. It’s just such a special race and I’m so honoured to be able to put my name beside it.
“Racing doesn’t let you get carried away, you might have a winner, but you might go out in the next race and get unseated at the first.”
The Irish jockey will be looking to set more landmarks over the course of the year, continue winning races and being a role model to children wanting to follow in her footsteps.
