Ted and Katie Walsh salute Blackmore and ‘fantastic result for racing’
Ted and Katie Walsh have heaped praise on Rachael Blackmore following her historic victory in the Randox Grand National at Aintree.
Fresh on the heels of being crowned leading rider at the Cheltenham Festival, Blackmore became the first woman toridethewinneroftheworld’s most greatest steeplechase aboard the Henry de Bromhead-trained Minella Times.
Ted Walsh, who trained
Papillon to win the Grand National in 2000, is in awe of the achievements of both trainer and rider.
He said: “It was a great race and a great result for the race.
“Henry de Bromhead capped one of the most extraordinary years of my life. To win any one of the four races he’swon–aChampionHurdle, a Champion Chase, a Gold Cup and an English National – you could consider it a good year.
To win all four, I don’t rememberiteverhappeningbeforeto one particular trainer.
“Thenofcoursetheicingon thecakewashavingRachaelon board as well. She’s a wonderful ambassador for the sport, a wonderful rider and such an unassumingyoungwoman.It’s great for the game.
“To have her on the biggest stage there is and riding the winner is great for the sport.”
Walsh saddled the third home Any Second Now, who did well to finish as close as he didafterbeingbadlyhampered by the all of Double Shuffle at the 12th fence.
“I think it was extraordinary performance,” Walsh added. “Double Shuffle fell. If he’d fallen right he would have caught Rachael on the winner, butinsteadhefellinfrontofmy fellaandstoppedhimtoawalk.
“I actually thought passing thestandsMark(Walsh)might lethimjumpacouplemoreand pull him up, but he started to pick up from there.
“He wasn’t good enough for thewinner–he’dusedupallhis petrol to get there.”
The trainer is already eyeing a tilt at the 2022 Grand National,saying:“Twelvemonths is a long way away, but that would be the plan.”
Walsh’s daughter Katie had previously achieved the highest placing by a woman in the
Grand National when third aboard her father’s Seabass in 2012.
While that record has now been beaten, she is thrilled for Blackmore. She said: “When I knew he (Any Second Now) wasn’t going to get there, I found myself fixed on Rachael and absolutely roaring. She’s a great girl and an extremely hard worker. It was a fantastic resultforherandafantasticresult for racing.”