RACHAEL BLACKMORE

became the first female rider to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup on Friday but she inadvertently gave me my highlight of the Festival a couple of days earlier.

I was standing near the final hurdle of the Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle on Wednesday afternoon, blinking back the pouring rain, when her mount, Journey With Me, crashed to the turf as he disputed the lead. The horse stayed down

and officials rushed on and erected the screens around him. I assumed the worst and began to walk away. Then I looked back and saw that they were taking the screens down. Journey With Me was back on his feet, a little winded perhaps, but apart from that, none the worse for wear.

There was a huge cheer from the crowd, as if they had witnessed a miracle. Winning and losing didn’t seem quite as important after that.