RACHAEL IS A HERO
Budd hails ‘Superwoman’
RACHAEL BLACKMORE was yesterday hailed as “Superwoman” by the first female jockey to contest the Grand National.
Blackmore made history as the first woman rider to win the Randoxsponsored marathon when Minella Times, trained by her boss Henry de Bromhead, scored at Aintree on Saturday.
The success came 44 years after Charlotte Budd rode 250-1 outsider Barony Fort in the 1977 race best known for Red Rum’s third triumph.
“What a joy Rachael was to watch riding,” said Budd, who competed under her maiden name of Charlotte Brew.
“You can see how horses respond to her riding, and she’s only 9st – she’s not a big, strong person.
“She rides tactically beautifully and it just shows that being a big, strong man isn’t the be-all and end-all in a jockey. “Rachael has blasted her way through the glass ceiling a bit like Superwoman.”
Budd, who faced strong opposition to her bid for Aintree glory in the build-up to the Silver Jubilee renewal, admits she felt the wait for a female rider’s triumph would be less than 44 years. “I’ve always had that conviction that girls are as good as men on a horse and they sometimes offer different attributes,” she added.
“I thought either Nina Carberry or Katie Walsh would have won.
“They got close – Katie was third on Seabass – and I thought it would happen sooner.”
De Bromhead, who saddled the first two horses home – 100-1 shot Balko Des Flos finished second – said of his stable jockey: “I’m absolutely delighted for Rachael.
“It’s brilliant for her and no-one deserves it more.”
Minella Times is 20-1 to gain back-to-back successes at Aintree next April.
“It’s a long time away but you’d love to think he’ll be back there again,” said Frank Berry, racing manager to owner JP Mcmanus, winning the National for the second time after Don’t Push It’s win under Sir AP Mccoy in 2010.