RETURN OF A HEROINE MORE REASON TO CHEER

Gold Cup star Rachael wins again and admits: It’s just incredible!

RACHAEL BLACKMORE celebrated reaching the “top of the mountain” as she returned home to Thurles as a Cheltenham Gold Cup heroine yesterday.

The 32-year-old made history on Friday when partnering A Plus Tard to victory from Henry de Bromhead-trained stablemate – and defending champion – Minella Indo in the Boodles Cheltenham Gold Cup.

The success was the first in the race by a woman jockey and it also made Blackmore the first rider to capture Cheltenham’s Champion Hurdle and Gold Cup in the same week since AP McCoy 25 years ago.

Yesterday, Blackmore took one mount, Gentlemansgame, at Thurles – the track where she partnered her first winner, Stowaway Pearl, in February 2011. And she returned to a rapturous homecoming after the Mouse Morris trainee won the Carey Glass Hurdle.

On Tuesday, Co Tipperary-born Blackmore had lifted the Champion Hurdle for the second year in a row aboard De Bromhead’s Honeysuckle.

Blackmore said: “It’s just incredible. When I took out my licence, I wanted to win a Cheltenham Gold Cup – but I didn’t think I would even ride at Cheltenham, let alone in a Gold Cup.

“Getting a ride in a point-to-point was the top of the mountain back then, but you can never dream a dream too big. My first winner came here a good few years ago and Thurles is always a special place for me.

“It’s always good to get your first winner on the board – things have

I didn’t think I’d even ride at Cheltenham ...but you can never dream a dream too big

escalated a bit since!” Blackmore had blamed herself when A Plus Tard finished second to stablemate Minella Indo in the Gold Cup 12 months ago.

But the Cheveley Park

Stud-owned eight-year-old gained his revenge with a stunning 15-length supremacy as De Bromhead – responsible for Blackmore’s Grand National hero Minella

Times at Aintree last April – saddled the first two home in steeplechasing’s blue riband event for the second year in a row.

“The way A Plus Tard quickened after the last showed you he is just a phenomenal horse,” she added. “For Henry to have the 1-2 in the Gold Cup and win the Champion Hurdle two years in a row is just incredible training.”

SCREAMING COLOURS, the 11-year-old trained by Bill Durkan, ended the Irish week on a high with victory in the Midlands Grand National at Uttoxeter yesterday.

BIG GAME Winning yesterday at Thurles on Gentlemansgame, and with the Gold Cup (above)