Blackmore’s first female jockey to win National

RACHAEL Blackmore celebrates after making racing history yesterday as the first female jockey to win the Grand National.

Blackmore, 31, nicknamed the Queen of Cheltenham, romped home on 11-1 shot Minella Times in front of a limited number of spectators at Aintree.

She surged from the final fence to beat 100-1 Balko Des Flos, followed by Any Second Now and Burrows Saint.

Minella Times was trained by Henry De Bromhead. Blackmore, who won six races at Cheltenham, is the daughter of a dairy farmer and a school teacher from County Tipperary in Ireland.

She said: “I can’t believe it. He was a sensational spin. What

Henry does with these horses I do not know. I am so lucky to be riding Minella Times. He was just incredible. He jumped beautifully. I waited as long as I could and then I asked him for a bit more.”

Asked about becoming the first woman to win one of the biggest horse races in the world she said: “I don’t feel male or female. I don’t even feel human.”

Earlier there had been a two-minute silence to honour Prince Philip who was a member of the Jockey Club.

The Long Mile, pulled up late in the race, was put down because of injuries.

Jockey Bryony Frost has been taken to hospital after coming off Yala Enki.