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RTÉ News
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- RTÉ News
Rachael Blackmore: It wasn't a massive plan, it just felt like the right time
Just a week after announcing her retirement as a jockey, Rachael Blackmore says it wasn't part of a "massive plan" and that the timing just "felt right." The Tipperary rider announced her retirement last week after a glittering 16-year career, in which she became the first female jockey to win the Aintree Grand National in 2021 and the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 2022 - won aboard Minella Times and A Plus Tard respectively. Blackmore rode a total of 18 winners at Cheltenham over the course of her career and also became the first woman to be leading jockey at the festival in 2022. Reflecting in the wake of her retirement and the tributes which followed, Blackmore spoke to Ruby Walsh and Damien O'Meara on RTÉ 2fm's Game On, admitting she was "blown away" by the response to the news. "It wasn't a massive plan. I never knew how that day would come. But it did come," Blackmore said of her decision to retire. "It just felt right in that moment. It felt like the right time. "I'm so blown away by the response. Obviously, I knew it would be a news story in some shape. The amount of coverage in the newspapers. The amount of articles. "The amount of people that have written to me and rang me and sent me messages. People that you might pass and you know them but you don't have their numbers. But they've gone out of their way to get my number and send me a message. I'm just so blown away by that." Asked to cite her most memorable victory, Blackmore first plumped for her final win aboard Honeysuckle in the 2023 Mares' Hurdle at Cheltenham, though acknowledged that few things in racing could top the joy of a Grand National victory. "I think coming back into the winners' enclosure on Honeysuckle on her last race was a phenomenal feeling. "Even visually, I hope I'll never forget what it looked like. It was just black with people. There was no space anywhere. "It was different. It didn't feel like it was just about me riding a winner. It wasn't about that. It was about loads of other things. It was a very special moment. "I don't know would I love to live it again because it was sad as well. But it was a standout moment. "Obviously, winning the Grand National was just phenomenal. You just don't feel joy like that instantaneously when you cross the line. I've never felt such a kick of joy straight away. "You ride winners in Cheltenham and you feel relief because there's pressure and so on. But the Grand National is just joy straight away. "I was very lucky when I got linked up with Henry DeBromhead. He had a serious yard of horses. "It just elevated my career to a whole new level. You need to get the bounce of the ball essentially and I feel like I got that. "There's so many good riders in the weighing room and there's only a certain amount of races in a day. There can only be seven jockeys or whatever ride a winner in a day. You have to be getting on the right horses to achieve these things." On her future plans, the 35-year old said she was taking her time before deciding what to pursue next but stressed that she felt lucky to be retiring on her own terms. "I wish I knew. I never thought about what I'd do when I'd finish. Because I felt so lucky to be in the position I was. I just wanted to focus on what I was doing. I'm very lucky that I can take a few weeks and try and figure everything out. "I'm so lucky I got to finish when I wanted to. Physically I'm fine. I could go out and ride in the morning if I wanted to. My body is good. "I've had my injuries, I've had my breaks. But I had very good people looking after me. I'm well patched up now. "I was very lucky throughout my career in that sense. I didn't come off too badly on the injury side of it. Every jockey has their falls and I got my share of them. But they could always have been a lot worse."
Rhyl Journal
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Rhyl Journal
Six star performers for Rachael Blackmore
Honeysuckle Honeysuckle and Blackmore were quite simply a match made in heaven. If one horse elevated the rider's career above all others, it was surely Kenny Alexander's magnificent mare, with the pair combining for a staggering haul of 17 wins from 19 starts over hurdles. She did not taste defeat in her first 16 outings, a run which included back-to-back victories in the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham – and while her powers appeared to be on the wane after being beaten in her first two races of her final season, she brought the house down on her return to the Cotswolds when landing her second Mares' Hurdle on her swansong in 2023. Honeysuckle was immediately retired after going out in a blaze of glory. Minella Times Blackmore was already firmly established among National Hunt racing's elite riders ahead of the 2021 Grand National, but victory aboard Minella Times took her profile to another level, as her achievement in becoming the first female rider to win the world's most famous steeplechase made headlines around the world. Minella Times was brought down in his bid for back-to-back wins at Aintree the following season and was retired after three more outings, but his place in racing history is cemented. Minella Indo It may be hard to believe it now, but at the start of 2019, Rachael Blackmore had not even ridden a Grade One winner. Minella Indo set that particular record straight at that year's Cheltenham Festival as he ran out a shock 50-1 scorer in the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle. He went on to prove that was no fluke when doubling his top-level tally at Punchestown the following month and Blackmore would steer him to three chase wins in 2020. She did, of course, miss his big day when winning the 2021 Cheltenham Gold Cup after siding with his stablemate A Plus Tard, but we all know what happened 12 months later. A Plus Tard A Plus Tard provided Blackmore with her first Cheltenham Festival success when absolutely annihilating his rivals in the Close Brothers Novices' Handicap Chase in 2019 – three days prior to Minella Indo's Albert Barlett win. Blackmore and A Plus Tard subsequently combined for just three further wins, but they were all big ones – the 2020 Savills Chase, the 2021 Betfair Chase and that historic Gold Cup triumph at Cheltenham. Having picked the wrong one a year earlier, Blackmore stuck with A Plus Tard and was rewarded in sensational style as he accelerated up the Cheltenham hill to seal a 15-length verdict over Minella Indo to ensure Blackmore became the first woman to ride the winner of the blue riband. Envoi Allen Envoi Allen went unbeaten in his first 11 races for Gordon Elliott, but fell on his first start after joining Henry de Bromhead when bidding for a third Cheltenham Festival win back in 2021. It is fair to say results have been mixed for the Cheveley Park-owned gelding since, but Blackmore steered him to a trio of Grade One wins, including a brilliant victory in the 2023 Ryanair Chase. Allaho Blackmore's association with the Willie Mullins-trained Allaho was short and sweet – but equally brilliant. Another ace in the Cheveley Park pack, the nine-year-old was passed over by stable jockey Paul Townend in the 2021 Ryanair Chase in favour of stablemate Min. Despite that, strong market support for Allaho saw him sent off the 3-1 favourite and what followed was a demolition job as he devoured the fences from the front on his way to a 12-length success. Blackmore was again on board when he came off second best in a clash with another Mullins star in Chacun Pour Soi at Punchestown the following month, but Patrick Mullins and Townend subsequently steered him to big-race success.
Leader Live
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Leader Live
Six star performers for Rachael Blackmore
Honeysuckle Honeysuckle and Blackmore were quite simply a match made in heaven. If one horse elevated the rider's career above all others, it was surely Kenny Alexander's magnificent mare, with the pair combining for a staggering haul of 17 wins from 19 starts over hurdles. She did not taste defeat in her first 16 outings, a run which included back-to-back victories in the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham – and while her powers appeared to be on the wane after being beaten in her first two races of her final season, she brought the house down on her return to the Cotswolds when landing her second Mares' Hurdle on her swansong in 2023. Honeysuckle was immediately retired after going out in a blaze of glory. Minella Times Blackmore was already firmly established among National Hunt racing's elite riders ahead of the 2021 Grand National, but victory aboard Minella Times took her profile to another level, as her achievement in becoming the first female rider to win the world's most famous steeplechase made headlines around the world. Minella Times was brought down in his bid for back-to-back wins at Aintree the following season and was retired after three more outings, but his place in racing history is cemented. Minella Indo It may be hard to believe it now, but at the start of 2019, Rachael Blackmore had not even ridden a Grade One winner. Minella Indo set that particular record straight at that year's Cheltenham Festival as he ran out a shock 50-1 scorer in the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle. He went on to prove that was no fluke when doubling his top-level tally at Punchestown the following month and Blackmore would steer him to three chase wins in 2020. She did, of course, miss his big day when winning the 2021 Cheltenham Gold Cup after siding with his stablemate A Plus Tard, but we all know what happened 12 months later. A Plus Tard A Plus Tard provided Blackmore with her first Cheltenham Festival success when absolutely annihilating his rivals in the Close Brothers Novices' Handicap Chase in 2019 – three days prior to Minella Indo's Albert Barlett win. Blackmore and A Plus Tard subsequently combined for just three further wins, but they were all big ones – the 2020 Savills Chase, the 2021 Betfair Chase and that historic Gold Cup triumph at Cheltenham. Having picked the wrong one a year earlier, Blackmore stuck with A Plus Tard and was rewarded in sensational style as he accelerated up the Cheltenham hill to seal a 15-length verdict over Minella Indo to ensure Blackmore became the first woman to ride the winner of the blue riband. Envoi Allen Envoi Allen went unbeaten in his first 11 races for Gordon Elliott, but fell on his first start after joining Henry de Bromhead when bidding for a third Cheltenham Festival win back in 2021. It is fair to say results have been mixed for the Cheveley Park-owned gelding since, but Blackmore steered him to a trio of Grade One wins, including a brilliant victory in the 2023 Ryanair Chase. Allaho Blackmore's association with the Willie Mullins-trained Allaho was short and sweet – but equally brilliant. Another ace in the Cheveley Park pack, the nine-year-old was passed over by stable jockey Paul Townend in the 2021 Ryanair Chase in favour of stablemate Min. Despite that, strong market support for Allaho saw him sent off the 3-1 favourite and what followed was a demolition job as he devoured the fences from the front on his way to a 12-length success. Blackmore was again on board when he came off second best in a clash with another Mullins star in Chacun Pour Soi at Punchestown the following month, but Patrick Mullins and Townend subsequently steered him to big-race success.
South Wales Guardian
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- South Wales Guardian
Six star performers for Rachael Blackmore
Honeysuckle Honeysuckle and Blackmore were quite simply a match made in heaven. If one horse elevated the rider's career above all others, it was surely Kenny Alexander's magnificent mare, with the pair combining for a staggering haul of 17 wins from 19 starts over hurdles. She did not taste defeat in her first 16 outings, a run which included back-to-back victories in the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham – and while her powers appeared to be on the wane after being beaten in her first two races of her final season, she brought the house down on her return to the Cotswolds when landing her second Mares' Hurdle on her swansong in 2023. Honeysuckle was immediately retired after going out in a blaze of glory. Minella Times Blackmore was already firmly established among National Hunt racing's elite riders ahead of the 2021 Grand National, but victory aboard Minella Times took her profile to another level, as her achievement in becoming the first female rider to win the world's most famous steeplechase made headlines around the world. Minella Times was brought down in his bid for back-to-back wins at Aintree the following season and was retired after three more outings, but his place in racing history is cemented. Minella Indo It may be hard to believe it now, but at the start of 2019, Rachael Blackmore had not even ridden a Grade One winner. Minella Indo set that particular record straight at that year's Cheltenham Festival as he ran out a shock 50-1 scorer in the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle. He went on to prove that was no fluke when doubling his top-level tally at Punchestown the following month and Blackmore would steer him to three chase wins in 2020. She did, of course, miss his big day when winning the 2021 Cheltenham Gold Cup after siding with his stablemate A Plus Tard, but we all know what happened 12 months later. A Plus Tard A Plus Tard provided Blackmore with her first Cheltenham Festival success when absolutely annihilating his rivals in the Close Brothers Novices' Handicap Chase in 2019 – three days prior to Minella Indo's Albert Barlett win. Blackmore and A Plus Tard subsequently combined for just three further wins, but they were all big ones – the 2020 Savills Chase, the 2021 Betfair Chase and that historic Gold Cup triumph at Cheltenham. Having picked the wrong one a year earlier, Blackmore stuck with A Plus Tard and was rewarded in sensational style as he accelerated up the Cheltenham hill to seal a 15-length verdict over Minella Indo to ensure Blackmore became the first woman to ride the winner of the blue riband. Envoi Allen Envoi Allen went unbeaten in his first 11 races for Gordon Elliott, but fell on his first start after joining Henry de Bromhead when bidding for a third Cheltenham Festival win back in 2021. It is fair to say results have been mixed for the Cheveley Park-owned gelding since, but Blackmore steered him to a trio of Grade One wins, including a brilliant victory in the 2023 Ryanair Chase. Allaho Blackmore's association with the Willie Mullins-trained Allaho was short and sweet – but equally brilliant. Another ace in the Cheveley Park pack, the nine-year-old was passed over by stable jockey Paul Townend in the 2021 Ryanair Chase in favour of stablemate Min. Despite that, strong market support for Allaho saw him sent off the 3-1 favourite and what followed was a demolition job as he devoured the fences from the front on his way to a 12-length success. Blackmore was again on board when he came off second best in a clash with another Mullins star in Chacun Pour Soi at Punchestown the following month, but Patrick Mullins and Townend subsequently steered him to big-race success.
Glasgow Times
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Glasgow Times
Six star performers for Rachael Blackmore
Honeysuckle Rachael Blackmore aboard Honeysuckle after winning the Mares' Hurdle (David Davies/PA) Honeysuckle and Blackmore were quite simply a match made in heaven. If one horse elevated the rider's career above all others, it was surely Kenny Alexander's magnificent mare, with the pair combining for a staggering haul of 17 wins from 19 starts over hurdles. She did not taste defeat in her first 16 outings, a run which included back-to-back victories in the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham – and while her powers appeared to be on the wane after being beaten in her first two races of her final season, she brought the house down on her return to the Cotswolds when landing her second Mares' Hurdle on her swansong in 2023. Honeysuckle was immediately retired after going out in a blaze of glory. Minella Times Minella Times and Rachael Blackmore on their way to Grand National glory (Tim Goode/PA) Blackmore was already firmly established among National Hunt racing's elite riders ahead of the 2021 Grand National, but victory aboard Minella Times took her profile to another level, as her achievement in becoming the first female rider to win the world's most famous steeplechase made headlines around the world. Minella Times was brought down in his bid for back-to-back wins at Aintree the following season and was retired after three more outings, but his place in racing history is cemented. Minella Indo Minella Indo (left) winning the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle (Julian Herbert/PA) It may be hard to believe it now, but at the start of 2019, Rachael Blackmore had not even ridden a Grade One winner. Minella Indo set that particular record straight at that year's Cheltenham Festival as he ran out a shock 50-1 scorer in the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle. He went on to prove that was no fluke when doubling his top-level tally at Punchestown the following month and Blackmore would steer him to three chase wins in 2020. She did, of course, miss his big day when winning the 2021 Cheltenham Gold Cup after siding with his stablemate A Plus Tard, but we all know what happened 12 months later. A Plus Tard Rachael Blackmore and A Plus Tard after winning the 2022 Cheltenham Gold Cup (Tim Goode/PA) A Plus Tard provided Blackmore with her first Cheltenham Festival success when absolutely annihilating his rivals in the Close Brothers Novices' Handicap Chase in 2019 – three days prior to Minella Indo's Albert Barlett win. Blackmore and A Plus Tard subsequently combined for just three further wins, but they were all big ones – the 2020 Savills Chase, the 2021 Betfair Chase and that historic Gold Cup triumph at Cheltenham. Having picked the wrong one a year earlier, Blackmore stuck with A Plus Tard and was rewarded in sensational style as he accelerated up the Cheltenham hill to seal a 15-length verdict over Minella Indo to ensure Blackmore became the first woman to ride the winner of the blue riband. Envoi Allen Rachael Blackmore celebrates after winning the Ryanair Chase aboard Envoi Allen (Mike Egerton/PA) Envoi Allen went unbeaten in his first 11 races for Gordon Elliott, but fell on his first start after joining Henry de Bromhead when bidding for a third Cheltenham Festival win back in 2021. It is fair to say results have been mixed for the Cheveley Park-owned gelding since, but Blackmore steered him to a trio of Grade One wins, including a brilliant victory in the 2023 Ryanair Chase. Allaho Rachael Blackmore celebrates after steering Allaho to win the Ryanair Chase (Alan Crowhurst/PA) Blackmore's association with the Willie Mullins-trained Allaho was short and sweet – but equally brilliant. Another ace in the Cheveley Park pack, the nine-year-old was passed over by stable jockey Paul Townend in the 2021 Ryanair Chase in favour of stablemate Min. Despite that, strong market support for Allaho saw him sent off the 3-1 favourite and what followed was a demolition job as he devoured the fences from the front on his way to a 12-length success. Blackmore was again on board when he came off second best in a clash with another Mullins star in Chacun Pour Soi at Punchestown the following month, but Patrick Mullins and Townend subsequently steered him to big-race success.
