‘I can’t believe I’m me!’ Grand National history leaves Rachael Blackmore speechless

The 31-year-old became the first female winner of the world’s most famous jumps race, an historic achievement that has left her pinching herself

Rachael Blackmore celebrates winning the Grand National (Pool via REUTERS)

For 76 years Elizabeth Taylor was the only female winner of the Grand National.

But following Saturday's history-making ride at Aintree such a feat is no longer reserved just for the silver screen.

Rather than watching Taylor’s 1944 film National Velvet, young girls now have a real-life superstar to look up to after Rachael Blackmore etched her name in the annals at the 2021 Grand National by becoming the first female jockey to win the 173-year-old race.

In doing so, winning on 11/1 shot Minella Times for trainer Henry de Bromhead, she capped a life-changing few weeks after catapulting herself into sporting stardom at the Cheltenham Festival.

“I just cannot believe it. He [Minella Times] was an absolutely sensational spin,” she said afterwards.

“What Henry de Bromhead does with these horses, I don't know! I'm so lucky to be riding them, I just cannot believe I'm speaking after winning the Grand National. This is unbelievable.

“I never imagined even getting a ride in this race, let alone be standing here looking at this trophy. This race captures the imagination of every young person with a pony.

“I don't feel male or female right now. I don't even feel human.”

Just as Velvet shies away from the spotlight in the Clarence Brown-directed film, Blackmore is not one for hogging the limelight and keeps her words short and sweet in front of the camera.

And modest to the last, the 31-year-old is the first to deflect praise onto the trainer she works so much with.

But, after following up becoming the first female jockey to win Cheltenham Festival’s top jockeys crown with this Aintree triumph, even she must now be realising the scale of her own achievements.

Hailed by de Bromhead as a jockey who has forced the hand of owners into giving her rides, Blackmore has risen to the very top of the sporting landscape the hard way.

The daughter of a dairy farmer and a school teacher from Killenaule, County Tipperary, she was not born into racing like many others - but instead worked her way up.

From ponies to the amateur ranks, starting as a professional to rewriting the history books time and again, Blackmore’s blazed a trail that will change horse racing forever.

And her advice, dream big. Because you never know how far you can go.

“This is an unimaginable feeling, you can't get close to dreaming about how it feels until it happens. I can't put into words how this feels,” she added.

“I didn't dream about making a career as a jockey because I didn't think it could happen. Keep your dreams big, that's the inspiration I have for you.

“I can't believe I'm Rachael Blackmore. I can't believe I'm me.”