Rachael Blackmore

Rachael Blackmore is an Irish National Hunt jockey from County Tipperary who became the first woman to win the Grand National when she rode Minella Times to victory at Aintree in 2021. In the same season, she became the first woman to be leading jockey at the Cheltenham Festival, a double achievement that transformed the sport's public profile.

Her 2021 Cheltenham Festival was historic by any measure. She rode six winners across the four days, including Honeysuckle in the Champion Hurdle, dominating the meeting in a way that made her gender incidental to the conversation. Honeysuckle, trained by Henry de Bromhead, went on an unbeaten streak of 16 races that Blackmore navigated with impeccable judgment, settling the mare in behind before producing her with precisely timed challenges. In 2022, she won the Cheltenham Gold Cup on A Plus Tard, again for de Bromhead, adding the championship's most prestigious prize to her record. The Grand National victory on Minella Times completed a set of achievements that would be exceptional for any jump jockey in history.

Blackmore came to racing relatively late compared to many of her peers, having studied equine science before turning professional. That academic grounding gives her an understanding of horse physiology and behavior that informs her riding. She is cool under pressure, rarely makes tactical errors, and has a particular talent for navigating the obstacles and chaos of National Hunt racing without losing position or composure. Her partnership with de Bromhead's stable has been the foundation of her success, though she also rides winners for other leading trainers.

In 2026, Blackmore will be a central figure at the major National Hunt festivals. She is expected to ride leading contenders at the Cheltenham Festival and the Grand National, the two meetings most closely associated with her career. Fans can follow in Ireland time.