RACHAEL BLACKMORE CREATED history in style by landing the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham today with favourite Honeysuckle.
The Tipperary native became the first female jockey to land the feature race on the opening day of the festival.
And she did it with a superb showing as the unbeaten Honeysuckle for trainer Henry De Bromhead justified the favourite tag. Sharjah finished second with last year’s winner Epatante back in third.
“Absolutely incredible, I’m speechless to be honest,” said Blackmore in the immediate aftermath of her triumph.
The first female jockey to ever win the Champion Hurdle! 🏆
— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) March 16, 2021
Rachael Blackmore and Honeysuckle.
What a performance!
What a duo!#CheltenhamFestival #VMTVRacing pic.twitter.com/7c4c3KuPCm
“I really am. I can’t believe we just won a Champion Hurdle. Incredible. I hope Kenny Alexander (Honeysuckle’s owner) is getting a kick out of this at home. I’m sure he is, and Peter Moloney.
“It’s unbelievable for everyone in the yard. They all work so hard. Colman Comerford rides her out. Emmet looks after her, such a massive team. Henry just produces her every day in that form and I get to steer her around. Just incredible.
“She’s so straightforward to ride. When you know you’ve an engine under you, it’s very easy to do things in a race.”
"I'm speechless to be honest, I really am. I can't believe we just won a Champion Hurdle!"
— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) March 16, 2021
A brilliant interview by @rachaelblackmor after making history at Cheltenham!
What a star! 🌟#CheltenhamFestival #VMTVRacing pic.twitter.com/GcBZWjuk1t
The history-making element to the win was not something Blackmore ever wanted to focus on.
“Look it doesn’t matter what you are. We’re jockeys, we’re winning races and it’s just a privilege to be here.”
Honeysuckle hit the front between the final two flights and she bounded up the hill to go on and win in impressive fashion. Silver Streak, Not So Sleepy and Goshen were the expected pacesetters early on, with Abacadabras falling at the third.
As the field moved out, Jamie Moore began to have steering problems on Goshen, which ended his hopes of success. Honeysuckle moved forward in impressive fashion, the de Bromhead-trained mare powered away to take her 100% record over hurdles to 11.
She finished six and a half lengths clear of Sharjah, runner-up for the second successive year with Paul Townend on board, and last year’s winner Epatante was another three lengths away in third place.
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