Rachael Blackmore is so pleased with successful the Cheltenham Gold Cup she retains a mini model
The legendary jockey said her first emotion as she steered A Plus Tard to victory in 2022 was ‘relief’ because the horse was so good
Rachael Blackmore celebrates at Cheltenham Festival(Image: PA)
Rachael Blackmore is so proud of being the only woman to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup she keeps a mini version on her dresser.
The legendary jockey said her first emotion as she steered A Plus Tard to victory in 2022 was ‘relief’ because the horse was so good.
Rachael, 36, had finished second the year before and thought she had missed the chance to make history.
She told the Daily Star: “I was second in the Gold Cup the year before so I’d felt what it was like to get so close to winning that Blue Riband event of our sport.
“When I pulled up that year I was, ‘I’ve got so close to winning this. Loads of people don’t even get this close and I have. But my chance has gone.’
“I really felt like that was my chance and it was gone.
“Then for it to actually happen 12 months later – for everything just to work. The race – A Plus Tard was just incredible.
“Everything just slammed in.
“Crossing the line relief was my first feeling – that it had happened. Because I’d got so close, because I was in a position where I was getting to ride these horses that can put you there.
“There’s incredible jockeys in the weighing room but you need to be getting on these horses.
“I was the lucky one on them.
“So for it just to all work it was such an incredible feeling.
“It’s the Gold Cup. I love it actually on my dresser at home. It’s a really cool thing to get to look at.
“It’s like a little mini Gold Cup and it’s very very special.”
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