JP McManus heaped praise on racing's new superstar Rachael Blackmore after he was crowned the champion owner in Britain today.
The Limerick man has endured a tough time with the tragic loss of his daughter-in-law Emma last December.
But he had reason for cheer this month when Blackmore steered his horse Minella Times to victory in the Aintree Grand National.
He told ITV: "It was a very special day, especially with Rachael winning. It brought a lot of joy to the family and I'm sure to a lot of people throughout the country."
Blackmore, 31, has shot to stardom, with her National win coming hot on the heels of her riding six winners at the Cheltenham Festival.
The jockey's brilliant rise is no surprise to McManus, though.
The 70-year-old remembers telling his racing manager Frank Berry that they needed to get Blackmore on side when she was firing in winners as a conditional jockey.
McManus told: "I said to Frank Berry, 'She is taking a lot of the food off our table here, Frank. It's time we started to engage with her a little bit'.
"So, she rode a few for us and did very well. The remarkable thing about Rachael is when she takes a fall she is like a rubber ball, she just bounces back.
"Horses run for her. And we are all so pleased, and proud of her."
Blackmore was riding at Sandown today but her attention will now turn to next week's Punchestown Festival.
The Tipperary woman is currently four winners behind Paul Townend in the race to be champion jump jockey in Ireland.
And her bid for the title was boosted with the news today that she will be partnering Envoi Allen for the first time in the Dooley Insurance Group Champion Novice Steeplechase.
The Henry de Bromhead-trained gelding takes on Willie Mullins' Cheltenham winner Monkfish in a heavyweight clash on Tuesday.
His trainer told the Racing Post: "Rachael will ride Envoi Allen at Punchestown.
"He seems to be in great order and worked really well the other day. I've been delighted with him.
"It's going to be fascinating to see him running over three miles for the first time and that will tell us a lot with regard to next year and what sort of route we might take for that campaign."
"It's going to be fascinating to see him running over three miles for the first time and that will tell us a lot with regard to next year and what sort of route we might take for that campaign."
