A stunning week for Rachael Blackmore at the Cheltenham Festival was completed on Friday as she became the first woman to secure the coveted top jockeys' award.
Six wins - including a history-making victory aboard Honeysuckle in the Champion Hurdle on Tuesday - have seen the 31-year-old rocket to the summit of the sport, earning plaudits from the likes of Sir Anthony McCoy and Ruby Walsh.
Her final afternoon started in a similar vein to the previous three days, as she steered the Henry de Bromhead-trained Quilixios to victory in the JCB Triumph Hurdle - and it so nearly climaxed with glory in the Gold Cup through A Plus Tard, who found only stablemate Minella Indo too good.
Jack Kennedy was out of luck aboard Mighty Stowaway in the Hunters’ Chase, with that defeat ensuring Rachael Blackmore will claim the top jockey title at the Festival.
Blackmore is the first woman to be crowned leading rider at the meeting, with the victory sealing a fabulous week that yielded six victories overall. She was out of luck on her final ride of the meeting as Cabaret Queen pulled up in the Mrs Paddy Power Mares’ Chase.
The Grade Two heat is a new addition to the Festival this year and Willie Mullins dominated the inaugural running, with Colreevy (9-4) pipping stablemate Elimay (6-5 favourite) to glory.
The pair went toe-to-toe all the way down the straight, with Colreevy finding more for Paul Townend to edge victory. Shattered Love was back in third.
