Golden girl Rachael Blackmore could round off her dream year with success on on Minella Indo in the King George VI Chase at Kempton on Sunday.
The 2021 Cheltenham Gold Cup hero is the 5-2 joint-favourite for the Christmas highlight.
Blackmore won the BBC World Sport Star of the Year award on Sunday just 24 hours after grabbing the gong for the 2021 RTE
Sport Sportsperson of the Year.
The 32-year-old made history in April when becoming the first woman to win the Grand National on Minella Times. and earlier becoming leading rider at the Cheltenham Festival – the highlight being victory on Honeysuckle in the Champion Hurdle.
Garry Cribbin, Blackmore’s agent since 2013, was still on cloud nine after the rider’s double celebration.
“Unbelievable, very proud of her,” he said. “It’s pinch yourself stuff.
“She’s as modest as they come. When I saw her name down besides Muhammad Ali and Pele on the BBC, it’s just unbelievable.”
As for trying to explain her popularity and talent in the saddle, Cribbin added: “She has not changed from day one.
“She’s as humble as they come, you know. I don’t have to say too much about her as everybody knows.
“I’ve looked after her from day one. In all those years we’ve never had a bad word.
“Always has a smile on her face. At last season’s Cheltenham Festival she had some heavy falls at speed but she just bounced back.”
Henry de Bromhead, the trainer of Minella Indo, confirmed his runner’s participation.
“Our plan is definitely to go for the King George,” he said.
“We are looking forward to that. He is in good form.
“It is a Grade One, so it is never going to be easy, but we will take our chance.”
Yesterday 10 runners remained in the Boxing Day cracker that included Coral’s 5-2 joint-favourite Clan Des Obeax, seeking a third victory in the famous old race, along with last year’s winner Frodon, ridden by Bryony Frost, who is rated at 5-1.
