Tributes have been pouring in for Rachael Blackmore following her historic Grand National win on Minella Times.
The Tipperary jockey became the first woman to win the Aintree race for trainer Henry de Bromhead on Saturday.
Katie Walsh, who previously held the best record in the race for a female jockey after finishing third on the Ted Walsh-trained Seabass in 2012, said: “It’s absolutely unbelievable.
"It really was a great result for racing - it was a great result all round. It was history in the making, very few people were there to see it but I was there! I’m delighted that I was lucky enough to be there to witness it and it really was absolutely brilliant.
“It is huge. It’s the first woman to win the National. It’s history, but I suppose this has been coming over time. There’s been more women riding in the National over the last couple of years.
“There were maybe two or three women riding in it and the rest were men so they were always outnumbered really, so it all happened today – it all worked, it all clicked.
“This is the most watched race in the world, there are people who are going to hear about this in all different parts of the world and it’s just brilliant for horseracing and I’m delighted for Rachael. She’s an inspiration to male and female jockeys and she’s inspiring. The result couldn’t have been any better.
“It’s just a great day and I just look at it like the way she’s looking at it, that it’s unbelievable and that she’s the person who won the Randox Grand National this year and it’s just a great result.
“It is history without doubt, but I don’t think this needed to happen to encourage women into sport or to show people on the outside that we’re level, because that’s been shown for the last decade I’d have thought.
“She’s a star. She’s so tactically aware, she’s as hard as nails both mentally and physically, she can take the ups and the downs and she deserves this. This isn’t just pot luck or a fluke, she’s worked hard to get this and she deserves it.”
Trainer De Bromhead said: “It’s fantastic. Rachael is breaking all records. We’re just delighted.
“Balko Des Flos ran a cracker and Chris’s Dream was going very well, but unfortunately he unshipped Darragh O’Keeffe four out. They all ran really well.
“It looked like Rachael had the race won at the last, but we all know how that can change. Any Second Now looked a bit unlucky with his passage and he started to come back at us and obviously Balko was staying on as well.
“Rachael got a great passage all the way round, a lot of luck on her side and he winged fences for her. It was brilliant.
“She knows the horse very well. We were unfortunate during the winter when having a couple of great runs and just getting beaten, but this made up for it.
“We put National-type fences together last week and it seems to have helped, but he’s such a brilliant jumper anyway. He was so good all the way.”
He added: “I thought I was dreaming after Cheltenham so this is amazing, it’s incredible and Rachael was unbelievable. It’s incredible to do it for the McManus’ family and we got a clear run the whole way.
“Of course you dream of winning this, but it was a distant dream. Anyone in the jumping game wants to win it, so I’m just so fortunate.
“Rachael is brilliant and we’re so lucky to have her, I think they broke the mould with her, what can you say?
“It’s a good partnership, you can see from when she joined us how we’ve gone from strength to strength. She’s just a fantastic rider and a lovely person to work with."
Legendary jockey AP McCoy heaped praise on Blackmore, saying: “Look it’s a brilliant thing for horse racing that she’s won.
“She’s an amazing rider and she proved that at Cheltenham, but to win the biggest horse race in the world is great for the sport.
“It’s great for her, but it’s brilliant for the sport as well.
“It gives every young girl hope of winning the biggest race in the world and winning any race for that matter – she can do it all.
“It’s a brilliant achievement and JP will be delighted. To win this race is very special and for her to do it on one of his horses is great.”
His wife Chanelle tweeted: "Huge congrats to @rachaelblackmor breaking new ground in racing being the 1st female to win the Aintree Grand National @aintreeracecourse. So humble & endearing in all your victories. A hero in our house. #inspiration #class."
President Michael D Higgins said: “My congratulations to Rachael Blackmore on an historic achievement at Aintree. Today’s win is both a personal and sporting success, and comes only a month after her groundbreaking wins at Cheltenham.”
Taoiseach Micheal Martin added: “A truly amazing achievement again Rachael Blackmore, Ireland is so proud of you becoming the first woman to win the Grand National.
“A historic few weeks that will live long in the memory.
English trainer Paul Nicholls commented: “It’s been a fantastic day. What a brilliant ride Rachael Blackmore gave that horse in the National - it’s great for racing.
“She’s had a fantastic year, is a brilliant rider who works for a brilliant trainer, and it’s positive publicity for racing, which is what we want. She’s a credit to the sport and a credit to herself.”
Retired jockey Lizzie Kelly said: “As a little girl I sat on my pony and pretended to be AP McCoy.
“Little girls now can pretend to be Rachael Blackmore. Thank you Rachael from my 10-year-old self.”
Pro darts player Fallon Sherrock said: “Massive congratulations to Rachael Blackmore on becoming the first woman to win the Grand National, what an achievement!
“Watch out world, us women are coming for you!! Breaking down boundaries and smashing the stereotypes.”
Hurling great Henry Shefflin tweeted: "Congratulations - making history, breaking barriers, role model."
