Original subtitles

(WOMAN) From the very start,

she definitely wanted to be the best that she could be.

(MAN) Being a jump jockey is a calculated risk.

(WOMAN 2) You have to keep on it every day.

If you step back, there's someone else to take your spot.

Whatever start you get in racing,

there's only one currency, and that's winners.

(WOMAN 3) There was people who said,

"Maybe this isn't the right thing for you to do."

(MAN 2) She just wasn't having the success that she wanted.

She had to do something.

She has not got it easy. She's worked for every bit of it.

(SPECTATORS CHEERING)

(COMMENTATOR) 'Across the line, Rachael Blackmore.'

I'm quite glad that I was coming to the end of my career

when Rachael was getting going.

'And a brilliant season continues for Rachael Blackmore.'

I didn't realise I was creating the monster that I created.

(COMMENTATOR 2) 'Rachael Blackmore wins.'

(COMMENTATOR 3) 'Blackmore in the winner's enclosure again.'

'Rachael Blackmore...' 'History in the National.'

(CHEERING AND WHOOPING FADING)

(GENTLE INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC)

(BIRDS CHIRPING)

(HORSE SNORTING GENTLY)

(MAN) Rachael Blackmore has improved year on year.

Horses respond to her.

To her communication with the horse through the reins

and through the saddle.

She gets horses to get down and gallop.

(FAINT SOUND OF SPECTATORS CHEERING)

(MAN 2) I know how difficult it is to do what she's doing,

but she makes it look easy.

You're sitting at home, saying, "I could do that."

But you can't.

For Rachael, she had years of experience

before she ever got going.

The more practise you have, I suppose, as a kid,

it all becomes muscle memory.

(SHOUTS)

Hyah!

(RACHAEL) I just had a brilliant childhood.

First of all, it's a very good lawnmower, right?

I'm sorry about that.

My Uncle Robin and my dad, Charles, farmed together,

so there was dairy and sheep.

(COWS MOOING)

I was born here, and my father farmed here before me.

His granddad farmed before him, went on from there.

(MOOING)

I think his love of animals extended to all of us.

So, I think we've five dogs at home at the moment

so it's a little bit of a madhouse.

(BIRDS SINGING)

(WOMAN) I'm originally really from Dublin.

My father retired, then he bought a stud farm here in Tipperary.

The first Christmas we were here,

Charles and his friend came to ask us out

because we were new to the area.

I was a little reluctant to go.

I said to my mum, "I don't know these guys."

And she being from Cavan, my mother's from Cavan,

said, "You're living in the country now."

"That's the way things are done. Get dressed, you're going out."

I suppose she was right, cos I ended up married to Charles.

(CHARLES) Smile. Smile.

This is the milking machine, in here,

where they store all the milk that you put in your cornflakes.

Ladies and gentlemen, sorry to interrupt Home And Away,

but I have an urgent message to tell you.

(SLOW CRUNCHING)

Pet lambs were a big part of my childhood.

I used to feed them before school.

She had a lamb called Joey.

She decided she'd like Joey to come to her Holy Communion,

so Charles made a little halter for him.

We couldn't put anything around his neck,

so we had a little dog harness

so she could control the lamb to some extent, like, so...

And he attended the Communion.

(COWS MOOING)

My home place is two miles up the road from Coolmore Stud,

so it's very much an equine part of the country.

(EIMIR) She was on a horse first about two or three.

You know, just sitting up. Very, very keen.

My granddad was getting onto my dad to get my brother a pony,

so my brother got a pony.

Jonathan had the pony first.

(MAN) Bubbles was this little pocket rocket.

She jumped incredibly well, and gave us such confidence.

We had this pony, Bubbles, who loved to go fast,

so she started riding on her.

The pony was fantastic and probably didn't have brakes,

which is, kind of, a bit of a drawback,

but she absolutely adored him.

If they could survive Bubbles, they can survive anything.

(CHARLOTTE) We had this one field at home

that has a sloping hill going up,

so we'd always race the ponies up that hill

to exercise them and stuff, but it'd be a bit of a race as well.

They were very competitive. If Jonathan jumped a drain,

Rachael says, "I can do that."

(JONNY) Definitely eager, definitely competitive.

Rachael didn't have a lot of patience then.

You're both cute.

(MAN) Bite her. Come on. Rachael? What?

Yeah, typical kind of brothers and sisters fights and all that.

(SPECTATORS CHEERING)

(INDISTINCT COMMENTARY)

(CHILD) Go! 'And they're away.'

(WOMAN) Come on, Rachy!

Well done. Come on, Rachael!

We all did pony club.

It was our social life, I'd say, as well.

Good girl!

(MAN LAUGHS)

(SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY)

(EXCITED CHATTER)

I never strayed into racing.

That's Rachael's court.

As a child, I rode in a local pony race,

so maybe it was an inner feeling from me

to maybe get back to doing that.

(RACHAEL) I think it was about 14.

You're getting to ride in an actual race, like, A to B,

whoever gets there the quickest wins.

Such a simple task,

but just really cool to be in an actual race.

We ended up in Kerry.

It was probably our second or third time at a pony race.

I had to get someone I knew

to make sure that the racing saddle was on correctly,

cos I wasn't used to a racing saddle.

We were very much the outsiders

coming into the pony racing on the day.

All these lads were all competing every week.

They're their own community.

We were these blow-ins who came down.

It was a stubbled field, it was a stormy day,

and the field was really soft.

(COMMENTATOR) 'Extending the advantage now,

going on by a couple of lengths there as he turns in.'

I just remember going along and being like, "It's so windy."

'But it's Grey Dancer and Tommy, coming up on the outside.'

'Grey Dancer, Tommy coming fast on the inside,

neck and neck as they race up to the finish.'

'Grey Dancer on the nearside, Tommy on the far side.'

'They're neck and neck. It's a desperately close thing.'

'Tommy on the far side, Grey Dancer on the nearside.'

So, as we await the winner of the second event here,

it's been a real upset.

Tommy's the name of the horse, Rachael Blackmore is the jockey.

I jumped off the pony

before you got to the winning marker in the parade ring.

They realised then we genuinely hadn't a clue what we were doing.

They have to come to the winner's, number one's spot.

They're down here.

They obviously don't understand about where one, two, three goes.

There's the winner, Tommy, a smiling Rachael Blackmore.

We'll talk to her in a moment as she goes around here.

Where's Rachael Blackmore from?

From Killenaule, in South Tipperary.

Great hurling country. Yeah, great hurling country.

Good horsey country as well. It's only her second time out.

Yeah? Thrilled.

Did you expect this win? Not at all!

People who were involved in pony racing

thought it rather strange, I would imagine,

that this youngster was coming from Tipperary

and suddenly winning a race, er, on a games pony.

Talk us through that race, dear, now.

Oh, it was brilliant. He just...

He had so much left in him at the end.

He just... He went really well. I couldn't believe it.

Is this your first win? Yeah.

I got a really nice trophy. It's one of my nicer ones I have.

I remember having it on my lap the whole way home,

and I kept looking at it.

I was just so excited to have won this, you know what I mean?

Like, we won, like.

(CHARLOTTE) Rachael was always very sporty.

Whatever she seemed to try her hand at she was good at.

Which is very annoying when you're her younger sister.

(INDISTINCT COMMENTARY)

I loved anything to do with ponies.

In my teenage years, I did a good bit of eventing.

That definitely taught me a lot more about jumping.

So, I finished school, went to study Science in UCD.

I was never overly academic.

My sister got all the brains in the family.

A hundred percent, yeah.

I kept failing Maths, went down to Limerick to UL

to study Equine Science where there was no Maths.

I knew she was going to work with horses. That was a given.

The love that I had for racing,

and for riding out and being part of all that

was a lot stronger than trying to pass my exams, probably.

(INDISTINCT COMMENTARY)

I rode ponies at the weekends.

You might only have one or two rides.

I needed all the experience I could get.

(CHARLES) I used to love going to point-to-points.

I'd go down to the fences to watch them and all the rest,

but when she started riding, I stayed away from the fences.

(INDISTINCT COMMENTARY)

(HORSE WHINNIES)

(MAN) We had point-to-pointers, 30 horses at times.

We always gave younger jockeys a chance.

(RACHAEL) Would have always looked up the entries for ladies races

and ring trainers.

Chancing your arm, you have to do it.

You get a lot of rejection.

You might ring a few and then get deterred, or get, you know...

So you might stop, and try again next week.

I used to try and get all the words out in one go.

"Hi. I'm Rachael Blackmore. I'm wondering if you're fixed up

for such and such a race on such and such a day."

So you try and get all the information out,

and see what they come back with.

I was looking for someone

to ride a horse called Stowaway Pearl in Thurles.

I knew this horse in the race was going spare, as they say,

so I took out the phone, rang Shark,

and Shark said, "No, I'm actually grand, thanks. I'm fixed up."

I remember ringing the yard and Shark saying to me

he won't bother running that horse in Thurles

because he can't get anyone good to ride it.

I rang Rachael and said Shark's running a horse,

but can't get anyone to ride it.

I said, "I'm already after ringing him, he said he was fixed up."

I said, "No. He just said that cos he didn't know you."

I think she rang Davy Russell then.

She was riding out in... a guy called Pat Downs,

who I also rode out there.

She was going to college in Limerick.

Davy Russell had said to me, "If you need a hand, give me a shout,"

so I rang Davy, and I said, "Any chance you can ring Shark?"

I hate to see talent go to waste.

When someone is keen to get going and they have a talent,

you'd like to point them in the right direction.

(HORSE WHINNIES)

He said, "There's a girl, she'd do you the finest."

Sixty seconds later, he rang me back and said, "Yeah, you can ride it."

(GENTLE INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC)

(CHARLES) I went to Thurles.

I wasn't close to the fence, I can tell you, so...

(COMMENTATOR) 'White flag is raised. They're off.'

(CHEERING) 'Mission Impossible sets off.'

I just told her to kick on from the second-last,

across the top of the hill, and stay going.

And she did stay going.

'Final flight. Stowaway Pearl has come back

to pick it up by a couple of lengths at the final flight.'

I had to prove myself.

'Stowaway Pearl will win it.'

That's why ladies' races are there.

I was able to get exposure in those and then people see you.

That's what kicked the ball rolling with Shark.

'Won in good style, number 16, Stowaway Pearl,

providing Rachael Blackmore with her first-ever winner.'

(SHARK) So, we had a great start.

After that, she could start coming up into my yard

and she rode a lot of winners for me.

(COMMENTATOR) 'Safely over, Soudain from the Shark Hanlon stable.'

(COMMENTATOR) 'Driven up towards the line by Rachael Blackmore

wins our big race of the day.'

When starting out, you might get eight, ten, twelve rides in a year.

It's a very slow learning curve compared to other sports,

cos it's very hard to participate.

Point-to-points are tough. You're riding very green horses.

You're constantly trying to put yourself in a position

to get on better horses.

So many things have to fall into place

that you're the person that gets to ride that horse on the day.

I really wanted being a jockey to work.

I wanted it to work so bad.

Mentally, I didn't have to fully commit to being a jockey

because I was in college.

When I was 25, I'd finally, eventually, finished my college

and I was kind of at a crossroads

where continuing what I was doing as an amateur, it wasn't a career,

it was essentially more like a hobby.

I had to think about maybe getting a real job now.

(HORSE GRUNTS)

My partner, we discussed that maybe we should turn her pro.

There wasn't a female to do that

since Maria Cullen was a professional in the 1980s.

It hadn't happened in a long time.

You had a lot of good lady amateur jockeys,

but they just didn't go professional.

I always wanted to ride as a jockey,

but I could just never envisage that it would be a career for me.

She said, "I'm not good enough to turn pro."

She knocked herself straightaway.

What was I doing? I was an average amateur turning professional.

How is this going to... It wasn't a natural thing to do.

Came home and she said, "I'm thinking of turning professional."

I asked Charles, "What does that mean?"

We knew better than to try and talk her out of it, so...

There was a lot of eyebrows raised, "Why is she doing it?"

I got phone calls, saying, "Are you mad?"

"Why are you turning the girl pro?"

So, the differences between being professional and amateur,

they are basically that, as a professional

you've more opportunities to ride,

you get paid into your HRI account.

The weights would be much lighter.

My weight was good. I was able to claim off bottom weight.

They were not afraid putting her up.

She was able to ride at a very light weight.

She was a very powerful rider at that weight.

That was the turning point. You were thinking, "Whoa, big move."

Being a jump jockey, it's not a male or female thing,

but it's not for everybody.

.

(RACHAEL) I turned conditional in 2015. March of 2015.

It means you change your status from being an amateur

to a professional with a claim.

Every jockey starts with a seven-pound claim.

That essentially means that every horse they ride

carries seven pounds less because of the inexperience of the rider.

You can claim seven, then you go down to five and down to three.

It is essential that riders start with a claim,

or else they never get started.

As you ride more winners, your claim gets reduced.

When you've ridden your 60 winners, your claim's gone,

so you're on a level playing field with the other professionals.

(COMMENTATOR) 'White flag is raised. They're off.'

I'd be texting her telling her, "Fantastic, you were third."

Or, "Well done, you were second." (LAUGHS)

I remember her saying, "In whose world is second any good?"

I had seconds on a mare called Personal Shopper.

'Towards the finish it's a head-bobber.'

'(INDISTINCT) on the nearside of Personal Shopper.'

She was having plenty of seconds.

In her own head she was thinking, "When is it gonna happen?"

'Driven Hard in second, then Personal Shopper.'

You can take part all you want, but if you don't win,

you're not gonna last too long in it.

'Be Seeing You beats Personal Shopper.'

Rachael started with disappointment. She had a lot of disappointment.

There was loads of times when you might have rode a horse

and the next day they want to get someone else.

You're just not good enough at the time.

All I thought I could do was keep trying to get better myself,

and hoping one day that I'd be able to get on the horses

that would have the ability to get their heads in front.

To me, I only ever thought about

would she be able to handle the falls?

That's the only guarantee in racing.

Her idea of success is winning.

My idea of success is coming home safe.

Like any parent watching their child do a dangerous sport,

it was hard for them to watch at times.

Being a jump jockey is a calculated risk.

If you think for one moment you're not getting injured,

you shouldn't be doing it.

If you're gonna be successful, you have two ambulances behind you,

you'll be hoping that you're going faster than everyone else,

so there's a chance that when you fall, and you are gonna fall,

you're gonna get injured more than everyone else.

(EIMIR) Now she was actually on a track,

you could actually view the race.

That was great, because you could see that she was OK.

As parents, we were thinking, "This'll last six months,

and then she'll, you know, get a real job."

I wanted it to work out, and it wasn't working out

for a long time in everyone's eyes because I hadn't ridden a winner.

There's a handicap hurdle in Clonmel.

The horse was called Most Honourable. He was a fabulous horse.

(COMMENTATOR) 'Challenging down the outside...'

When we jumped the last, we were neck and neck to the line.

'Most Honourable on the stands side, Rock On Back rallying well

as they go to the line.'

I'm pretty sure I didn't know I'd won.

It was a big sigh of "Thank God that's just happened now."

"We're going now. I've ridden my winner."

When she rode a winner, everyone wanted her.

'As they go to the line, Rachael Blackmore on the nearside.'

'Abolitionist deserves to win it.'

'And a brilliant season continues for Rachael Blackmore.'

John Hanlon brought her to champion conditional.

(EIMIR) That was kind of a pivotal moment.

I suppose then I said, "She must be OK, so."

For anyone, you have to get a start.

If you don't get a start, you're finished.

I suppose she was lucky enough

that we were here to give her a hand.

But we only gave her a hand. She done it all herself.

(INSECTS CHIRPING)

(BIRDS SINGING)

(HORSES WHINNY SOFTLY)

(CHARLOTTE) She's up at the crack of dawn every morning.

It's not all glamour and big racecourses.

On Christmas Eve, she'll stay the night,

then she'll be gone the afternoon of Christmas Day

cos she's racing the next day.

(RACHAEL) I get to do this as my job,

and it doesn't feel like my job.

It's something I'd do for free.

Actually, don't tell anyone that. That's... That'll never happen.

(HORSES WHINNY SOFTLY)

She lives with Patrick Mullins and her partner, Brian Hayes, in Carlow.

Myself, Paddy and Rachael. The three of us.

(PADDY) A jockey's lifestyle isn't completely normal.

The fact that we're all on the same wavelength is a big help.

Brian and Rachael don't drink,

so they're good for designated drivers as well.

There's good banter there.

You discuss things after, when things go right,

but more so when things go wrong, actually.

(RACHAEL) The basic things for me, like getting a good start,

being aware of race pace and where you should be in a race,

being aware of the riders around you,

getting to know the people you ride against

and their different mannerisms.

The more you practise, the better you're gonna get.

I know very well she was on the phone to people,

probably pestering them,

but you just have to get on the phone, get in your car,

go and ride out, cover the miles.

It's not just going to happen if you sit at home on the couch.

I rode for Gigginstown a good bit as a claimer.

We came across Rachael when she was in Shark's claiming seven.

Then it became very apparent very quickly

that she's far better than just a claimer.

(MAN) I'm probably a bit of a pessimist, a bit negative.

The best thing that sums me up is

"expect the worst and hope for the best".

Eddie O'Leary suggested to me that we should try Rachael.

We were in the back of a taxi at Aintree.

He knew I was looking for someone.

From the word go, she looked to be a little bit different.

He was hugely impressed by her,

and he just said, "Definitely try her on our horses

and see how it goes."

Thankfully, the cab was moving, so he couldn't jump out.

A top-five trainer like Henry is what you need

to bring it to the next level. To have him behind you is massive.

The first couple of spins weren't so good

and I was starting to wonder, was this a good idea?

But everything just clicked. The horses really ran for Rachael.

What Rachael's very good at is controlling a race.

It's something that comes to you the more you're around horses.

It's a sixth sense.

I think horses like some people, horses respond to some people.

She has a way with them.

Delighted when she was riding for Henry, because as a mother,

he has a reputation for animals that jump well. That'll do me.

This is Honeysuckle.

She's given me some of the best days I've had in the saddle.

(COMMENTATOR) 'Honeysuckle has pushed out clear.'

'Honeysuckle is special for Rachael Blackmore.'

She's always responded, and she's always dug so deep.

That's a very special thing,

when a horse gives you that every time.

Rachael, even by your standards, she's only a five-year-old,

she's got speed, stamina.

She appears, at this tentative stage, to have almost everything.

I'm just so lucky to be sitting on her back.

Yeah. That definitely puts them in a special place in your heart.

I won't have horses to train if I don't train winners,

she won't have horses to ride if she doesn't ride winners.

(COMMENTATOR) 'It's Minella Indo!'

'It's another great one for Rachael Blackmore!'

Rachael was absolutely brilliant.

Our lad stayed on really well. Rachael was brilliant on him.

I used to text her, "Well done, that was brilliant."

Then I got sick of texting her cos she was just riding winners.

If you can get yourself into a yard like Henry De Bromhead's

that has horses that are capable

of winning the Grand National or Cheltenham, that's everything.

(RACHAEL) I would have gone to Cheltenham when I was 18, 19, 20

with a few of my girlfriends.

We would have stayed over there and went to the races,

and went to Club 21 that night, and had great fun.

I would have experienced Cheltenham from that side of it first.

Then I would have gone and had three or four rides in a week.

Then I went with 15 or 16 rides in a week.

Cheltenham is our Olympics.

It's the Olympics of horse racing.

It's the Olympics of what we do.

Which is a bit of a cliche, but it is.

It's the pinnacle of our sport.

We're lucky we get to have it every year.

We don't have to wait four years.

(INDISTINCT COMMENTARY)

'Good leap at the last, landed about ten lengths clear...'

My first winner there was A Plus Tard.

He absolutely flew up the hill.

I think he won 16 lengths.

'A Plus Tard was right on time with Rachael Blackmore,

and wins in great style.'

I couldn't believe I was riding the winner in Cheltenham.

This was just phenomenal. It was just a fantastic feeling.

Once you have won, you just want more.

(MAN) 'A very different Cheltenham awaits

at a punter-less Prestbury Park.'

'Empty stands won't diminish Irish chances.'

'The 2021 Festival could be a huge one for Rachael Blackmore.'

'The Tipperary woman is on the crest of a wave at the moment,

and her week could be nicely bookended

with A Plus Tard in Friday's Gold Cup

and favourite Honeysuckle in tomorrow's Champion Hurdle.'

She had three rock-solid chances and a couple of outside chances.

When you're in a position

where you've so many good rides going to Cheltenham,

you're just hoping you'll deliver on one of them.

The pressure. That's where you're expected to deliver.

We feel the pressure as well.

Obviously, we want her to have success,

and you want her home safe.

Didn't follow her as much when she wasn't safe,

now I follow her more.

The Champion Hurdles is a race you dream of winning.

It's Honey, she's just an incredible mare,

and just for her, for all of us, you'd love her to do it.

(WOMAN) 'You wonder where the ceiling is with Honeysuckle,

that perfect ten from ten,

and she seems to still be getting even better.'

Honeysuckle was obviously favourite. She was unbeaten.

When you ride favourites at the Cheltenham Festival,

you're expected to win.

I have to ask Rachael what she's thinking.

She gives me a synopsis of what she's thinking,

and does the opposite. (LAUGHS) No.

Henry's trained her to such a standard,

like, trainers will tell you

this horse likes to be ridden like this.

But you're just trying to make the best decisions in the race,

using all the information you have,

but also just riding the horse that you're on.

The bit of pressure coming with a horse that's unbeaten

every time they run, and Honeysuckle was the big one.

(COMMENTATOR) 'They're off, racing for the Unibet Champion Hurdle,

and the first of those eight flights comes up pretty quickly.'

(CHARLOTTE) Mum finds it hard to watch. She'd be nervous.

She has a great difficulty watching the races.

I have been known to unload dishwashers

and load washing machines during the race,

and maybe just watch the end.

'Three from the left, Goshen is close up.'

'The extreme left is Honeysuckle, the very light jacket.'

(HENRY) Honey would have always jumped off first two or three,

stayed wide, keep it simple.

Next thing, Rachael jumps off, sort of, seventh or eighth

and I went, "Ooh, that's not normal for us."

'Goshen and Silver Streak are the leaders.'

'We have a faller there, which is Abacadabras.'

Within five strides you could see what she was thinking.

She had it all under control. To see her travel like she did,

down, coming down the hill to the second last was incredible.

Third last and the second last, I had to give her a shake-up.

'They've got two to jump from here in the Unibet Champion Hurdle.'

'And it's Aspire Tower who's just the leader,

to Honeysuckle who's alongside now.'

Honeysuckle was the blessed horse.

She kept it uncomplicated, got her jumping,

had her in a good position every step of the way.

'James Du Berlais. Rachael Blackmore commits Honeysuckle

on the run down towards the last in the Champion Hurdle...'

The minute I started to move on her a bit,

she came alive under me.

'Honeysuckle is pulling clear in the Champion Hurdle

from Sharjah and Epatante.'

'Rachael Blackmore and Honeysuckle

climb right to the top of the hurdling tree.'

Honeysuckle, after winning the Champion Hurdle, that was...

That was incredible. By far the biggest win of my career.

When Honeysuckle crossed the line, I bawled my eyes out.

I thought it was unbelievable for a woman to win the Champion Hurdle.

'Honeysuckle back as if the beat was out of the question.'

'What a partnership with Rachael Blackmore.'

'They have progressed through the ranks together.'

'Now they have landed the biggest hurdling prize of all.'

'Honeysuckle is the champion hurdler.'

A big sigh of relief. Absolutely over the moon.

I think, if you'd said to me you can have Honey

she'll win by six lengths in the Champion Hurdle but that's it,

I'd have said, yeah, OK, I'll take that.

Relief, as well as the adulation that came from Honeysuckle.

You could see the confidence that then went into riding Bob Olinger.

'Still Rachael Blackmore doesn't want yet

to commit with Bob Olinger,

but now she moves to a length lead...'

She was now riding to win. Not riding not to lose.

And that was cool to watch.

'It is Bob Olinger by three lengths.'

'He's over the last clear, from Gaillard Du Mensil

who's down on his nose with Bravemansgame.'

'Bob Olinger is pulling clear in the Ballymore!'

'Rachael Blackmore and Henry De Bromhead

are in the Cheltenham winner's enclosure again

as Bob Olinger beat Gaillard Du Mensil.'

'A one/two for Ireland on St Patrick's Day.'

I was extremely lucky.

Honeysuckle was after winning, Bob Olinger was after winning.

(INDISTINCT) I fell off him.

Balko Des Flos, in the cross-country race.

He jumped into the cheese wedges

and just kind of stumbled a little bit, and I popped off.

Ah. But that's what racing does. It knocks you straight back.

'So, Sir Gerhard, Rachael Blackmore, red-and-white jacket and blue cap,

strides through now, led on by over a length.'

Well, Sir Gerhard in the Bumper, that was a ride for Willie Mullins.

In hindsight, I probably kicked him on a bit too soon.

'Sir Gerhard continues to be in front.'

'Kilcruit is beginning to close,

but it's hard work as they race up the waterline.'

I was starting to tie up a bit as we were getting to the line.

'Kilcruit is closing with every single stride.'

'But it was Sir Gerhard who made all!'

It just kept happening, you know?

You're just saying, "She's after winning again, like."

So, it's, it's, you know... It's incredible.

I had a glass of Champagne in my garden at home.

(BIRDS SINGING)

'And they're off for the Grade One Ryanair Chase.'

Yeah, the Ryanair on Allaho.

I spoke to Ruby Walsh before the race

and asked him what way he'd ride him.

He said he wouldn't pull out, he'd let the horse jump and gallop.

The best rider, I think, that ever was.

We would definitely try, in some shape or form,

to copy what he used to do.

She just believed in Allaho. Just let him rock and roll

and went with him every step of the way.

'Allaho continues to pour it on. He's six lengths clear.'

Getting a horse to jump and to gallop

and essentially just being a passenger on his back,

it's a fantastic feeling.

'Allaho is over safely for Rachael Blackmore.'

She's confident enough to let the horse do a lot of the work.

'Allaho! Allaho wins for Rachael Blackmore.'

'They took no prisoners, and they have won clearly.'

'Oh, Rachael is the queen of Cheltenham,

but, Ruby Walsh, what a performance that was from Allaho.'

'Oh, incredible. Incredible, Ed.'

'Whatever that jockey does, she does the right thing all the time.'

Telmesomethinggirl was completely different to Allaho.

'Telmesomethinggirl has dashed away to win by a wide margin.'

I don't think Telmesomethinggirl was the best horse,

and Rachael won despite that.

(HORSE SNORTING)

It takes a brave person to ride half a ton of horse flesh

going at 40mph over a fence.

'On the outside Morning Vicar,

and Storm Control landed with a narrow lead!'

'Plan Of Attack has gone, and Rachael Blackmore is on the ground.'

Plan Of Attack's fall hurt a little bit. Yeah.

That hurt a bit. But I was still OK.

A jockey doesn't want to be taking falls.

I'd love to have not taken so many falls that week.

It's not a positive thing.

What makes her different from most other people

is her ability to ride with pain,

but I'm telling you, she was sore.

I'd even say she was hurt.

There's been times where she's after getting falls

and been really, really sore,

and it's her mentality to get up

and to get back and to go again that I admire.

(BIRDS SINGING / COWS MOOING)

It was actually just a mad week, to be honest.

Like, it was just mad.

I was trying to call my parents, they wouldn't answer.

They're out doing interviews.

They barely had time to pick up the phone.

She has had some week. And we're absolutely so delighted

with the amount of support that she's received from people.

People are very generous in their praise and all that.

It might have given people a lift. We're happy.

My mum was doing interviews, there was locals doing interviews.

We're so proud of her here in Killenaule.

She's put Killenaule on the map

and it's great positivity in a time of doom and gloom, really.

People were just referring to her as Rachael.

You didn't even have to call her second name.

We're watching the results every day,

and we're following Rachael as well in every race.

She's our banker.

Oh, she's after putting Killenaule on the map, anyways,

so she is, thank God.

Her face was on the front of every newspaper.

My week had been going incredibly but it wasn't over yet.

You're in a very good position in your head, I suppose,

heading into that day, after Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday.

Quilixios was on the Friday.

This was a horse that had only recently come to Henry's.

We didn't know a massive amount.

'Quilixios is over the last, still being pressed by Adagio.'

I don't think Quilixios was the best horse in the race.

That's always the best sign,

winning on a horse that's not the best horse in a race.

'Rachael Blackmore.'

'Quilixios provides her with her sixth winner of the week,

and surely now, leading rider.'

I did feel, when Quilixios won,

I was like, "God! Like, everything is just happening now."

"This is my sixth winner in Cheltenham. Is this happening?"

Tell us about your parents, because I imagine their genes

will want to be cloned by a lot of people straightaway.

They're getting a great kick out of it, so it's brilliant.

I know they'd love to have been here today.

It was incredible. Just incredible.

'More Rachael this week than a Friends boxset.'

'Six winners in total for Blackmore.'

'She had more winners than all of the British trainers combined.'

I'm sure she was pinching herself every day,

thinking, you know, "This is like fantasy racing."

'But she is the top jockey.'

'A sensational achievement

on a week full of history making for Rachael Blackmore.'

I think, the week she had... Phew.

Only Ruby's done better.

I'd had the most unbelievable week. The ball was bouncing for me.

'Front and centre.'

'So much of the focus on Rachael Blackmore

on a day bristling with historical significance.'

'The Tipperary trailblazer bidding to become the first woman

to complete a Champion Hurdle Gold Cup double.'

When you get up to ride in the next race,

what happened an hour ago is history.

You don't even think about that going to the start.

It's all about what's gonna happen in the next five or six minutes.

'And they're off, racing for the WellChild Cheltenham Gold Cup.'

'The 2021 Gold Cup.'

The Gold Cup is the Gold Cup, like, full stop.

The Gold Cup. (LAUGHS)

It's the pinnacle. It's the race that everyone wants to win.

(CHARLOTTE) I took the day off for the Gold Cup.

I was just in my sitting room, in my house,

just like keeled over on the couch watching it.

Henry was heading into the Gold Cup with two chances.

Minella Indo and A Plus Tard.

'There are seven to take as the Gold Cup comes to the boil.'

I had the choice of which one I wanted to ride.

'The game of cat and mouse begins.'

For a jockey to have the choice of two horses

to ride in a Gold Cup, it's a great position to be in.

She had an embarrassment of riches, put it that way.

It's a testament to how well Henry trained those two horses.

'A Plus Tard on the outside of Minella Indo.'

I was happy enough where I was.

I could see Minella Indo on my inside.

'On the final turn it's Minella Indo and A Plus Tard that go on.'

'Minella Indo...'

I watched Minella Indo in the Irish Gold Cup,

I wasn't sure he had the confidence for it.

'A Plus Tard coming for another crack at the leader.'

It did look like, when they jumped the last,

that she reduced the margin.

'Getting closer now, under Rachael Blackmore,

Minella Indo is all out, flat out,

but he wins the Gold Cup! Coming second, A Plus Tard.'

You could see by her, she was disgusted.

It was as if all the rest of the winners didn't matter.

That's that way she should have felt.

I had picked the wrong horse in the Gold Cup.

It was no-one else's fault.

You leave Cheltenham on the Friday night, thinking,

"All the ones before are just irrelevant,"

because you missed winning the Gold Cup.

That was the Gold Cup.

.

There was a period at home where there was a Rachael shrine.

There were letters and photos and everything.

My mum is funny. We have a family WhatsApp group.

It's inundated with things about me,

so she's trying to balance it out like any mother would try and do.

The family WhatsApp is generally just photos of Rachael's wins.

Every now and then, she might throw in a photo of me and my brother

to balance it out a little, but... (LAUGHS)

My brother could boil an egg and she'd put it in.

(EIMIR) I have three children.

As a mother, they're all precious and special to me.

She'll always make a point of saying, "We love you as well."

I'm like, "I know. It's fine." (LAUGHS)

I remember asking, "Are you riding the Grand National?"

If she says yes, oh.

If she says no, oh.

You'll hear from her in passing,

"Oh, I have a ride in the Grand National."

The Grand National is the race that you think about as a kid.

It's what captures every kid's imagination.

If you were thinking about being a jockey,

being a jockey in the Grand National is what your brain would be drawn to.

It's my first memory of racing, riding my pony around the field.

It's the first race most people come into contact with

when they see racing.

They see the Grand National on TV. "Oh, what's this?

You'd sit down as a family to watch it.

You'd have your sweepstake, used to read all the books on it,

the history of the race. I mean, it's steeped in history.

The Grand National is the most talked-about horse race.

It's the biggest story in horse racing in the world.

It's been around for over 150 years.

It's history.

The first woman to take part in it was Charlotte Brew in 1977.

My first memory of it is Carrie Ford in 2005.

Nina then rode in it a couple of years in a row.

I rode in it a couple of years in a row.

My last year to ride in it, I was riding in it

with Rachael Blackmore and Bryony Frost.

Aintree, as a meeting, you've got Thursday, Friday,

then the Grand National is on Saturday.

Brian was riding in the National as well.

The three of us were in it.

We walked the track on Friday evening together.

We had a bet, if one of us won, what would we do?

It's an iconic track.

There's 40 horses, 30 jumps,

four-plus miles, the fences look different.

It's a different kind of a challenge to a normal race.

Cos of COVID restrictions,

the Irish jockeys were all in one section,

so Rachael was actually with us all there.

I saw she had one for Henry and JP McManus.

In JP McManus's colours,

they're the most famous colours in National racing.

There was a great atmosphere beforehand.

All the Irish jockeys got a picture

before we went out to the parade ring.

Getting a ride in the Grand National

is an achievement in itself.

To be competitive in a Grand National

is another achievement.

I rode in 15 Grand Nationals before I could win one.

(COMMENTATOR) 'All set for the latest chapter

in the rich history of this great race, the Grand National.'

(LARGE GONG SOUNDS)

(COMMENTATOR) 'Here's Rachael Blackmore, the lady of the moment.'

'If you've just been dropping in,

she had an incredible Cheltenham Festival.'

'She had six winners.

'She was the first female rider to be the leading rider there.'

'The team, Henry De Bromhead.'

'Imagine if they added the Grand National, too.'

Minella Times, we really fancied his chances.

He's been trained to go to this race.

Everyone who knows the race knows what can happen.

It's the National. Anything can happen.

Don't get excited.

'Patrick Mullins on the left. These are the Irish riders.'

'Using a different changing room, weighing room.'

'Rachael Blackmore, carrying so many hopes, in amongst them,

in the JP McManus colours.'

(HORSES NEIGHING)

When you head to the start of a National, you're so excited,

cos you just feel, like, "I'm so lucky to ride in a Grand National."

'The runners coming down to look at this first fence.'

I know she's awesome, and she's great,

and I'm so proud of her,

and I'm proud to say she's even riding in that race.

'It's Rachael. Good luck, Rachael.'

'They seem so relaxed, the jockeys.'

'They're just chatting away as if it's just another race.'

Going there now, as a rider, it has a different feeling.

Jockeys are wishing each other good luck.

It's not like you're going for a hack around the fields, either.

It's still the Grand National.

'They won't hang around here.'

'Sit tight, everyone, at home. The Grand National of 2021.'

'The flag is raised. They're quickly dispatched. They're off.'

(JONNY) At the start, I'm fairly calm.

Just willing them forwards, and a safe return.

I was really hoping that he'd take to those fences,

and after we jumped two, I was like, "Ah."

'As they jump the Canal, and Jett rises first from Yala Enki.'

'Cloth Cap round the inside.'

'And they're all safely over.'

I was always drawn to Rachael. Always.

'We've got a faller towards the inside, Double Shuffle.'

Fence 12. The horse directly in front of Rachael Blackmore

and Mark Walsh falls.

There was a faller to my left. I went one side.

Any Second Now galloped over him and got hindered.

It could easily have fallen in front of Rachael.

It was sheer luck.

That's where you get the rub of the green.

I didn't have a clue where she was. There's so many runners,

you were just minding your own horse.

'Minella Times is still handy, but Jett leads by a widening margin.'

You had Jett out in front.

It looks like he's gonna win.

'As they approach the Canal Turn, and Jett being angled across,

and he jumps it...'

(DRAMATIC MUSIC)

Patrick was riding Burrows Saint

and I think, about the third last, he looked like he could win.

I remember thinking, "Patrick's gonna win the Grand National."

He looked like he was travelling really well.

Got to the second last, we might have a squeak,

then, when Rachael went by me, I was hoping that she might do it.

'Jett has now come back to them,

about to be joined by Minella Times.'

Once you get past through the second half of the race,

you're thinking, "She's got a shot at this."

'Minella Times, the star on the cap for Rachael Blackmore.'

'She lands just in front, over the second last, Rachael.'

She looks like she might really have a chance at this.

I'm just shouting at the TV,

standing up, like, jumping each fence as she jumped it, as well.

Part of my brain was like, "Keep going, you're gonna win."

The other part of my brain was like, "Something's gonna flash past you.'

'Over the fence in the Randox Grand National.'

He jumps the last and I was, "Oh, my goodness!"

Charles said to me, "Eimir, he's not home yet."

I said, "Oh, God."

I'd say I had white knuckles from holding the table.

I was standing up, holding the table.

'It's Rachael Blackmore and Minella Times

who are out four lengths clear.'

(HENRY) Hoping you're still gonna get home.

How many horses have got caught? Are we gonna hold on?

'Minella Times for JP McManus, Henry De Bromhead

and, more significantly, Rachael Blackmore!'

'History in the National!'

I remember hearing the commentator saying history is going to be made,

and I just remember thinking, "She hasn't won the National, like."

(SILENCE)

(TRIUMPHANT MUSIC)

I could not believe it was after happening.

I felt like I was going to burst.

Wonderful, when she got across the line. Just amazing.

(CHARLOTTE) Jumping up and down, screaming, dancing around.

Just could not believe it.

I'm incredibly proud of her.

When she crossed the line, I was like, "You deserve that."

I think that she's phenomenal.

(PATRICK) Rachael owes myself and Brian a trip to Vegas.

Whether she'll pay up or not, but that was the bet.

I met Paddy in the weigh room after, and we looked at each other

and were like, "Right, she's won this now as well.

I can't believe we won the Grand National.

We all know, those of us that work in this game,

that you just want to be a jockey,

but you are the first female

to win the world's most-famous horse race. Well done.

Ah, thank you. I don't...

I don't feel male or female right now.

I don't even feel human. This is just... unbelievable.

It's amazing, really.

(SPECTATORS CHEERING)

It's a dream that you train the winner of the National.

I mean, it's a dream. It's incredible.

Racing couldn't buy what she's done for it.

(COMMENTARY IN ITALIAN)

(COMMENTARY IN FRENCH)

(COMMENTATOR) 'History indeed in the National

because Rachael Blackmore rewrote the record books on the weekend,

becoming the first female to win.'

It was a mould that needed to be broken.

It doesn't matter whether she's a man, woman, girl, boy,

she's better at riding horses than everyone.

When she's done that, she could hang up her boots and be done with it.

If you had said to me,

someday you'll be Leading Rider in Cheltenham

and win the Grand National,

I'd have said, "I'll retire if that happens."

"That's crazy. It's crazy talk."

But then, when it does happen, you just want it to happen again.

It genuinely was the best moment of my life.

In time to come they won't remember Davy Russell or Ruby Walsh.

They may remember Tiger Roll, they'll remember Red Rum.

It's the opposite with Rachael.

Not everybody could name the horse she won on,

but one thing that will always come into your psyche

is Rachael Blackmore.

It'll never leave. That is supersonic.

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