GRAND NATIONAL
First female Grand National winner: Rachael Blackmore on Minella Times
After taking the Cheltenham Festival by storm, Ruby Walsh Trophy winner Racheal Blackmore became the first female Grand National victor.
![First female Grand National winner: Rachael Blackmore on Minella Times](https://img.asmedia.epimg.net/resizer/v2/LDL7PYYLIJJYLJ6TGZQRW2OCBI.jpg?auth=f7c74fb7f42d402db1714459432545d0e800149fa2b7ac39062fe1d5435936f0&width=360&height=203&smart=true)
Rachael Blackmore hailed "sensational" horse Minella Times after she became the first female jockey to win the Grand National.
Blackmore makes Grand National history
Blackmore was the first woman to collect the Ruby Walsh Trophy at Cheltenham last month and claimed another piece of history at an empty Aintree on Saturday.
Jett had been well clear with six fences remaining, but Blackmore and Minella Times surged into the lead on the run back towards the grandstands.
A good jump at the last then helped secure victory by six and a half lengths over 100-1 shot Balko Des Flos.
As ITV Sport highlighted the historic nature of Blackmore's triumph, she replied: "I don't feel male or female at the moment, I don't even feel human. This is just unbelievable."
Trainer Henry de Bromhead remarkably had both Minella Times and Balko Des Flos.
He won the Champion Hurdle, the Champion Chase and the Cheltenham Gold Cup in March, and Blackmore was in awe of the work he has done with Minella Times.
"I just cannot believe it. [Minella Times] was absolutely sensational today," she said. "What Henry de Bromhead does with these horses, I don't know.
"I'm so lucky to be riding him and I just can't believe we've won the Grand National. It's unbelievable.
"He was just incredible. Jumped beautifully, I was trying to wait as long as I could. When we jumped the last and I asked him for a bit, he was there. It's just incredible."