It was an emotional victory for Rachael Blackmore on Thursday as she heartbreakingly dedicated her Cheltenham win to her late cousin in moving scenes at Presbury Park.
The Irish jockey, 35, rode her heart out, sweeping victory in the Mares Novice Hurdle in a clear tribute to Robert Blackmore.
In a post-race interview, she revealed that her cousin, Robert Blackmore, sadly passed away just days before the Cheltenham Festival.
Rachael fought off stiff competition on Air of Entitlement on Thursday, the same day Robert was laid to rest in Kilkenny.
While she couldn’t attend Robert’s funeral he was clearly on her mind on the day and she dedicated her win to him.
‘I want to dedicate this to my cousin, Robert Blackmore, who passed away at the weekend.
“I want to dedicate this to him”
Rachael Blackmore dedicates her first winner of the 2025 Cheltenham Festival to her cousin, who passed away this weekend ❤️#ITVRacing | #CheltenhamFestival | @rachaelblackmor | @AlicePlunkett pic.twitter.com/oZ7YYTc8tl
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) March 13, 2025
‘His funeral is today, so I want to dedicate this to him,’ she announced as she left the course.
2025 has proven to be an emotional rollercoaster for the jockey who has also just announced that she has written her first book.
Ahead of the festival, she proudly showed off a first look at her new children’s book Granny National.
It’s a project she has secretly been working on for three years and she told fans: ”My first children’s book is a story about a Granny, her dream of being a jockey and her four friends who hatch a plan to try to make it happen. I hope it’s enjoyed by children and Grannys from all over!’
Her win means that she has now claimed all five major wins at Cheltenham including the Cheltenham Gold Cup, Champion Hurdle, Champion Chase, Ryanair Chase, and now Stayer’s Hurdler.
