Woman of the hour Rachael Blackmore joined Off The Ball to discuss her incredible ride on Honeysuckle in the Champion Hurdle to become the first female winner of the race.

Blackmore rode the Henry de Bromhead mare to win by six-and-a-half lengths in Tuesday's showpiece race.

Rachael Blackmore

"Incredible. I don't even feel I have the words to describe it," Blackmore said of the ride.

"It has been an unbelievable day, it is the Champion Hurdle so it is very special and it was fantastic to be a part of it.

"I dreamed of being a jockey and riding winners, but I could never envisage that I would be riding the winner of a Champion Hurdle one day. To be in the position that I'm in with the backing of Henry de Bromhead to get on these horses - it is unbelievable.

"The training performance that he has done with her - every day she is in tip-top shape, he has her improving. It is unbelievable."

It would be natural for anyone to be nervous ahead of one of the biggest events in horse racing, but Blackmore showed a sangfroid that could be emulated by few.

"I slept great, I was very tired as we'd travelled over from Ireland. It was a busy Monday and I probably woke an hour or two earlier than I usually would.

"The adrenaline was maybe a little higher than usual. But it is a Champion Hurdle, there is extra pressure at Cheltenham but when you're on Honeysuckle, who is a very straightforward ride, it is a big help."

'In the zone'

In the final moments before the race, then, do doubts creep in?

"You're just in the zone then, you are riding a race like any other day. The minute you get the leg-up in the parade ring, you walk down the chute and canter off - the nerves disappear then.

"You are doing your job, and you've all the homework done at that stage. You are just going out and trying to ride the best race you can. It is great when it works out."

Blackmore was happy with her ride.

"I had always planned to line up where I did to keep my options open. I was hoping that the field wouldn't congest and I would be pushed too wide, but it didn't and I was able to slot in one off the rail down the back and was happy where I was. The manner in which she finished, I could have ridden her a few ways I would say.

"She is an unbelievable engine to have under you."

Gold Cup

Blackmore has another literal hurdle to overcome on Friday in the Gold Cup with A Plus Tard, and the desire to win has not been even slightly dimmed by Tuesday's success.

"Yeah, a massive chance," Blackmore said of potential success on Friday.

"Really looking forward to riding him, today was a great way to start the week. But there are a lot of races still to go and really looking forward to it."

Blackmore has one way she's looking to celebrate this evening in the Irish jockeys' bubble.

"Chill out, there's a massive bath in the room so I might have a bath!"

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