As she has so often over the last few weeks, Rachael Blackmore did everything right here in the Grand National, and with a generous and willing partner in Minella Times and a little racing luck to help her on her way, it was enough to secure the first ever victory by a female jockey in the world’s most famous and demanding race. “I don’t feel male or female,” she said, a few seconds after pulling up. “I don’t even feel human, I feel unbelievable.”

In all, 32 horses with female riders had gone to post for the National before, and only Katie Walsh, who finished third on Seabass in 2012, had finished in the first four. Few had lined up with as strong a chance as Blackmore aboard Minella Times, however, and she seized the opportunity with a polished, impeccable National ride, getting a position and a rhythm while saving ground towards the inside on the first circuit before joining issue towards the head of the field with over a mile still to run.
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Balko Des Flos, at 100-1, was second, giving De Bromhead a 1-2 in the Grand National, 22 days after recording the same feat in the Gold Cup at Cheltenham. Blackmore was on the runner-up there, having picked the wrong one from the trainer’s two starters, but it was the only setback in a brilliant four days which saw her become the first female rider to win the prize for the Cheltenham Festival’s top jockey.

Cheltenham also propelled Blackmore on to the front pages, and secured star status for the 31-year-old rider among the racing and betting public ahead of National Hunt racing’s most storied event. Minella Times was backed to win even before Blackmore had been confirmed as his rider, and millions more arrived on the day from once-a-year punters who were putting their faith in the rider rather than the horse.

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2021/apr/10/rachael-blackmore-becomes-first-female-jockey-to-win-grand-national-minella-times-horse-racing