Beaming Rachael Blackmore celebrates 'unbelievable' win with Queen Camilla after dramatic Cheltenham Champion Chase

RACHAEL BLACKMORE is considered by many horse-racing fans as the Queen of Cheltenham.

The Tipperary jockey's Festival CV includes a Champion Bumper, two Champion Hurdles, two Ryanair Chases, and the Gold Cup.

And on Wednesday, the 34-year-old added the Betway Queen Mother Champion Chase to her illustrious collection.

It was her second win at the 2024 Festival, following Slade Steel's victory in the Sky Bet Supreme Novices' Hurdle on Tuesday.

Blackmore and trainer Henry De Bromhead were presented the trophy by Queen Camilla, who congratulated the Irishwoman on her latest success.

Her majestic win aboard Captain Guinness came after a remarkably dramatic feature on Style Wednesday.

The field was led by favourites El Fabiolo for Paul Townend and Willie Mullins, and Edwardstone for jockey Tom Cannon and trainer Alan King.

However, in extraordinary fashion, El Fabiolo clipped the fifth fence before being pulled up while Edwarstone fell at the second last after being overtaken by Captain Guinness.

Gentleman De Mee launched a late challenge to spare Mullins' blushes, but Blackmore held on for victory.

She told ITV: "He travelled incredibly.

"He jumped really well. The hill felt like a long hill today but it is just incredible.

"I am so delighted for his owner Declan Landy and he has been knocking on the door in these big races.

"Aw man, it is unbelievable."

Paying tribute to Henry de Bromhead, Blackmore added: "He is incredible. I said it yesterday to all his team, it is unbelievable. It is a pleasure.

"It is incredible. It is just incredible. I am so happy to do this on this horse.

"He always runs his race and he is a really enjoyable horse to ride.

"Enthusiastic - too enthusiastic in the Arkle one year and that didn't go according to plan but his style of running is a lot more reserved now. It is magic."

The 2021 RTE Sportsperson of the Year will be back out on the track with three more runners, starting with High Wind in the JCB Triumph Hurdle at 1:30.

That will be followed by Chigorin in the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle at 2:50, before she rides Jungle Boogie in the Cheltenham Gold Cup at 3:30.

El Fabiolo's error and Gentleman De Mee's inability to overtake Captain Guinness denied Willie Mullins what would have been his 100th Cheltenham win.

However, the legendary trainer would not be denied, as later that same day, he toasted the century after his son Patrick Mullins rode Jasmin de Vaux to victory in the Champion Bumper.

The 67-year-old was already the most successful Festival trainer going in, but even he admitted reaching 100 was a feat he had not dreamt of.

Ecstatic Mullins beamed: “I can’t put into words what it feels like to train 100 winners here, because nobody ever thought that anybody would train 100 winners.

“As I’ve often said, when I started out and had my first win here with Tourist Attraction I thought that was a lifetime achievement.

“So I’m absolutely stunned that we’ve come this far. We have such a wonderful team at home. It’s such a team effort, and they had all of those horses to saddle there. I didn’t go near one ­saddle!

“Having that team behind me is incredible. And for Patrick to ride it as well.”

He added: “We are just stunned that we have come this far, but we have had ­tremendous people behind us, backing us, the whole time.

“I was really pleased Patrick got the ride. I wasn’t sure he was on the right one, but he picked it and he was spot on. I’m just delighted.”