Blackmore crowned Cheltenham's Leading Jockey

A stunning week for Rachael Blackmore at the Cheltenham Festival was completed on Friday as she became the first woman to secure the coveted top jockeys’ award.

Six wins — including a history-making victory aboard Honeysuckle in the Champion Hurdle on Tuesday — have seen the 31-year-old rocket to the summit of the sport, earning plaudits from the likes of Sir Anthony McCoy and Ruby Walsh.

Her final afternoon started in a similar vein to the previous three days, as she steered the Henry de Bromhead-trained Quilixios to victory in the JCB Triumph Hurdle — and it so nearly climaxed with glory in the Gold Cup through A Plus Tard who found only stablemate Minella Indo too good.