Rachael Blackmore was once again the queen of Cheltenham on Tuesday as she partnered Honeysuckle to victory in the Champion Hurdle.
The Tipperary jockey punched the air in delight after crossing the finish line ahead of the JP McManus-owned Epatante at odds of 8/11.
Ole Ole Ole cheers followed a massive roar as Blackmore made her way into the winners enclosure on the Henry de Bromhead-trained superstar, who made history by becoming the first mare to win the Champion Hurdle twice.
Blackmore, who was fine after taking a fall on Telmesomethinggirl in the following race, said: “It was incredible, to be honest. Walking back down there, I’ve never felt an atmosphere like that. There wasn’t a moment’s silence. People here - it’s just an amazing crowd, amazing atmosphere. It’s easy to say that when you’re winning, but it’s a very special place and to hear those cheers was very special.
She added: “Jockeys dream of getting on good horses, but she takes that to a whole new level. She’s special, she’s once in a lifetime, and I’m so lucky to be riding her."
Blackmore’s mother Eimir was at the track to cheer her on after watching all her successes from home last year and was lost for words after the race.
She said: “I absolutely can’t believe it. I’m absolutely lost for words, it’s amazing and the crowd has been fantastic, so thanks to everybody here for making it so special.
“I was nervous, I’m always nervous,but I’m getting better and I’m working very hard on it! The mare is just fantastic and Henry has done such a good job. I just feel really lucky to be part of the fairytale.
“This is just fairytale stuff. Who would have thought? The support she’s got from everybody and the good feeling that has come out of this has really been fantastic. It shows that if you have a dream, you can make the dream come true.
“I’m very proud that she’s given people something to cheer about in a time when there’s a lot of unhappiness in the world.”
Thousands of Irish punters were at Prestbury Park as the action got under way, with the crowd of 68,567 the biggest ever on day one of the meeting.
Among them was Ireland and Connacht rugby star Jack McGrath and former Republic of Ireland footballer and RTE pundit Liam Brady.
Ronan Keating was also in attendance with his family and had some success on the betting front, but it didn't pay for him to back a horse based on his wife's name Storm.
He said: "I'm out of the gates pretty good so far on the betting front. It's good fun, it's great to be back out. Of course, I'm backing Stormy Ireland in race number five, that's the big one for us. Can you imagine if that comes in - wahoo.
"Cheltenham is just the best week of racing. The energy, the buzz. It's the buzz really, everyone getting back together again - it's really special.
"I think it is more special this year to see people back out together again. We've seen a couple of events, obviously football is back, and it's nice to see that. But events like this we haven't seen much of over the last two years, but it's really lovely and very special.
"We went to the rugby on Saturday, England vs Ireland at Twickenham, so this is the second big thing we've been to lately.
"I'm off to Dubai on Thursday, doing a show there on Friday and then onto Sydney for a while. I can't wait for the touring to start again - it's been a drought for two years. It's been really tough for the industry."
Ronan's daughter Missy also attended the races and revealed she is backing former jockey Nina Carberry to win Dancing With The Stars.
She added: "I am rooting for Nina [Carberry] on Dancing With the Stars Ireland now. She's so brilliant.
"It was an amazing experience. I love glitz, I love glam, I love the costumes, it was so amazing every week to go into. And then learning a different style of dance was just so much fun.
"It was full on, but I love being on the go and trying new things and stepping out of my comfort zone, and that's exactly what I was doing.
"It was hard work - I had no life. But that was my life, and I really enjoyed it. I don't want to stop. Now I've got the buzz for it I want to keep going. You've got to live every day like it's your last, and with passion and fun and excitement, and of course, glitz and glam. I wouldn't have it any other way."
On the possibility of going into TV presenting, she said: "That is something I'd love to do, yeah definitely. It is something I have a little bit of experience in through YouTube and stuff like that, too. So definitely that and I've got many other passions that I'd like to step into a little bit more.
"Dancing is now one of my biggest passions, and I don't want to give that up any time soon."
Honeysuckle's victory was the first Irish winner of the week after English-trained horses won both the opening two races before Scottish trainer Lucinda Russell won the third with Corach Rambler.
Constitution Hill landed the Supreme Novices Hurdle for trainer Nicky Henderson after being nurtured as a youngster by legendary jockey Barry Geraghty before being sold to owner Michael Buckley.
Speaking after the race, Geraghty said: “You dream as a spectator to be involved, and then you dream of a performance like that, but at the same time you are afraid to dream.
“This is the moment that flashes into your mind, but you try not to let it because you don’t want to be disappointed.
“This horse has everything, he’s gorgeous in every sense, he just has so much class.
“He had all the right horses behind him, Jonbon ran his race, Kilcruit was there – we thought this lad could be exceptional and it looks like he is.”
Brazil was a winner for JP McManus Kildare trainer Padraig Roche in the penultimate race before Stattler won the last, which was run in aid of the Ukraine appeal, for Willie Mullins, with his son Patrick on board.
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