Minella Indo gives Rachael Blackmore first festival Grade 1 in Albert Bartlett

It has been a Cheltenham Festival to remember for the female members of the weighing room, as Rachael Blackmore became the latest jockey to ride a Grade 1 winner at the meeting on Minella Indo.

On Thursday Bryony Frost was the headline maker with her Ryanair victory on Frodon, followed by Lizzie Kelly on Siruh Du Lac in the Plate, but Friday belonged to Blackmore as she rode the maiden Grade 1 winner of her career on jump racing's biggest stage.

It was a second winner of the meeting for Blackmore following A Plus Tard's runaway success in the Close Brothers on Tuesday, making her only the third woman to ride a double at the festival after GeeArmytage in 1987 and NinaCarberry in 2016.

Watch Rachael Blackmore's memorable Albert Bartlett ride

"I wish I had the words; riding a Grade 1 winner at Cheltenham is just beyond belief," Blackmore said. "I'm just so grateful for everyone who has given me the opportunities."

Trainer Henry de Bromhead has been a major contributor to Blackmore's rapid rise this season, supplying more than half her 84 winners in Ireland, a tally which leaves her second behind Paul Townend in the Irish jockeys' championship.

Reflecting on Blackmore's latest victory, De Bromhead said: "We've been so lucky to have her, she's a brilliant rider. She just wins."

Blackmore may be a regular fixture in the winner's enclosure, but Minella Indo was a maiden under rules before this 50-1 surprise.

Henry de Bromhead: 'We've been so lucky to have her, she's a brilliant rider. She just wins'Credit: Patrick McCann

Beaten four lengths by Allaho in a Grade 3 at Clonmel last time, Minella Indo turned around that form, beating 4-1 favourite Commander Of Fleet by two lengths, with Allaho a further seven lengths back in third.

"Barry [Maloney, owner] said to me before the race, 'How come Allaho is 8-1 and we're 50-1?" the trainer added.

Although there was no doubting the winner's tenacity on the run to the line, the six-year-old gelding has taken some knowing, as De Bromhead explained: "He was disappointing at Limerick the first day over hurdles but he codded me completely. He's a chancer at home and I didn't know him well enough and hadn't got enough work into him.

"Then he ran really well at Clonmel. We had to do all the donkey work that day and felt we'd take the chance in this if we got in, as it would be a more strongly run race. He's really tough and a dour stayer."

Owner Maloney came close to victory in the Albert Bartlett in 2017 when Monalee was second to Penhill, and De Bromhead was delighted to deliver a big win for his long-standing patron.

"They've been brilliant supporters of us; it's our first winner together here and it's fantastic," the trainer said. "Barry was part of a syndicate of college friends when I was assisting my father in 1999 and he's been with me ever since."

The RSA is Minella Indo's natural target for next season, but he will not be put away just yet, with the Punchestown festival a likely destination.

After announcing his plans to retire in the coming weeks, Noel Fehily was given a guard of honour by his weighing-room colleagues before finishing down the field on his final festival ride – Dorrells Pierji.

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