'We're in disbelief' - Rachael's mum pinching herself over daughter's feats

Rachael Blackmore's mother Eimir said she was scared to go to sleep on Saturday night after her daughter's historic Grand National win for fear that she would wake up to find it was all a dream.

The English teacher from Killenaule, County Tipperary, spoke of her pride in the joy that her daughter's memorable triumphs have brought to the Irish public during the pandemic, heightened by the delight of Minella Times' success at Aintree.

Just how deeply Blackmore's breakthrough in the world's most famous race was felt on home soil was exemplified by the fact it was the first item on Saturday's nine o'clock news on the country's national broadcaster, RTE.

Eimir and Rachael's father Charles greeted cameras at their home after the popular victory and have been overwhelmed by the reaction to their daughter's Aintree and Cheltenham heroics in recent weeks.

"We're in absolute disbelief that it's happened," she said on Sunday in response to Saturday's history making achievement.

"I was fearful to go to sleep last night and fearful to wake up this morning in case I'd dreamt it. It's been an annus mirabilis, an amazing year for her."

She added: "What really makes us happy is that people are getting such a kick out of this. I've been contacted by people I haven't met for 30 years since the race on Saturday. These are hard times in Covid but it seems to have given people a lift, and for that we're proud.

"It's a wonderful racing community here in Tipperary. They've been fantastic and have supported Rachael greatly, with lots of people prepared to put her up when she was starting out."

Rachael Blackmore poses for the cameras following her National success on Minella TimesCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

Eimir has never made any secret of her nervousness while watching the 31-year-old in action, so how did it feel watching Rachael navigate her passage through a 40-horse field on the hallowed Aintree turf?

"Of course I'm very proud of Rachael, but I'm also very proud of me because I watched the whole of the race from start to finish without getting up from my seat!" she said.

"You know what the race can be like in terms of incidents – it seems as though you sometimes have to ride some of the loose horses as well as your own – but she took the brave route down the inside."

She added: "I know she feels strongly that she doesn't want to be labelled by her gender. We have three children, a son and two daughters, and it's been the same for any of them. We tried to bring them up in a way that they could reach their potential without putting labels on them."

Rachael Blackmore career details

Read more about Rachael Blackmore's historic National success here

Katie Walsh: Rachael Blackmore is an inspiration to males and females alike

Rachael Blackmore makes history on 11-1 Minella Times in 2021 Grand National

'I chatted with Rachael at halfway - but I couldn't go with her from two out'

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