'She's been absolutely mobbed' - Rachael Blackmore receives hero's welcome

Just 24 hours after reaching the summit of jump racing by winning the Cheltenham Gold Cup on A Plus Tard, Rachael Blackmore received a hero's welcome back at her local Thurles racecourse – and even bagged herself a winner.

Racegoers came to see a star at Thurles and, just as she did all week at Cheltenham, Blackmore delivered the goods on her only ride of the day when punching out the Mouse Morris-trained Gentlemansgame to victory.

Morris is many things but a wordsmith he is not. However, when the fans packed three and four deep to welcome Blackmore into the winner's enclosure on his dashing grey, he summed the occasion up perfectly.

"She deserves it," he said. "I just hope they appreciate everything she has done."

Triumphant return for Rachael Blackmore as she wins on first ride since Gold Cup

You can be sure they do. Thurles is Blackmore's local track. She grew up in Killenaule, less than 20 kilometres from the racecourse, and bagged her first winner under rules here on the Shark Hanlon-trained Stowaway Pearl back in 2011.

Racecourse manager Riona Molony speaks of the jockey like a doting mother, so proud of her hometown hero's achievements on the biggest of stages, while Blackmore's actual mother Eimir struggled to get a word with her daughter, such was the demand.

Rachael Blackmore in the spotlight following her Gold Cup success with A Plus TardCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

"She's been absolutely mobbed," Molony said. "She's just so popular and is as unassuming as they come. She's just a fabulous girl. As soon as Rachael won the Gold Cup, people went online and booked tickets to be here.

"There was one little girl who brought her storybook about horses for Rachael to sign. She has been making time for everyone. Her poor mother was in the queue of people to meet her and she had to wait her turn. She hadn't seen her since she won the Gold Cup. She had to wait in line behind all the kids and was the last one to get to meet her.

"They're just a fabulous family. This and Clonmel would be their local tracks and we're delighted to be able to welcome her. We're so proud of her. It gives everyone a lift with all the troubles that are going on in the world. It was a great week and she's just a ray of sunshine. What she did at Cheltenham, it's exactly what we all needed."

Everyone wanted a piece of Blackmore and nobody left disappointed. She may have admitted to feeling the effects of a whirlwind week but the signs weren't there as she paused to chat with the many young fans who approached for photographs and autographs.

Blackmore: claimed a second Champion Hurdle with Honeysuckle on TuesdayCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

"Tired is probably the first thing that comes to mind," Blackmore said when asked to sum up the past 24 hours before taking to the track aboard Gentlemansgame. "You are tired because you can't sleep with excitement. It was an incredible week and I feel so lucky.

"To be introduced here as a Champion Hurdle and Gold Cup-winning jockey. It's hard to comprehend. I'm getting to ride a lot of very good horses, and Honeysuckle and A Plus Tard were incredible this week. Getting to steer them around was an easy task for me to do and I'm very lucky to be getting the opportunity."

Blackmore counts herself as the lucky one but crowds who flocked to Thurles to get a word or photograph with the woman who conquered Cheltenham might think differently.

"It's very special," Blackmore said. "It's heartwarming to come back to Thurles and to have such a lovely crowd here. It's magic.

"It doesn't matter where the people are, be it Thurles or Cheltenham, the crowd is what makes racing so special and it's great to have them here."

Read more:

'It's surreal' - Cheveley Park's Richard Thompson reflects on A Plus Tard thrill

Lee Mottershead: Pale, exhausted and overcome - but Blackmore is also utterly brilliant

'Turners turnout was utterly woeful - and there’s no legitimate excuse'

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