Rachael Blackmore makes Grand National history on Minella Times

Rachael Blackmore made history at Aintree as she became the first female jockey to win the Grand National on Minella Times.

Blackmore led home a one-two for trainer Henry de Bromhead,

Balko Des Flos.

The Irish jockey, who last month was the first female jockey to win the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham - on De Bromhead's Honeysuckle - bided her time before challenging and leading two out en route to even greater glory at Aintree in the Randox-sponsored spectacular.

Aidan Coleman partnered Balko Des Flos - and Any Second Now was third for trainer Ted Walsh, with Willie Mullins' Burrows Saint finishing fourth.

Farclas was fifth to give Irish-trained horses a famous 1-2-3-4-5.

The favourite, Cloth Cap, jumped and travelled well for along way but pulled up. Fifteen finished, with only three of them - Blaklion, Hogan's Height and Sub Lieutenant - being trained in Britain.

Blackmore said: "I just cannot believe it. He was an absolutely sensational spin. What Henry de Bromhead does with these horses, I don't know! I'm so lucky to be riding them, I just cannot believe I'm after winning the Grand National. This is unbelievable."

Blackmore was full of praise for Minella Times, one of seven horses in the race owned by JP McManus - among them Any Second Now.

"He was just incredible, he jumped beautifully," she said. "I was trying to wait for as long as I could - when we jumped the last and I asked him for a bit, he was there. It's just incredible.

"I don't feel male or female right now - I don't even feel human. This is just unbelievable."

A delighted De Bromhead, who also trained the first two home in last month's Cheltenham Gold Cup, made clear his admiration for Blackmore. "She's brilliant, isn't she?" he said.

"Aren't we so lucky to have her? They broke the mould after her - she's brilliant."

So too was Minella Times, who had six and a half lengths to spare from his stablemate - with another length and three-quarters to Any Second Now and then a long gap to Burrows Saint.

The County Waterford trainer added: "It's fantastic. Rachael is breaking all records. We're just delighted.

"Balko Des Flos ran a cracker and Chris's Dream was going very well, but unfortunately he unshipped Darragh O'Keeffe four out. They all ran really well.

"It looked like Rachael had the race won at the last, but we all know how that can change. Any Second Now looked a bit unlucky with his passage and he started to come back at us and obviously Balko was staying on as well.

"Rachael got a great passage all the way round, a lot of luck on her side and he winged fences for her. It was brilliant.

"She knows the horse very well. We were unfortunate during the winter when having a couple of great runs and just getting beaten, but this made up for it.

"We put National-type fences together last week and it seems to have helped, but he's such a brilliant jumper anyway. He was so good all the way."

He added: "I thought I was dreaming after Cheltenham so this is amazing, it's incredible and Rachael was unbelievable. It's incredible to do it for the McManus' family and we got a clear run the whole way.

"Of course you dream of winning this, but it was a distant dream. Anyone in the jumping game wants to win it, so I'm just so fortunate.

"Rachael is brilliant and we're so lucky to have her, I think they broke the mould with her, what can you say?

"It's a good partnership, you can see from when she joined us how we've gone from strength to strength. She's just a fantastic rider and a lovely person to work with.

"I'm back on the ferry tonight so that's something to look forward to!"

1 Minella Times (Rachael Blackmore) 11-1

2 Balko Des Flos (Aidan Coleman) 100-1

3 Any Second Now (M P Walsh) 15-2

4 Burrows Saint (Mr P W Mullins) 9-1

40 ran

Also: 11-2 Fav Cloth Cap (pu) CSF: £882.65 Tricast: £8593.94