Rachael Blackmore becomes the first female jockey to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup aboard A Plus Tard

Rachael Blackmore has become the first female in history to ride a winner in the Gold Cup after a strong finish on A Plus Tard.

Always travelling strongly, there was a moment of concern turning in as she was caught in behind horses as stablemate and last year's winner Minella Indo set sail for home at the Cheltenham Festival.

However, between the final two fences, it was clear she had him covered, alongside jumping the last and powering clear to score by 15 lengths.

It was a victory that meant trainer Henry De Bromhead completed the Champion Hurdle - Gold Cup double for the second successive season.

Blackmore told ITV Racing: "I just can’t believe it. I’m so lucky to be getting to ride all these kind of horses. You can’t do this without the horses and being attached to Henry’s yard is just absolutely phenomenal.

"To give me this horse is unbelievable I don’t know what to say. I’ve had so many special days. I wouldn’t swap the Grand National for anything but this is the Gold Cup. I wish I had something better to say right now. I just can’t.

"You have all these plans about how things are going to work out. Racing doesn’t let that happen all the time and for some reason it’s happened to me today. I just can’t explain how lucky I feel."

Richard Thompson, of Cheveley Park Stud, added: "We’ve been talking about this moment, and it’s happened. It’s absolutely fantastic to win the Gold Cup. Incredible.

"My father would have loved it, he watched the Gold Cup for many years and to actually win it is incredible. I can’t even speak."