Blackmore is racing’s National treasure after history-making victory

LONDON – Rachael Blackmore found it hard to quantify her achievement in becoming the first woman jockey to win the Grand National but for legendary rider AP McCoy it is a “groundbreaker” for the sport.

Blackmore has always been at pains to play down being a woman jockey and after crossing the line on Minella Times she said: “I don’t feel I am a female, a male or even a human at the moment!”

For McCoy — whose sole Grand National success came in 2010 on Don’t Push It in the same colours as Minella Times’ owner JP McManus — Blackmore’s brilliance is manna from heaven for racing.

“She is phenomenal, this is…