RACHAEL BLACKMORE had the perfect response to Paul Townend admitting it “hurt” to lose to his sister at Cheltenham.
Jody Townend rode her first winner at the Festival earlier this month on Bambino Fever in the Weatherbys Champion Bumper.
The victory was made that little bit sweeter by her famous brother finishing 12th on Gameofinches.
This fact was put to Paul Townend during his appearance on The Late Late Show alongside fellow superstar jockey Rachael Blackmore.
And he admitted: “We were behind her looking on.
“We had time to go back in and take off the colours by the time she made it down the shoot. It was brilliant.
“Rachael and myself have experienced it plenty of times and it actually gets better every time you get to win there.
“We all will remember our first winner at Cheltenham.
“Jody is an amateur so her chances to ride a winner there are lesser than professionals so it was a huge day for the family as well.”
When the four-time Champion Jockey remarked that “it still hurt to get beat”, Blackmore was quick to respond: “He’ll be okay.”
Townend added: “I won’t hear the end of it for a while.”
Jody joined the likes of Katie Walsh and Rachael Blackmore as female jockeys to win Weatherbys Champion Bumper.
And speaking to RacingTV, she beamed: “I’m beyond cloud nine, I can’t believe it and it will take some time to sink in.
“I was in front soon enough on her and I was looking up at the big screen thinking ‘please don’t come up the inner’ so it was a big relief when I got to the line.
“I got a perfect position and I couldn’t believe it when I jumped off and got where I wanted to be, it normally doesn’t happen in that race.
“She always keeps trying and has a heart of gold and this is a special place for me now anyway.
“I’ve been dreaming of this since I was a child and have grown up watching Paul ride winners round here, but it’s my turn to be happy now.”
John McConnell’s Heads Up picked up second, with Thomas Cooper’s Shuttle Diplomacy an even bigger price in third at 66/1.
Bambino Fever became the first mare since Relegate in 2018 to win the Champion Bumper.
It was another landmark win for trainer Willie Mullins, who now has a staggering 14 Champion Bumpers in his collection.
