21 February 2023 , 10:28
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Minella Times, the horse on whom Rachael Blackmore won the Grand National in 2021, has been retired.
The ten-year-old was due to have another tilt at the Aintree prize this year but has suffered an injury setback.
Blackmore rode her way into racing history when she steered the Henry de Bromhead-trained Minella Times to victory in April 2021, becoming the first female jockey to win the world-famous contest.
"It's a day I will never forget," she told Betfair. "He is such a special horse to a lot of people, now he will get to enjoy a wonderful well deserved retirement in Martinstown.
"Henry and all the team in Knockeen did such an incredible job with him and I will always be grateful for that."
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He had not won another race since and completed in only one of his five races since, including in last year’s Grand National, in which he was brought down after being hampered at Valentine’s first time around.
He last ran at Cheltenham last month when he contested the Cross-Country Chase on Cheltenham Festival Trials Day but was pulled up after 16 fences.
Minella Times will retire to owner J P McManus’s Martinstown Stud with four wins from 24 races and career earnings of nearly £500,000.
McManus' racing manager Frank Berry said: "We were looking forward to going to the cross-country at Cheltenham with him and back to the National, but he had a mishap - he hurt his shoulder.
"He might need an operation on it to make him comfortable in retirement. It's just disappointing. He gave us a great day. It's a real shame because Henry was very happy with him and we were looking forward to getting him back for the cross-country and the National again.
"The handicapper hit him very hard for winning the National and he struggled last year, but he had dropped back down a bit so it's just unfortunate he's had the accident. Hopefully he'll be fine to have a good retirement.
"The season he won the National Henry had him in great form, he put up two great performances at Leopardstown before Aintree and everything went smoothly there.
"He got a great ride from Rachael on the day and it was a day none of us will every forget."
The news broke on the day racing professionals from Britain and Ireland attend an event in Liverpool to unveil the weights for the 2023 Randox Grand National.