Rachael Blackmore has announced her retirement from race-riding with immediate effect.

The 35-year-old jockey issued a statement on Monday evening which said: "My days of being a jockey have come to an end.

"I feel the time is right. I’m sad but I’m also incredibly grateful for what my life has been for the past 16 years. I just feel so lucky, to have been legged up on the horses I have, and to have experienced success I never even dreamt could be possible."

Blackmore is best known for her association with dual Champion Hurdle winner Honeysuckle, and for winning the 2021 Grand National on Minella Times. She rode 32 winners in the most recent jumps season, finishing just outside the top 10 riders in the table, but she did have two big winners at the Cheltenham Festival in March.

Blackmore's statement continued: "The people to thank are endless, it’s not possible to mention everyone (as I don’t want this to be another book) but I’m going to get a few names in here anyway and to everyone else, you know who you are, as they say.

"Firstly, my parents who provided me with the best childhood, and a pony I couldn’t hold! This set the seed for a life of racing. Aidan Kennedy gave me my first ride in a point to point. I spent time riding out for Arthur Moore and Pat Doyle which I loved. Sam Curling and Liam Lennon were also big supporters as was Denise O’ Shea, John Nicholson, Ellmarie Holden, Harry Smyth and Gigginstown House Stud.

"I rode my first winner for Shark Hanlon, who then helped me become Champion Conditional. I will be forever grateful to Shark for getting behind me, supporting me and believing in me when it would have been just as easy to look elsewhere. He was the catalyst for what was to come.

"A conversation between Eddie O’Leary and Henry de Bromhead in a taxi on the way to Aintree took my career to a whole new level. Eddie got me in the door at Knockeen, and what came next was unimaginable: Honeysuckle, A Plus Tard, Minella Indo, Captain Guinness, Bob Olinger, Minella Times, among many others… all with one thing in common – Henry de Bromhead. He’s a phenomenal trainer, who brought out the best in me. Without Henry, my story is very different.

"To my sponsors over the years. Dornan, KPMG, Volvo, Betfair, PCI Insurance, thank you for your support. To Garry Cribbin, who looked after me as my agent since day one with professionalism and friendship. To Rebecca Matthews who managed (and hopefully will continue to manage!) the non-horse related requests. To Willie Mullins who provided me with success throughout my career.

"To all the team in Knockeen who do such incredible work looking after all the horses, without you and all the stable staff across the country, winners don’t happen.

"To Davy Roche, who’s help was invaluable when I was privileged enough to have a choice in a race. To all the amazing doctors, surgeons and physios who looked after me over the years. To all the wonderful owners who trusted me and gave me the opportunity to do what I love doing.

"To everyone I shared the weigh room with, I’ll miss being in there with you. To all my great friends – you made winning special. Brian Hayes won’t enjoy getting a mention, but he was more important to my career than I’ll ever be able to thank him for.

"It is daunting, not being able to say that I am a jockey anymore… who even am I now!

"But I feel so incredibly lucky to have had the career I’ve had. To have been in the right place at the right time with the right people, and to have gotten on the right horses - because it doesn’t matter how good you are without them. They have given me the best days of my life and to them I am most grateful."

RACHAEL BLACKMORE CAREER MILESTONES

2011: Rode her first racecourse winner on Stowaway Pearl at Thurles

2015: Turned professional

2017: First female to become champion claiming professional/conditional rider in Ireland

2019: Rode her first Cheltenham Festival winner on A Plus Tard, finished second in Irish jump jockeys' championship with 90 winners

2021: Leading jockey at the Cheltenham Festival with six winners, winning Champion Hurdle on Honeysuckle

2021: Won the Grand National at Aintree on Minella Times, the first female jockey to win the race

2021: Named RTÉ Sports Person of the Year and the BBC World Sport Star of the Year

2022: Won Champion Hurdle again on Honeysuckle and became first female jockey to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup on A Plus Tard

2023: Awarded Honorary Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to sport

2025: Rode two more Cheltenham Festival winners, bringing her Cheltenham total to 18

2025: Won at Cork on Ma Belle Etoile, her final racecourse ride