Minella Times will be forever part of horse racing and sporting history in Tipperary

Minella Times, the horse on which Tipperary jockey Rachael Blackmore scored a historic Aintree Grand National success two years ago, has been retired.

Owned by JP McManus, the horse will not race again following a shoulder injury.

Speaking at the weights launch for this year's Grand National, Rachael Blackmore, who became the first woman to ride the winner of the most famous race in the world in 2021, stated "I think that day did change my life. I didn't realise the scope of the Grand National or the reach that the race has until afterwards, it really does hit different parts of the world that other races perhaps don’t".

"It’s just an incredible race and it’s a privilege to be a part of its history now.

"He’s such a special horse for me and he gave me the best day in racing that I’ve had – and there’s a lot of hot competition for that!

"It was an incredible day and to be able to do it in the colours of JP McManus and for Henry (de Bromhead, the trainer) just made it even more special," said the Killenaule woman.

John Nallen of Hotel Minella in Clonmel purchased Minella Times as a foal in 2013 before selling him to JP McManus in 2018.

Henry de Bromhead said: "He suffered a setback yesterday so we have taken the decision to retire him.

"He absolutely loved it at Aintree. He’d had a really good season coming up to it, having been placed in a couple of really competitive handicap chases and the McManuses were keen to go for the race. It was an amazing day and one of our best.

"Winning any of those big races is incredible, but the National was an amazing day in its own right and the fact that Rachael was the first woman to win the race made it even better.

"We were bang in the middle of Covid lockdown when we won, unfortunately, but the media attention was still massive".