How a 2018 taxi ride to Aintree helped pave the way to historic National win

I see bouquets raining down on Rachael Blackmore for her fantastic achievement on Saturday, and on Henry de Bromhead for giving her so many great opportunities in recent seasons, and that is just as it should be. But if you'll forgive me for reminding you of an obligation, some flowers also need to be sent on this happiest of occasions to Eddie O'Leary.

The man who runs Gigginstown has become something of a pantomime villain for some racing fans but, whatever your views about the campaigning of Tiger Roll, he deserves a deal of credit for opening the door that led Blackmore directly to stardom. It happened almost exactly three years ago, in a taxi on the way to Aintree races, when De Bromhead was fretting about his jockey situation.

"She'd been riding a lot for us and Mouse Morris at the time and we were very impressed by her and by her professionalism," O'Leary recalled on Sunday. Her skill at getting a horse jumping had been noticed. "I said, try her on our horses first and see how they go."