Rachael Blackmore takes top honour at Horse Racing Ireland Awards

Blackmore's association with Henry de Bromhead has been one of the great success stories of recent years, and the trainer was also recognised for his history-making season with the National Hunt Award

Rachael Blackmore celebrates winning the Hatton's Grace Hurdle onboard Honeysuckle at Fairyhouse last month. Picture: INPHO/Laszlo Geczo

The Irish Racing Hero Award, the top accolade at the 19th Annual Horse Racing Ireland Awards, has been bestowed upon Rachael Blackmore, it was revealed on Wednesday night.

The leading National Hunt jockey has made relentless progress through the ranks in recent years, and earlier this year all that hard work and talent culminated in the kind of month which few top sportspeople could dream of having.