RACHAEL BLACKMORE paid tribute to tragic teen Jack de Bromhead after riding a winner for his dad at Downpatrick.
The Gold Cup-winning jockey steered home the 100-30 joint-favourite Ingenious Stroke – trainer Henry de Bromhead's first winner since the devastating death of his son.
Jack, 13, was killed after a pony riding accident at the Glenbeigh Festival in County Kerry on September 3.
Dozens of familiar faces from the racing world attended Jack's funeral, including AP McCoy and Ruby Walsh.
Blackmore, who is De Bromhead's stable jockey, was also among the tearful mourners in Waterford City.
She broke her silence after providing the yard with a much-needed winner – though she acknowledged the team were still coming to terms with the loss of the talented young rider.
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Blackmore said: “The horse did it really well, he ran around a bit at the end.
“It is great to get but obviously winners don’t feel the same now.
“We are all thinking of Jack.”
Racing fans shared Blackmore's sentiments on social media.
One said: "Life must go on so happy that @HenrydeBromhead has his first winner back since Jack joined the Angels."
While another added: "Life goes on after Jack de Bromhead was stolen away from his family & friends & it will help Henry de Bromhead and Rachael to get over the pain, but it will never be the same."
Top trainer Henry De Bromhead and his wife, Heather, paid a heartbreaking tribute to their late son at his funeral earlier this month.
Reading Jack's eulogy, he said: "One of the greatest comforts Heather and I have now in his passing is he knows how much we loved him.
"I just ask any of you, whoever you love, make sure you tell them.
"If something like this happens to you, something so tragic as it is, happens to you, it’s a great comfort.
"If you could take that away with you, we would really appreciate it."
The couple finished by echoing the words Jack said to them every night: "Night, mum. Night, dad. Love you."
De Bromhead and Blackmore have combined to win some of jump racing's biggest prizes in recent seasons.
They have won back-to-back Champion Hurdles with Honeysuckle, the Cheltenham Gold Cup with A Plus Tard and the Grand National with Minella Times.
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