Superstar jumps jockey Rachael Blackmore isn't looking backwards to past Cheltenham glories and is instead focusing on making new memories at the Festival 2022.

Last year, the 32-year-old became the first female jockey to win the Champion Hurdle aboard the marvellous mare Honeysuckle and then went on to be named the Festival's leading rider with six winners.

Blackmore became a household name after clinching the Aintree Grand National a month later with a swashbuckling ride on Minella Times.

But Blackmore, in typically stoic fashion, is not dwelling on past achievements, including being voted BBC World Sport Star and is instead focused on the next beautifully fleeting pieces of Cheltenham glory.

She said: "We're already talking about Cheltenham and Aintree this year, so what happened last year seems to be fading a bit now. It's probably something that will sink in when you've got grey hair and you can enjoy what happened.
"I suppose when I came home (from Aintree) and I was driving through my home town of Killenaule and I could see posters in the windows of people's homes with my face on them, it really resonated then what my personal achievements meant to the people where I'm from.
"But it's a constant, revolving wheel and as a jockey you're looking forward. It's always 'what's next?'. That's the way you're looking as a jockey.
"I'm really looking forward to getting back to Cheltenham. As it gets a bit closer, you just can't wait for things to kick off on the Tuesday.
"The expectation is there, but I know how hard it is to get winners in Cheltenham and I'm going there with the same mindset I do every year - you're just hoping to ride one winner.
"I try not to get too wrapped up in what horses I'll be riding. Obviously it's massive, but you just want to go over there, get one winner and whatever happens after that happens."
Blackmore's hot assignment of rides will again be headed by Honeysuckle, who is odds-on favourite to successfully defend her Champion Hurdle crown.

With a seamless 14 run win streak, Blackmore has unending faith in Honeysuckle's power.

"To win a Champion Hurdle on Honeysuckle was such a pinnacle for me. That was absolutely massive," said Blackmore.
"It's a great help when something like that happens on the Tuesday as it takes a bit of pressure off for the rest of the week. We'll be trying our best to do it again.
"Honeysuckle has never let me down to this day, so I can't see why this year will be any different."
Blackmore is also reunited with the talented Bob Olinger, who obliterated his rivals in last year's Ballymore Novices' Hurdle.
The seven-year-old has taken a while to come to hand since but Blackmore isn't fazed and puts Bob Olinger in the bracket of horses that comes alive at Prestbury Park in Spring.
She said: "I've been extremely happy with him. I think his jumping is improving the whole time, he's a horse with a serious engine and one I'm very lucky to ride.
"It was an incredible feeling riding him last year. There's not too many out there with an engine like him."

Blackmore misjudged her pick of mount at Cheltenham 2021 in the Gold Cup, one of her few mis-steps as she took A Plus Tard over the eventual winner Minella Indo for Henry De Bromhead.

Both horses go toe-to-toe in the Gold Cup again, with Blackmore hoping A Plus Tard can reverse the form.
"The Gold Cup is obviously a race that I got wrong last year. Hopefully we can amend that," she said.
"I'm in a very lucky position - I've got some very nice horses to ride. I'm just really looking forward to getting over there and getting cracking.
"It doesn't matter what race you're in, you're a very lucky person if you get to walk into the winner's enclosure in Cheltenham.
"I've had so many people that have helped me along the way and where I'm at now is not a position I ever thought I'd be in my career. I feel extremely lucky."
READ MORE: Cheltenham Festival 2022 guide: When is it, times, big races, top horses, trainers, jockeys and more.