A COMPETITIVE field of female jockeys from all corners of the British Isles kicked on for home chasing not only a Cartmel race win but also a dazzling £5,000 diamond necklace.

Rachel Blackmore was the victor of the The Banks Lyon Jewellers Lady Riders’ Handicap Hurdle, the richest ladies’ hurdle race in the country. She takes the jewels back to Ireland after a convincing win on Baby Jake, trained by John Hanlon.

Blackmore said: “It is unbelievably generous of the sponsors Banks Lyon to put up such a prize. It’s just amazing.”

She was delighted for the owner and breeder, Nanette Wheatley, saying: “He was spot on for the day, he had a really good training performance, he was ready for action, I’m very happy for his owner.”

Number nine, local debutant Charlotte Jones, was on cloud nine when she finished third in her first race ride.

The Barrow lass partnered Smart Ruler, owned by the Vilprano Partnership syndicate, and trainer by Cartmel’s James Moffatt.

It’s been a hell of a week for the 21-year-old Barrow lass. She graduated with a first class degree in equine science on Thursday, on Friday her jockey licence came 24 hours before the race and then on Saturday she placed in one of the most talked about races on the card.

Jones said: “It was amazing, I want to do it again.

“He was travelling the whole way, fantastic. I could not have asked for a better horse for my first race. I’m absolutely chuffed.”

Moffatt, of Pit Farm Racing Stables said: “We are delighted, to go and finish third on her first ride, against some very experienced, and some of the best riders in the country.

“She was neat and tidy. The horse didn’t help her in the first half of the race, but he stayed on well, she did exactly as she was told and we are very pleased with her.

“Her licence came through on Friday, she’s got Brian Hughes’s saddle, Graham Lee’s boots.

“I can’t tell you what a culture shock it is to ride in a first race. A lot of people are like a rabbit in headlights, she kept her cool and got a nice tune out of nice horse and we hope she’ll be back her in August.”

A great run by Eshtiaal clinched the £26,000 The Totescoop6 Cumbria Crystal Cup Handicap Hurdle Race for Irish trainer Gordon Elliott. The win by jockey Henry Brooke secured a 250th jump race win in the UK for the yard.

Camilla Sharples, head travelling girl for Elliott said: “He’s been very gutsy there, that horse was coming at him and he kept going. He stayed on well. It’s not his ideal ground either, fair play to him.

Brooke said: “That was really good. I was filled with confidence from the yard that both horses would win their races. When you have someone like that telling you a horse will win it makes your job a lot easier.”

There was frustration for Moffatt as Boruma finished third in the Crystal Cup, beaten by two lengths and with jockey Joe Colliver picking up a three-day suspension as he came in and weighed two pounds heavy at the scales due to having something to drink after weighing out.

Anthea Morshead, clerk of the course said: “We have had a brilliant day’s racing. Great racing, great crowd, wonderful family atmosphere. The £26,000 Totepool Cumbria Crystal Cup was a really high quality race. We are indebted to Totepool for sponsoring.

“The race which created the most excitement and most chat in the run up to this meeting was the Banks Lyons ladies race with a £5,000 diamond necklace. It’s the richest lady riders hurdle race in the country and we had jockeys from Ireland, Scotland, Wales and England. It was very, very competitive. There was a £10,000 anyway, plus the £5,000 diamond necklace.

All the girls have been desperately looking for rides to run in this race, it’s is great that it has been so well supported.”

Racing continues today at Cartmel with the UK Barbecue Raceday Barbecue Race Day. First Race is 2.10pm and Last Race: 5.25pm.