The eerily quiet surrounds of Fairyhouse on a Tuesday evening may seem a far cry from the eight million eyeballs that watched Rachael Blackmore's historic Grand National gallop to glory on Minella Times at Aintree last weekend.

But one of the hardest working jockeys in racing was never likely to rest on her laurels after becoming the first female rider to win the famous race, turning down lucrative sponsorship and media opportunities to get straight back in the saddle on home soil.

The 31-year-old from Tipperary is still in the hunt to become the champion jumps jockey. With Paul Townend currently sidelined by a foot injury, she has 10 winners to find before season’s end to draw level with him in the race.

Speaking before the first of six rides at Fairyhouse, it was clear the magnitude of her Grand National achievement may still be slowly sinking in. But in a short few days her world has been turned upside down.

"I just feel very lucky to be in the position I’m in," she told RTÉ Sport, with a black mask pulled halfway up her face, following on-course Covid-19 protocol.

"In a race like the Grand National you need so much to go right. You need so many things to fall your way.

"There’s fallers and you’re on the right side of those; everything needs to work out for you. I think you just feel incredibly lucky when you’re the one that everything worked out for."

Just weeks after breaking boundaries at the Cheltenham Festival, Blackmore went one better at Aintree, riding into the history books in the most famous race of all and gaining attention right around the world for an achievement that echoes far beyond the world of sport.

"It’s been incredible," she says almost breathlessly. "When you see your face on papers in Japan and China, you know things are a little bit different. I’m just trying to process it all. We’re back to work here today and you’d be floating around the place."

It wasn’t long before she floated back into the Fairyhouse winners' enclosure, once again teaming up with Henry de Bromhead to steer home Somptueux in the Follow Fairyhouse On Social Media Rated Novice Chase. Another small step in the race for the jockeys' title, something she says she’s taking "one day at a time".

It may remain an outside shot, but in a year with so many highs, there’s few who would bet against her adding one more historic achievement in a groundbreaking season that will never be forgotten.