Historic win a Turner up for the books

LUCY TURNER was unaware of the significance as she crossed the line but, quickly, the enormity of the occasion became clear.

Turner — an amateur jockey who has worked for Grand National-winning trainer Venetia Williams since 2009 — had just made history by winning the Boylesports Becher Chase on Chambard.

Her smile was enormous. This, the 30year-old insisted, was the best day of her career. She had ridden Chambard on his past 12 outings — including winning the Kim Muir Chase at the Cheltenham Festival in March 2022 — but there is something about Aintree and its capacity to make stories.

Turner became the first female rider to win the Becher Chase, first staged in 1992, and joined a select group of women, including Rachael Blackmore, Carrie Ford, Nina Carberry, Gina Andrews and Tabitha Worsley, to conquer these huge fences.

‘I can’t believe it,’ she said. ‘I had no idea I was the first women to win it. It’s just amazing. Will we come back here in April for the Grand National? The way he jumped, you’d love to ride him in that race. We’ll just enjoy this first.’