From the farm to Cheltenham Festival glory: Henry Crow on his famous win, global reaction, and AP McCoy praise

Crow declared it the best day of his life, telling the Shropshire Star: “It’s fantastic, it’s what you’ve always dreamed of.

“The Cheltenham Festival is like the Olympics - you don’t get any higher than this.

“I hadn’t realised how huge it is until everyone started texting through - people from different countries. It just shows you how many people watch it.

“I’ve had three champion jockeys text me and even one champion trainer in France who won two Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe races.

“It is slowly sinking in. I’m still on a bit of a high from it. I’ll always remain an amateur, so this is as high as it gets for me.”

The 25-year-old from Hadnall, near Shrewsbury, has been riding all his life, with racing firmly in his blood. His win maintained a remarkable family connection to the race, as his grandmother Sheila trained Cappa Bleu to victory in 2009.

“It’s a family affair,” Crow explained. “My nan, Sheila, was a big point-to-point trainer and she won the race in 2009.

“My nan did it and now I have - it’s quite nice to keep it in the family. She was extremely proud.

“My nan’s actually in hospital. That gave her a real pick-me-up. I went to see her after and we couldn’t stop talking about it.”

Crow, riding Barton Snow, battled alongside favourite Its On The Line, ridden by Derek O’Connor, all the way to the final fence, but found just enough on the run-in to score by a neck.

Despite not being the favourite, Crow had a feeling it might be his day.

He said: “I did have expectations. I told a few people, mainly Joe’s (O’Shea) owners, that it was the best horse I’ve ridden.

“I was speaking to Richard Burton, who won the race for my nan and was a legendary point-to-point rider who also lives in Shropshire, and he was telling me what it takes to win the race - and that this horse had it all.

“I was really confident. It was by far the best horse I’ve ridden.”

Cheshire trainer Joe O’Shea also gave Crow his first ever win, at Chaddesley Corbett.

The 25-year-old’s Cheltenham performance was described as the ‘ride of the festival’ by legendary jockey Sir Anthony McCoy.

“It’s amazing - he’s a 20-time champion jockey,” Crow said. “Ruby Walsh was singing my praises too, and he has the most wins of any rider at the Cheltenham Festival. When people say ‘GOATs’, they really are.

“Funnily enough, I rode the next day. AP McCoy said my ride was the ride of the festival, and then I went up to Yorkshire for a point-to-point and I got ride of the day there too.”

The win was his second at Cheltenham racecourse, but his first at the festival.

Just days after his remarkable success, Crow was back running his arable farm in Shropshire. The 25-year-old also works in barn conversions and property development.

Asked about his return to work, he said: “Immediately, yes. I’m running the farm and doing property development at the same time. I ride out every morning, so I juggle quite a lot.”

An Irish punter also made headlines after walking away from the festival with more than half a million euros in winnings after selecting six winners on the Friday card, including Barton Snow.

They won €558,000 (£481,916.70) from a 50-cent each-way Lucky 63 bet, with the huge payout hinging on Crow’s victory by a neck in the Hunters’ Chase.

Crow made the famous walk back to the winner’s enclosure, roared on by thousands of supporters.

Describing the experience, he said: “It’s like no other. In front of the crowd, you get a long time just to soak it in, and the crowd was going wild.

“What made it extra special was that people were telling me I was second favourite and the other horse was favourite, so you can imagine the roar when we were both coming up.”

“I saw that an Irish punter won over half a million euros - it’s quite amazing.”

Crow may also partner Barton Snow at the Grand National meeting next month at Aintree, in the Foxhunters’ Open Hunters’ Chase - one of the races run over the famous National fences.

“I think Joe said he’s going to try and do the double!” Crow added. “He’s a fantastic horse - the best I’ve ever ridden. He’s won over two miles, two-and-a-half, three, and three-and-a-quarter, and to do that you have to have everything.

“He’s got so much class. He’s got speed, stamina, he jumps. There’s nothing he hasn’t got.”

And having now secured a first win at the Cheltenham Festival, Crow is already targeting more success.

He said: “Joe has got some wonderful horses, so he’ll be going back next year again with one of them. I hope I can win it again.”