Aamilah Aswat has set her sights on the Grand National after becoming the first black female British jump jockey to win a UK horse race. The 20-year-old achieved this milestone in just her fourth professional ride, having taken out her jockey's license in autumn 2025. Her victory came less than three months after she became the first black female British jump jockey to compete in a race in Britain.

Aswat's journey began at St James City Farm in Gloucester, where she started riding at age five. She later joined the inaugural Riding A Dream Academy scholarship programme in 2021-22 and completed a foundation course at the British Racing School. Trainer Kim Bailey immediately recognized her talent, noting he had never captured a photograph of her being out of place while schooling horses. Bailey emphasized the challenges faced by conditional jockeys, particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds.

Aswat draws inspiration from Khadijah Mellah, the first British Muslim woman to win a horse race in Britain. She hopes her achievements will inspire others from similar backgrounds to pursue careers in racing. 'It feels nice to be a role model and make people believe in themselves,' Aswat said, acknowledging the importance of representation in the sport. Her ultimate ambition remains riding in the Grand National, a dream she describes as 'still very much the dream.'