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Paddy Brennan is one of the most instantly recognisable jockeys in the world of jump racing. He had rode over 1,000 winners in Britain and Ireland, and he most famously claimed success in the 2010 Cheltenham Gold Cup on board Imperial Commander. Paddy Brennan is also famous for being the jockey that has been on board Cue Card for his five grade one successes.
Career
Like most jockeys, he has come a long way from a small town in Ireland to Paddy Brennan, Grand National jockey. He was always a fan of sport in Galway, as he played GAA. However, the trajectory of his career was altered after Jim Bolger noticed his talents on board hunt horses. After a few years with Bolger, he was moved to the Paul Nicholls stable in the United Kingdom in 2000 which turned many Grand National punters heads.
Paddy Brennan would remain with Nicholls for two and a half years, where he would win numerous winners, before joining Phillip Hobbs before the 2003-04 jump season. During his tenure with Hobbs, he would also strike up a relationship with Ashley Brook. While with Brook, Paddy Brennan would win his first Grade One at Aintree in the Maghull Novices’ Chase. He would also achieve success onboard the same horse- Shamayoun at the Cheltenham Festival as the Irishman won the Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle.
His success in the festival races would continue in 2007 when he would guide Inglis Drever to victory in the Ladbrokes World Hurdle, which was the gelding’s second success in that race. However, Paddy Brennan would part ways with Howard Johnston to join the Nigel Twiston-Davies team before the 2007-08 season.
Paddy Brennan has a reputation for being a man for the big occasion due to his success rate in the biggest races on the calendar. He secured his sixth Cheltenham Festival winner on board Pigeon Island where he would win the Johnny Henderson Grand Annual Chase. On that very same day, he would achieve the biggest success of his career to date with the Gold Cup victory on board Imperial Commander. Paddy Brennan Grand National form hasn’t been as solid, but he remains a prominent Grand National jockey to watch out for.
Paddy Brennan’s Grand National in 2019 saw him on board Singlefarmpayment. He showed his qualities as a Grand National jockey on that day as he guided the 50/1 shot to an eighth-place finish, which was a remarkable ride. This was a much better performance from the Grand National jockey than 12 months previous, as he needed to pull up on Chase The Spud after 15 fences.
Trivia
- He has enjoyed a stellar racing career, but what other interesting facts are there regarding Paddy Brennan Grand National jockey?
- He rode more than 100 winners for the first time in a season in the 2007-08 campaign.
- The closest that he has ever been to being a Grand National jockey to cross the line first was in 2015. He rode Saint Are to a second-place finish behind the legendary Many Clouds.
- Paddy Brennan has enjoyed success in the Scottish Grand National as he rode Hello Bud to the success in 2009.
- He recorded his 1,000th winner in November 2016 onboard Colin’s Sister at Warwick.
- When he was younger, he dreamed of becoming a county hurler in GAA before switching his attentions to horse racing.
- Paddy Brennan amassed over £1 million in race earnings last season for the sixth time in his storied career.
Wins
His 2019 form is already shaping up to be consistent. He has ridden 193 runs so far this season and has claimed 30 wins, which means he has a 16% strike rate. That stat is up from the 12% that he was averaging last season. He has finished second on 33 occasions and third on 25.
Paddy Brennan’s biggest success of the season to this point has come on board Jarveys Plate as he won The Robert Mottram Memorial Trophy at Chepstow. His most recent success came at Hereford as he guided Karl Philippe home by three-and-a-quarter lengths to win the Herefordshire Standard Open National Hunt Race. The Grand National jockey will be looking to sustain this form over the coming months ahead of the big festivals in 2020.
Recent Winners
- Karl Philippe- 27th November- 3:50 Hereford
- Ask A Honey Bee- 26th November- 3:30 Southwell
- Hurricane Harvey- 25th November- 1:40 Ludlow
- Perfect Candidate- 23rd November- 3:40 Haydock
