GAVIN SHEEHAN

Gavin Sheehan

Welcome to our jockey profile of Gavin Sheehan.

Top national hunt jockey Gavin Sheehan rides in the UK and has competed in some of the country’s most prestigious races, including the Aintree Grand National and the Cheltenham Festival.

Gavin began competing at the age of 14 and was born in the West Cork town of Dunmanway. At the age of 18, he moved to Britain to start racing in 2012.

Gavin quickly found success in England, taking up the Conditional Jockeys’ Championship in 2013–14 with 50 victories. The following year, in 2014–15, Gavin Sheehan won 73 games, a career high.

To learn more about Gavin Sheehan, including his upcoming races and history, refer to our guide.

Find out more about Gavin Sheehan

Key Stats of Gavin Sheehan

Jockey Profile

Gavin Sheehan was not born into a racing family, but he had his first experience in pony racing at the age of 14.

He rode his first winner under rules in Ireland aboard Whatsabillion at Thurles Racecourse in 2011 and managed only one more victory before moving to England in 2012.

An opportunity arose at Charlie Mann’s stable, which proved the catalyst for Sheehan’s career to take off.

He also teamed up with trainer Warren Greatrex and won the 2013-14 Conditional Jockeys’ Title with 50 winners.

Gavin Sheehan – Key Jockey Stats

His services were immediately in high demand following his impressive season as a conditional, and he rode 73 winners in 2014/15, including a first Cheltenham Festival win on Cole Harden in the Stayers’ Hurdle.

Sheehan’s career stalled slightly, not helped by injuries, and Greatrex demoted him behind Champion jockey Richard Johnson in 2017-18.

In 2020, he won the Brown Advisory Handicap Chase at the festival aboard Simply The Betts, owned by Kate and Andrew Brooks for whom Sheehan is the first-choice jockey.

He reached the notable landmark of 500 career wins in February 2021.

Gavin Sheehan’s Big Race Wins

Sheehan’s first Graded race victory came in the Grade 2 Yorkshire Hurdle aboard Cole Harden in 2014.

He teamed up with the same horse to win his first Grade 1 in the Stayers’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival that year.

His second Grade 1 was provided by Arzal in the Manifesto Novices’ Chase at Aintree in 2016. It was his first significant success for trainer Harry Whittington. The combination has enjoyed plenty of important victories since, notably Itchy Feet (2020 Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase) and Simply The Betts (2020 Brown Advisory Handicap Chase).

Sheehan also displayed his ability over the famous Grand National fences when steering Blaklion to victory in the 2017 Becher Chase.

Gavin Sheehan’s – Most Famous Victories

Sheehan earned the plaudits for his front-running ride on Cole Harden for Warren Greatrex, a 14-1 winner of the Stayers’ Hurdle in 2015. He looked as if the chasing pack might reel him in at one stage, but Sheehan kept enough up his sleeve to forge clear on the run-in.

Sheehan returned to his native Ireland to land the prestigious Champion Stayers Hurdle at Punchestown in 2016. He rode One Track Mind to a game victory over 33-1 outsider Jennies Jewel with hot favourite Alpha Des Obeaux back in third.

Blaklion had finished fourth in the 2017 Grand National and started a heavily-backed favourite for the Becher Chase on the strength of that form. Sheehan had finished a fine second on him to Bristol De Mai at Wetherby on his previous start, and victory never looked in doubt at Aintree, winning by 19 lengths.

Gavin Sheehan Rides

To check out Gavin Sheehan’s booked rides, check out today’s racecards and tomorrow’s racecards with various suppliers. If you are looking to place a bet on this great jockey with an online betting website, be sure to check our guide to the best betting sites in July 2025.

Summary of Jockey Gavin Sheehan

It is somewhat of a mystery why Sheehan has not been given more opportunities with the larger stables.

He can hold his own in the top races and is one of the strongest riders in a finish.

He looks set for another solid year.