Welcome to our jockey profile of Gavin Sheehan:
Contents
Key Stats
Name – Gavin Sheehan
Date of Birth – 23 June 1992
Birthplace – Dunmanway, West Cork
Riding Weight – 10st
Big Wins: Stayers’ Hurdle, Punchestown Champion Stayers’ Hurdle, Brown Advisory Handicap Chase, Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase, Rendlesham Hurdle, Kingmaker Novices’ Chase, Manifesto Novices’ Chase, Becher Chase and many more!
Jockey Profile
Gavin Sheehan was not born into a racing family and 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 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 major success for trainer Harry Whittington. The combination have 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 he might be reeled in by the chasing pack 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 todays racecards and tomorrows 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 September 2022.
Summary
It is a bit of a mystery why Sheehan has not been given more opportunities with the bigger 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.
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