Paddy Brennan

Welcome to our jockey profile of Paddy Brennan. 

We look at his big wins, up-and-coming rides and history.

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Paddy Brennan Booked Races

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Paddy Brennan Recent Form

Key Stats of P.Brennan

Name – Paddy Brennan

Date of Birth – 13 April 1981

Birthplace – Ardrahan, County Galway

Big Wins: Cheltenham Gold Cup, Stayers Hurdle, Ryanair Chase, Betfair Chase, King George VI Chase, Ascot Chase, Betway Bowl, Punchestown Champion Chase, Aintree Hurdle, Melling Chase, Scottish Grand National, Kauto Star Novices’ Chase and many more top National Hunt prizes.

Jockey Profile of Paddy Brennan

Brennan’s interest in racing was sparked by going hunting as a youth. He aspired to be a flat race jockey and joined Jim Bolger’s yard but could not maintain a low weight and switched to National Hunt.

He moved to England in 2000 and the powerful Paul Nicholls stable at Ditcheat.

A bad leg break gave him a tough introduction to the sport but he rode his first century in the 2007-08 season. He has remained one of the strongest riders in the weighing room and has formed lasting bonds with trainers Fergal O’Brien, Colin Tizzard and Tom George.

Paddy Brennan – Key Jockey Stats

Brennan’s first Grade 1 success was on Ashley Brook at Aintree in 2005. His first Cheltenham Festival winner came aboard 40-1 outsider Shamayoun in the Fred Winter Handicap Hurdle in 2006.

He enjoyed his best season numerically in 2007-08 with 104 winners. In 2016 he joined the elite band of National Hunt jockeys to have ridden 1000 winners when Colin’s Sister won at Warwick.

Having turned 40, he has accepted that winning the jockeys’ title is probably beyond him but he still finished a respectable sixth in 2020-21 with 82 winners. He bettered that tally by 5 in 2021-22 and looks set to return a similar total in 2022-23.

Paddy Brennan’s Big Race Wins

Brennan has enjoyed success in many of the top National Hunt races in Britain.

He has won six times at the Cheltenham Festival, including three Grade 1’s; the Stayers Hurdle (2007), Ryanair Chase (2009) and the Cheltenham Gold Cup (2010).

He struck up a formidable partnership from 2015 with Colin Tizzard’s Cue Card, winning the King George VI Chase (2015), Betfair Chase (2015 and 2016) and Ascot Chase (2017).

He also won the Scottish Grand National on Hello Bud in 2009.

God’s Own was a terrific flagbearer for the Tom George stable, Brennan riding him to victory in the Betfred Bowl at Aintree and the Punchestown Champion Chase in 2016.

Paddy Brennan’s Most Famous Victories

The Stayers Hurdle is one of the top prizes at the Cheltenham Festival so his win on Inglis Drever in 2007 was a special moment. Howard Johnson’s gelding had won the race two years’ earlier and Brennan had ridden him for the first time in his prep race in the Cleeve Hurdle. He produced the horse with his customary late run at the festival to beat Mighty Man by three-quarters of a length. Inglis Drever won the race three times, each time under a different rider.

It is impossible to look beyond the 2010 Cheltenham Gold Cup and Imperial Commander’s victory for the highlight of his career. The race was billed as a clash between the Paul Nicholls’ pair, Kauto Star and Denman, but there was plenty of confidence behind Imperial Commander in the Twiston-Davies camp. He had been only a nose behind Kauto Star in the Betfair Chase and exceeded that form after a disappointing run in the King George.

Cue Card’s thrilling head victory over Vautour in the 2015 King George VI Chase was another memorable race. Brennan had to be at his strongest to catch Ruby Walsh on the runner-up. Cue Card won 12 of his 34 races over fences and over £1 million in prize money during his illustrious career.

Summary of Jumps Jockey Paddy Brennan

Paddy Brennan has been at the top of his profession for nearly twenty years and is still one of the strongest riders in a finish.

He remains as hungry as ever for big race success and another excellent season seems assured.

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