February 2026

Ciaran Gethings

admin February 8, 2026

Born on December 15, 1994 in County Wicklow, Ireland, Ciaran Gethings owed his start in racing to local trainer Philip Rothwell, based in Tinahely, who bought him a pony on which to learn to ride as a 10-year-old and for whom he subsequently rode out regularly after school and during school holidays. Gethings left school at 15 and moved to Kildare, where he attended the Racing Academy and Centre of Education (RACE) and worked for Friarstown trainer Conor O’Dwyer.

On completion of his work placement, believing that he would find better opportunities on the opposite side of the Irish Sea, O’Dwyer contacted Somerset trainer Philip Hobbs on Gethings’ behalf. Gethings, 16, duly joined Hobbs as an amateur rider but, according to the ‘Racing Post’, did not take his first ride for Hobbs until March 22, 2013. He rode his first winner, Woodford County, in an amateur riders’ handicap chase at Newbury on November 27, 2014.

Gethings turned conditional specifically to ride War Sound, trained by Hobbs, in the valuable Swinton Hurdle at Haydock on May 9, 2015 and the six-year-old duly justified favouritism, giving his jockey a winner – not to mention a decent payday – on his first ride in his new role. He remained with Hobbs until the summer of 2017, but left to become conditional jockey to Tom George in Slad, Gloucestershire. Explaining his decision, Gethings said, “…my claim was down to 3lb and I thought it best to spread my wings a bit. I rode a winner at Perth for Tom and things just went from there. He holds my licence and things are going great.”

Shortly after winning the Welsh Grand National Trial at Chepstow on Wild West Wind, trained by George, on December 9, 2017, Gethings said, “… the aim now is now ride my claim out by the end of the season.” That he did, en route to a career-best 33 winners in 2017/18 as a whole.

Tom George aside, Gethings also formed a profitable association with Buckinghamshire trainer Stuart Edmunds, to who he became, for all practical purposes, stable jockey. All told, Gethings rode 114 winners for Edmunds, including the biggest winner of his career so far, Arizona Cardinal, in the Topham Chase at Aintree on April 12, 2024. However, the pair have since parted company, as Gethings explained, “Last season [2024/25] I had four months out through injury, and I probably lost a few rides. I got to February [2025], and I just wasn’t enjoying it at all, and that’s why I said to Stuart that I should go.”

Caoilin Quinn

admin February 8, 2026

Born in Downpatrick, County Down, Northern Ireland, Caoilin Quinn started pony racing while still at primary school and during secondary school rode out for local trainer Brian Hamilton, in nearby Ballynoe, at weekends and during school holidays. On leaving school, he joined Warren Greatrex in Upper Lambourn, Berkshire as an a amateur rider and duly rode his first winner, Sarim, trained by Greatrex, in an amateur riders’ handicap on the Flat at Kempton on November 5, 2019, on his first ever racecourse ride.

After a handful of rides in point-to-points, the first of which was Bulfin Island, trained by Roger Varnham, in a restricted point-to-point at Cocklebarrow, Gloucestershire on January 26, 2020, Quinn became conditional jockey to Greatrex. He was immediately successful in that role, too, riding a winner on his first ride, Bill Baxter, in a National Hunt Flat Race at Fakenham on January 4, 2021.

Early the following year, Quinn joined Gary Moore – who, since 2024, has held a joint training licence with his son, Josh – at Lower Beeding, West Sussex as conditional jockey and has remained at the yard ever since. In 2022/23, he broke into double figures for the first time, finishing the season with 25 winners. In 2023/24, he increased his seasonal tally to 28 winners, including Botox Has in the West Yorkshire Hurdle at Wetherby on November 4, 2023, Salver in the Finale Juvenile Hurdle at Chepstow on December 27, 2023 and Nassalam in the Welsh Grand National later on the same day. Botox Has was, in fact, his first Grade 2 winner and prevailed under joint top weight of 11st 6lb despite Quinn being unable to claim his 5lb weight allowance. He said, “He’s unbelievable. I’m speechless to be honest.”

On November 15, 2024, Quinn rode out his claim on Icare Grandchamp, trained by Gary and Josh Moore, in a handicap chase at Southwell. He was, in fact, completing a double on the day for his yard and said afterwards, “I’m over the moon, and huge thanks must go to Gary and Josh as they have made it happen and have been very supportive.” The 2024/25 season, as a whole, yielded 29 winners and, on September 11, 2025, Quinn won the Jump Jockeys Derby at Epsom on Give It To Me OJ, trained by Gary and Josh Moore. “This Flat stuff is easy, isn’t it?!” he quipped afterwards, adding, “It was brilliant riding around here. I grew up watching the Derby and big races around here, so it was a privilege to get to ride around the track.”

Callum Rodriguez

admin February 8, 2026

Born in Newcastle on May 4, 1997, Callum Rodriguez attended the National Horseracing College in Doncaster before becoming apprenticed to Richard Ford in Garstang, Lancashire. He took his first ride on Mount Cheiron, trained by Ford, in an apprentice handicap at Lingfield on March 4, 2015 and rode his first winner, Insolenceofsilence, likewise trained by Ford, in a similar contest at Hamilton on June 4, 2015.

Rodriguez rode just five winners in 2015 and just eight in 2016, all trained by Ford, before joining Michael Dods in Denton, County Durham. In his first season with Dods, he rode 39 winners and hit the headlines when getting up in the final strides to win the Ebor Handicap at York on Nakeeta, trained by Iain Jardine, on August 26, 2017. Reflecting on victory in the most valuable handicap in Europe, Rodriguez said afterwards, “I was confident coming into today. I’d spent a lot of time with Mr. Jardine, studying form and going through his previous races.

In 2o18, Rodriguez increased his seasonal tally, again, to 68 winners, riding out his claim on Mustaqbal, trained by Dods, in a handicap at Carlisle on September 12, 2018. However, in February 2019, he failed a drugs test at Southwell, testing postive for cocaine, leading to a suspension, an investigation by the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) and, ultimately, a six-month riding ban. Rodriguez issued a statement, in which he said, “My one-off action was completely out of character and one that I deeply regret.”

In late 2022, Rodriquez began riding out for Edward Bethell – who had taken over the licence from his father, James, in 2021 – in Middleham, North Yorkshire and, in the words of the trainer, “…it’s just snowballed from there.” He quickly became the first-choice jockey for the yard and, on September 9, 2023 rode his first, and so far only, Group 1 winner, Regional, in the Sprint Cup Stakes at Haydock. Bethell said of him, “He’s a natural horseman with fantastic hands and we’re lucky to have him.”

A year later, after he had ridden six winners in three days, Rodriquez received further praise from Newmarket trainer Michael Bell, who said, “He’s become the go-to man in the north for southern trainers and he’s with Ed Bethell, so he’s doing really well.” In 2024, Rodriguez rode a career-best 90 winners, including Mickley, trained by Bethell, in the Britannia Stakes at Royal Ascot, from 457 rides, at a career-best strike rate of 20%.

Brendan Powell

admin February 8, 2026

Born on January 26, 1995 in Swindon, Wiltshire, Brendan Powell is the son of the Grand National-winning jockey of the same name. In his early teens, he spent two summers with his godfather, Adrian Maguire, in Lombardstown, County Cork, where he competed in pony racing at weekends. He described pony racing as “great preparation” for his future career and duly rode his first winner, Home, trained by his father, in an amateur riders’ handicap on the Flat at Southwell on February 8, 2011.

Initially apprenticed to Jonjo O’Neill and subsequently to the late John Hills, Powell rode a handful of winners on the Flat but, unwilling to ride out his claim in that sphere, embarked on a National Hunt career, as conditional jockey to Colin Tizzard in Milborne Port, Dorset. His career took off quickly, too; on December 19, 2011, while still only 16, he made headlines when riding a 40/1 treble at Plumpton on Dark And Dangerous, trained by his father, and Ohio Gold and Drawn Free, both trained by Tizzard. Joe Tizzard, who would take over the licence at Venn Farm following the retirement of his father in 2022, described Powell as “the best 7lb claimer around at the moment.”

Powell was still only 17 and claiming 3lb when he rode his first Cheltenham Festival winner, Golden Chieftain, trained by Tizzard, in the JLT Specialty Handicap Chase on March 12, 2013. The following season, 2013/14, he rode a then career-best 44 winners, riding out his claim in the process. As a fully-fledged professional, Powell rode 38 winners in 2014/15, 35 in 2015/16 and 29 in 2016/17, but his seasonal tally continued to fall, down to 14 winners in 2017/18 and just nine in 2018/19. Reflecting on his dry spell, he said later, “…a few things weren’t going right for me and I didn’t win on a few horses who I probably should have done. I probably wasn’t mature enough to deal with those days the way I should have done.”

On March 10, 2020, Powell rode his second Cheltenham Festival winner, The Conditional, trained by David Bridgwater, in the Ultima Handicap Chase. Thereafter, as stable jockey to Colin Tizzard, his career took off again and in 2021/22 he rode 65 winners, his highest seasonal tally so far. Fast forward to July 25, 2025 and Powell reached the milestone of 500 career winners on Eightytwo Team, trained by Clare Ellam, in a handicap chase at Uttoxeter. He said,”I didn’t want to make a big deal out of it, but I knew.”

William Buick

admin February 4, 2026

Born on July 22, 1988 in Oslo, Norway, William Buick is the son of Walter Buick, who was Scandinavian Champion Jockey on eight occasions. On leaving school, Buick Jnr. became apprenticed to Andrew Balding at Park House Stables, Kingsclere and rode his first winner, Bank On Benny, trained by Paul D’Arcy, in an apprentice handicap at Salisbury on September 27, 2006.

Five years previously, the late Ian Balding, father of Andrew – and best known as the trainer of Mill Reef – had already recognised Buick’s potential, verbally placing a bet of £50 at 100/1 with Tote chairman Peter Jackson that the youngster would, one day, become champion jockey. After riding 10 winners in his inaugural season, Buick was hailed by Balding Snr. as “the best apprentice we have ever had.” The latter eventually collected on his bet, too, albeit with the proceeds going to the Injured Jockeys’ Fund, when Buick was crowned champion jockey for the first time on October 15, 2022. He said, “I am absolutely thrilled he has fulfilled the potential I always knew he had.”

In 2008, Buick was involved in a ding-dong battle for the apprentices’ title with fellow Balding apprentice David Probert, the pair eventually sharing the accolade with 50 winners apiece. The following season, his first as a fully-fledged professional, he rode his first Grade 1 winner, Lahaleeb, trained by Mick Channon, in the E.P. Taylor Stakes at Woodbine, Ontario on October 17, 2009. Buick opened his Group 1, and Classic, account on British soil on Arctic Cosmos, trained by John Gosden – for whom he would subsequently replace Jimmy Fortune as stable jockey – in the St. Leger Stakes at Doncaster on September 11, 2010.

In 2011, Buick rode over a hundred winners in Britain and Ireland for the first time and won the St. Leger Stakes, again, on Masked Marvel, trained by Gosden. After riding over a hundred winners in 2012, 2013 and 2014, he was appointed retained rider to Goldolphin in 2015 and has continued to flourish ever since. He has been champion jockey twice, in 2022 and 2023 and, on July 10, 2025, reached the landmark of 2,000 career winners on El Cordobes, trained by Charlie Appleby, in the Princess of Wales’s Stakes at Newmarket. Numerically, his first championship-winning season was his most successful, with 201 winners from 750 rides, at a strike rate of 27%, and he currently has an eyewatering 121 Group 1 and Grade 1 victories to his name worldwide.

Sam Twiston-Davies

admin February 4, 2026

Born on October 15, 1992 in Naunton, Gloucestershire, Sam Twiston-Davies is the elder son of trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies, who, since the start of the 2025/26 National Hunt season, has held a joint licence with his younger son, William. He took his first ride under Rules on On Spec, trained by his father, in an amateur riders’ handicap at Ludlow on January 15, 2009 and rode his first winner, Baby Run, also trained by Twiston-Davies Snr., in a hunters’ chase at the same course on February 18, 2009. Just over a year later, on March 19, 2010, the same horse provided him with his first high-profile winner when justifying favouritism in the Foxhunter Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.

In his first season as a conditional jockey, 2010/11, Twiston-Davies rode 59 winners to win the conditional jockeys’ championship. He rode over 100 winners in a season for the first time in 2013/14 and towards the end of that season was announced as stable jockey to Paul Nicholls in Ditcheat, Somerset from the start of 2014/15 season, replacing Darryl Jacob. Twiston-Davies spent four years as stable jockey to Nicholls, but at the start of the 2018/19 season announced that he would become a freelance jockey, having been succeeded at Ditcheat by Harry Cobden.

Twiston-Davies enjoyed his most successful season, numerically and financially, in 2014/15, when he rode 145 winners – including Dodging Bullets, trained by Nicholls, in the Queen Mother Champion Chase at the Cheltenham Festival – and amassed nearly £2.5 million in prize money. At the time of writing, all told, he has eight Festival winners and 15 Grade 1 winners to his name, the most recent of which was Potters Charm, trained by his father, in the Formby Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree on Boxing Day 2024.

On June 23, 2019, Twiston-Davies reached the milestone of 1,000 career winners on Nordican Bleue, trained by Richard Newland, in a mares’ novice hurdle at Southwell. At that time, he said, “It seems only yesterday that I was playing starters orders with [younger brother] Willy! It’s a great a achievement and I feel really lucky to have hit the landmark.” On Boxing Day that year, he won the King George VI Chase at Kempton on Nicholls’ apparent second-string, Clan Des Obeaux.

More recently, in January 2026, Cobden was announced as the retained rider for leading owner John ‘J.P.’ McManus, thereby officially vacating his position as Nicholls’ stable jockey at the end of the season. Nicholls has already announced that Twiston-Davies is one of the jockeys who will benefit from the new arrangement.