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Danny McMenamin

admin February 4, 2026

Born in Downpatrick, County Down, Northern Ireland on June 5, 2000, Danny McMenamin began his riding career with local point-to-point trainer Brian Hamilton, before honing his riding skills under the tutelage of Ger Lyons in Dunsany, County Meath during the summer of 2017. Of the latter spell, he said, “It really helped with my style of riding and my positioning on a horse.”

A relative introduced him to former jockey Tony Dobbin who, in turn, put him in touch with his former employer, Nicky Richards, son of Gordon, who is based in Penrith, Cumbria. Having crossed the Irish Sea, McMenamin rode his first winner, Western Rules, trained by Nicky Richards, on his first ride under Rules in Britain, in an amateur riders’ handicap hurdle at Ayr on March 9, 2018.

On November 18, 2018, as a 7lb claimer having just his third ride at Cheltenham, McMenamin won the valuable Greatwood Handicap Hurdle on Nietzsche, trained by Brian Ellison. Of that success, he said later, “It certainly opened up a lot of doors for me after that and greatly aided my career.”

In the 2018/19 season as a whole, McMenamin rode 16 winners, followed by 28 in 2019/20 and 46 in 2020/21. He rode out his claim on Archie Brown, trained by Henry Hogarth, in a novices’ handicap chase at Market Rasen on February 21, 2021 and, two months later, was presented with the trophy for the conditional jockeys’ championship, finishing well ahead of his nearest rival. At that stage, McMenamin expressed his gratitude to Dobbin and to his coach, Brian Harding, another former stable jockey to Nicky Richards.

McMenamin enjoyed his most successful season, so far, numerically and fiscally, in 2024/25, when he rode 70 winners from 466 rides, at an overall strike rate of 15%, and amassed just over £900,000 in prize money. Understandably, in his career as a whole, Nicky Richards has been his principal benefactor, but he has enoyed profitable associations with various Northern trainers, not least Ann Hamilton, who is based in Capheaton, Northumberland.

At the time of writing, McMenamin has yet to ride a Grade 1 winner, but Ann Hamilton has provided him with three of his four Grade 2 winners. The first of them was Nuts Well in the Old Roan Chase at Aintree on October 25, 2020 and was followed by Tommy’s Oscar in the Champion Hurdle Trial at Haydock on January 22, 2022 and the same horse in the Lightning Novices’ Chase at Doncaster on January 28, 2023.

Daniel Tudhope

admin February 4, 2026

Born in Irvine, North Ayrshire, Scotland on December 1, 1985, Daniel Tudhope left school at 16 and, following careers guidance, attended, and graduated from, Northern Racing College (now the National Horseracing College) in Doncaster. He subsequently became apprenticed to Declan Carroll in Malton, North Yorkshire and rode his first ‘winner’ of any description, Doitupto You (with the assistance of the local stewards) at the Ippodromo San Rossore in Pisa, Italy in 2003. On February 29, 2004, Tudhope rode his first winner on British soil, Rust En Vrede, trained by Carroll, in a banded stakes race at Southwell.

Thanks in no small part to Carroll, Tudhope rode out his claim in two-and-a-half years. However, after a few years struggling as a freelance jockey, he took the advice of weighing room colleague Silvestre De Sousa to start riding out for then up-and-coming trainer David O’Meara, a move that he later described as “the start of it all for me”. In 2012, he became stable jockey to O’Meara after his predecessor, De Sousa, was offered a retainer by Godolphin.

In his new role, Tudhope reached the milestone of 100 winners in a calendar year in 2013, but it would not be until 2019 that he rode 100 winners in the set period, between May and October, on which the jockeys’ title is decided. He achieved his maiden century in that respect on World Title, trained by Archie Watson, in a nursery handicap at Ripon on August 27, 2019. At that point, Tudhope said, “It has been a fantastic year for me so far, and I will keep trying my hardest to achieve my dream of becoming Champion Jockey.” He went on to ride 159 winners in the year as a whole, including 133 in the title period, eventually finishing runner-up to Oisin Murphy in the Flat Jockeys’ Championship.

Nowadays, Willow Farm, near Upper Helmsley, North Yorkshire, where O’Meara has been based since 2016, is one of the strongest yards in the North of England. Nevertheless, Tudhope once said, “For a northern jockey, I think it’s harder. Most of the big meetings are down south. When northern jockeys go down south, it takes a while to adapt. Look at Ascot. It’s a difficult track to ride, especially when you’re up against the top jockeys.” Despite the challenges, Tudhope reached the landmark of 1,000 career winners on Ingelby Hollow, trained by O’Meara, in a handicap at Thirsk on June 3, 2019.

Ben Jones

admin February 4, 2026

Born in Carmarthen, South West Wales on November 16, 1999, Ben Jones caught the racing bug when he started riding out for a local trainer Paul Hamer while enrolled at Hereford School of Farriery. As a 17-year-old, he joined Philip Hobbs in Bilbook, near Minehead, Somerset, initially as an amateur riding, with no little success, in point-to-points. In his second year with Hobbs, he begaun riding under Rules and rode his first winner in that sphere, Sahara Haze, trained by Philip Dando, in a handicap hurdle at Warwick on February 23, 2018.

Having become a conditional jockey, on the advice of Hobbs, Jones opened his account on Field Exhibition, trained by Grace Harris, in a mares’ handicap chase at Hereford on October 15, 2019. In his early career, Jones was well supported by various trainers, including Ben Clarke, Rebecca Curtis and Emma Lavelle, and the latter who provided his first high-profile winner. On November 30, 2019, having just turned 20, Jones rode De Rasher Counter, saddled by Lavelle, to victory in the

Ladbrokes Trophy Chase – formerly the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup and now the Coral Gold Cup – at Newbury. He later said of his achievement, “That got me on the map, I probably didn’t appreciate quite how big it was at the time.”

Thereafter, Jones rode out his claim in under two seasons, losing his remaining weight allowance during the summer of 2021 and reaching the milestone of 100 career winners on Beau Haze, also trained by Phil Dando, in handicap hurdle at Chepstow on March 24, 2022. The 2021/22 season as a whole yielded 39 winners, followed by 28 in 2022/23 and 55 in 2023/24, including his first included his first Cheltenham Festival winner, Shakem Up’arry, trained by Ben Pauling, in the TrustATrader Plate Handicap Chase on March 14, 2024.

The following October, Pauling, who is based in Naunton, Gloucestershire, asked Jones to become his first-choice jockey. Reflecting on his decision to accept the offer, Jones said later, “When Mr. Pauling asked me to be his number one I didn’t even have to think about it, it was a no-brainer.” In his new role, Jones rode a then career-best 77 winners in 2024/25, including his first Grade 1 winner, The Jukebox Man, trained by Pauling, in the Kauto Star Novices’ Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day 2024. Recalling his breakthrough success, Jones said, “My first Grade 1 winner was very special, that’s something I’ll always remember.”

Rossa Ryan

admin January 21, 2026

Born in Ballinderry, near Tuam, County Galway, on July 3, 2000, Rossa Ryan is the son of former National Hunt trainer David Ryan. Prolific on the pony racing circuit in his native land, Ryan rode his first winner under Rules, Solar Heat, trained by Dot Love, in an apprentice handicap at Dundalk on December 9, 2016, while still apprenticed to his father. He subsequently crossed the Irish Sea to become apprenticed to Richard Hannon in Herridge, Wiltshire and rode his first winner on British soil, Willwams, trained by Hannon, in a claiming stakes race at Lingfield on March 17, 2017.

Ryan rode 21 winners in his first season with Hannon and in 2018 increased his seasonal tally to 78 winners, riding out his claim and finishing runner-up, behind Jason Watson, in the apprentice jockeys’ championships. On August 24, 2019, he rode his first Pattern winner, Duke Of Hazard, trained by Paul Cole, in the Celebration Mile at Goodwood. On July 15, 2020, he won a handicap at Yarmouth on Mr. Kiki, a quirky customer owned by Amo Racing, under the auspices of Kiavash Joorabchian, and trained by Ralph Beckett in Kimpton, Hampshire. A week later, he was offered, and accepted, a retainer by the influential owner – which would last for two years – and the job as first jockey to Beckett.By that stage, Ryan had already ridden his first Royal Ascot winner, Highland Chief, another for Paul Cole – who, by that stage, had been joined on his licence by his son, Oliver – in the Golden Gates Handicap on June 18, 2020.

He rode over 100 winners in a season for the first time in 2021, and, in 2023, rode his first Group 1 winner, Shaquille, trained by Julie Camacho, in the July Cup at Newmarket on his way to riding over 200 winners in a season for the first time. Ryan rode 201 winners in 2024 and, on October 3, 2025, reached the milestone of 1,000 winners on British soil on Blazeon Five, trained by Alan King, in a handicap at Ascot en route to a seasonal tally of 179 winners. Of his achievement, he said: “It’s great to have ridden 1,000 winners. I’ve had a lot of great support from people; I think the biggest thing is that I have a fantastic agent behind me. All the credit goes to Steve Croft. At the time of writing, Ryan has ridden four Group 1 winners to his name, including Bluestocking, trained by Beckett, in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp in 2024.

Oisin Murphy

admin January 21, 2026

Born in Killarney, County Kerry on September 6, 1995, Oisin Murphy is the nephew of Cheltenham Gold Cup and Grand National winning jockey Jim Culloty. A graduate of the pony racing circuit, he became apprenticed to Andrew Balding in Kingsclere, Hampshire in late 2012 and rode his first winner, Imperial Glance, trained by Balding, in an apprentice handicap at Salisbury on June 16, 2013. On September 21 that same year, Murphy announced himself to the wider racing public by riding the last four winners on the Ayr Gold Cup card, including the Ayr Gold Cup winner, Highland Colori, also trained by Balding, at cumulative odds of 9,260/1.

Despite Balding restricting him to Class 4 level and above, to protect his claim, Murphy rode 44 winners in his inaugural season on British soil. In 2014, he increased his seasonal tally to 76 winners, the highest recorded by an apprentice since Paul Hanagan in 2002, riding out his claim and being crowned British Champion Apprentice. He also rode his first Pattern winner, Hot Streak, trained by Kevin Ryan, in the Group 2 Temple Stakes at Haydock on May 24, 2014.

As a fully-fledged professional, further milestones followed in 2017, with a first Royal Ascot winner, Benbatl, trained by Saeed bin Suroor, in the Hampton Court Stakes and a first Group 1 winner, Aclaim, trained by Martyn Meade, in the Prix de la Foret at Chantilly. Murphy became British Champion Jockey for the first time in 2019, with a seasonal tally of 220 winners – still his best ever – and took the title again in 2020, 2021, 2024 and 2025. At the time of writing he has 32 Group 1 wins worldwide to his name, including two British Classics.

Despite his success on the racecourse, Murphy has regularly fallen foul of the authorities because of disciplinary problems related to drugs and alcohol. He has been stood down from riding on several occasions after failing breath tests, received a three-month ban after testing positive for cocaine, albeit from environmental contamination, received a further 14-month ban for various rule breaches, including two more alcohol breaches, and a criminal conviction for driving while over the drink-drive limit, resulting in a £70,000 fine and a 20-month driving ban.

According to the governing body, the British Horseracing Authority (BHA), Murphy remains “subject to stringent conditions, including detailed and strict procedures relating to further enhanced testing, both on and off the racecourse.”

James Bowen

admin January 19, 2026

Born on March 12, 2001 in Little Newcastle, Pembrokeshire, South West Wales, James Bowen is the youngest son of former trainer Peter Bowen and his wife, Karen, and the brother of Mickey and Sean Bowen. Formerly a point-to-point trainer, eldest brother Mickey held a joint licence with his father in 2024, before taking over as sole trainer at his Yet-Y-Rhug yard in 2025, while Sean Bowen was British Champion Jump Jockey in 2024/25.

A graduate of the pony racing and point-to-point circuits, James Bowen rode his first winner under Rules, Curious Carlos, bred and owned by Carl Pyne and trained by his father, in a handicap hurdle at Cartmel on May 27, 2017. He subsequently became conditional jockey to Nicky Henderson in Upper Lambourn, Berkshire and was still only 16 years old when he won the postponed Welsh Grand National at Chepstow on Raz Maree, trained by Gavin Cromwell, on January 6, 2018, thereby becoming the youngest jockey ever to do so.

In his first full season, 2017/18, Bowen rode a total of 58 winners and became the youngest ever British Champion Conditional Jockey, taking the record from elder brother Sean, who won the title in 2014/15. He reached the milestone of 75 career winners, thereby riding out his claim and becoming a fully-fledged professional jockey, on Brave Eagle, trained by Henderson, in a handicap hurdle at Southwell on June 12, 2018. At that point, he said, “It’s really good to ride out my claim. Mr Henderson has been really good to me and my parents have been too.”

Bowen rode his first Grade 1 winner, Jango Baie in the Formby Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree, on Boxing Day 2023, but has since added two more, Lulamba in the Four Year Old Hurdle at Punchestown on May 3, 2025 and, most recently, Jonbon in the Clarence House Chase at Ascot on January 17, 2026; all three winners were trained by Nicky Henderson. On the latter occasion, Bowen was a late replacement for Harry Cobden, the newly-appointed retained rider for leading owner John P. McManus, but injured in a fall in the previous race.

Reflecting on the contrasting fortunes of the jockeys involved, winning trainer Nicky Henderson said, “I’m sorry for Harry but thrilled for James, who is riding brilliantly. It’s special when you can do the horse justice, which he has certainly done.” Bowen said, “I’m really grateful to Mr. Henderson and Mr. McManus for letting me ride him after the last time [when beaten at long odds-on], hopefully I put things right anyway.”