Top Grand National Jockeys
Many people like to follow a favourite jockey with their Grand National money. Are they wise? Are they picking the correct jockeys to follow?
Here are the Grand National jockey statistics over the past 20 renewals. R = Runners, W = Winners, P = Places (Placed refers to rides that finished between 2nd and 5th as most bookmakers will pay on at least five places for the Grand National) C = Completed the race:
| Jockey | R-W-P-C | Win | EW |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paul Townend | 13-1-2-4 | -5.00 | -5.87 |
| Rachael Blackmore | 6-1-2-4 | +6.00 | +5.88 |
| Ryan Mania | 5-1-1-2 | +62.00 | +37.25 |
| Sam Twiston-Davies | 13-0-0-5 | -13.00 | -13.00 |
| Mark Walsh | 12-0-2-4 | -12.00 | -9.12 |
| Nick Scholfield | 10-0-2-6 | -10.00 | -3.62 |
| Richie McLernon | 10-0-1-2 | -10.00 | -7.50 |
| Sean Bowen | 9-0-1-6 | -9.00 | -7.25 |
| Harry Skelton | 9-0-0-6 | -9.00 | -9.00 |
| Brian Hughes | 8-0-0-1 | -8.00 | -8.00 |
| Sean Flanagan | 7-0-1-3 | -7.00 | -4.00 |
| Henry Brooke | 7-0-0-2 | -7.00 | -7.00 |
Grand National Jockeys over National Fences
Here are the Grand National jockey statistics over the past 20 renewals for rides over the national fences. R = Runners, W = Winners, P = Places (Placed refers to rides that finished between 2nd and 5th as most bookmakers will pay on at least five places for the Grand National) C = Completed the race.
Statistics include Becher, Fox Hunters, Sefton, Topham and Grand National:
| Jockey | R-W-P-C | Win | EW |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sam Twiston-Davies | 42-4-5-25 | +7.00 | -7.96 |
| Sean Bowen | 23-3-5-15 | -0.50 | -5.25 |
| Brian Hughes | 34-2-5-19 | +0.00 | -5.12 |
| Henry Brooke | 25-2-8-13 | +0.33 | +5.75 |
| Paul Townend | 24-2-6-12 | -7.00 | -5.93 |
| Harry Cobden | 14-2-3-7 | +52.00 | +29.75 |
| Derek Fox | 13-2-2-7 | +11.00 | +2.75 |
| Mr Derek O'Connor | 12-2-6-8 | -1.50 | -1.25 |
Grand National Jockey Records
The stats on the rest of this page show last year's race first and go back ten seasons. If a jockey didn't have a ride, this is marked by a -
PU - The horse pulled up and didn't complete the course
F - Fell
UR - horse unseated the rider (jockey fell off!)
BD - Brought Down (not the horse or jockey's fault, another horse fell into them)
CO - Carried Out (pushed off the course by another horse)
REF - Refused (the horse stopped before the fence as it didn't fancy jumping it)
Rachael Blackmore
Ten-Year Record: 3, 17, F, 1,10, F
Star jockey Rachael Blackmore has already won the Grand National on Minella Times and finished third last year on Minella Indo. Rachael will probably ride Minella Indo again this year.
Paul Townend
Ten-Year Record: 1, 3, UR, -, UR, PU, PU, PU, PU, 16, PU
Paul Townend's record in the Grand National has improved dramtically over the last two years with a third place on Gaillard Du Mesnil two years ago and winning the race on I Am Maximus last year. Prior to that though, Townend's best finish was eleventh and he had only completed the course twice from eleven starts. Townend will be riding I Am Maximus again this year.
Grand National Jockeys With Poor Records
Why do some jockeys not perform well in the Grand National? Former Champion Jockey Richard Johnson failed to win the race on twenty-one occasions despite riding a number of well-fancied runners. Perhaps it's just down to not being on the right horse? Or could it be pressure, luck or maybe their previous bad experiences have affected their confidence?
Sam Twiston-Davies
Ten-Year Record: -, 11, 13, REF, -, PU, BD, UR, PU, 17
Sam Twiston-Davies experiences of riding in the Grand National got off to a great start when he finished fifth on Hello Bud in 2010 but things haven't reall gone to plan since then. Sam has failed to complete the course in eight of his twelve subsequent Grand National rides and his best completion was seventh. Twiston-Davies has a great record in other races over the Grand National fences so perhaps this is his year for a big Grand National finish? He will ride Beauport this year.
Mark Walsh
Ten-Year Record: 10, PU, 2, 3, 5, PU, -, UR, -, PU, PU
A surprising entrant on the 'cold' Grand National jockeys list, Mark Walsh has now had twelve rides in the National. He failed to complete in his first seven rides but things have been improving thanks to Any Second Now finishing 3rd and 2nd in 2021 and 2022. Walsh could be on Perceval Legallois this year on whom he has already won two big races already this season.