Paddy Brennan - Co. Galway, Ireland
Born in County Galway in May 1981, Paddy Brennan wants, more than anything, to win the Grand National. After winning the Conditional Champion Jockey title in the 2004/05 season, Brennan turned professional and his first season started off well, by securing 60 winners under his belt. He has been improving ever since, breaking the 100 winner mark in his 2007/08 season, and is now rated as being one of the best young jockeys in national hunt racing.
He is now a stable jockey for champion trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies and is in the Top 10 Jockeys in the UK. His big race wins include the Ladbrokes World Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in 2007 on Inglis Drever, the Ryanair Chase in March 2009 on Imperial Commander and the Coral Scottish Grand National Handicap Chase in April 2009 on Hello Bud.
Brennan's greatest hero is A.P. McCoy, who was "All we'd ever hear about, he was like a God" during his training apprenticeship with Jim Bolger at Coolcullen. He met him in his fifth year there, and "It was like David Beckham turning up at your local football club."
It was McCoy who sorted him a job in England with Paul Nicholls, but the wrong attitude, a broken leg and 6 months recovery saw him re-evaluate his career and spend a little time with Philip Hobbs, before working briefly with Howard Johnson and then a meeting with Graham Wylie, who still sponsors him now.
He is now in his third season at Naunton with Twiston-Davies who "Is the most positive man I've ever worked for." One thing is for sure, Brennan wants to be the best, and judging by the way he learns from his mistakes, and the way he is continually improving we are sure he one day will be!
He rode the 50/1 Knowhere in the 2009 Grand National but pulled up at fence 25, the 66/1 Fundamentalist in 2008 and the 22/1 Bewleys Berry for Howard Johnson in 2007.
