Conditional jockeys to note – Ireland

By James Condron

The virtues of having a good conditional jockey in the saddle for big handicaps over jumps was evident at last season’s Cheltenham festival, when two of the most competitive handicaps were won by horses ridden by conditional jockeys; the Byrne Group Plate by Great Endeavour ridden by Danny Cook and the Pretemps Handicap Hurdle Final won by Buena Vista with Hadden Frost on board. It can be argued that having a good conditional as pilot can actually be a more important factor over jumps than on the flat due to the extreme distances and tests involved in National Hunt racing and that a significant part of the season is run on soft ground. Continuing with the theme of up and coming jockeys in follow in Ireland, this week, I have selected three jockeys who have a very bright future ahead of them in the National Hunt game and who may prove profitable for punters to follow closely this season; Adrian Heskin, Patrick Mangan and Bryan Cooper.

Adrian Heskin

The last 12 months have been tremendously successful for the conditional jockey with Michael Hourigan, with major triumphs in races such as the Glenfurclas Cross Country Handicap Chase at Cheltenham on stable stalwart, A New Story (who Heskin was also aboard for the Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse in April, finishing a commendable fourth) and victory in the prestigious Bet365 Gold Cup Handicap Chase at Sandown at odds of 20/1 on Church Island in April. Adrian, who has 17 career wins to his name, also has the honour of saying that he rode the first Irish trained-winner at Ffos Las when taking a novice hurdle on Turf War at the inaugural meeting in June, before following up with victory on the same horse in the Guinness Handicap Hurdle at Listowel. Until this summer, Heskin has restricted himself to riding for Hourigan, with the trainer apparently eager to ensure that the conditional got a proper grounding and did not ride out his claim too fast. Now he has ridden winners for Charlie Swan and Declan McNamara since he started to accept rides from outside trainers. Whereas, an examination of other conditional and apprentice jockeys’ statistics pinpoint a number of race types or trainer combinations that are profitable for the punter to follow blind in the short term. In Haskin’s case, the methodical development of his career, under the tutelage of Hourigan, should alert racing followers to the high regard that the jockey is held and in the long term will no doubt prepare him better for a long and successful career in the saddle once his claim finishes. In the meantime, a 5lb allowance for a promising jockey, who has ridden a Cheltenham winner and has won one of the most valuable handicap chases of the season in Britain, showing a cool head and great tactical awareness on both occasions, will surely be used to great effect by Hourigan and other trainers this season.

Patrick Mangan

Patrick Mangan, son of Jimmy, the trainer of the 2003 Aintree Grand National winner Monty’s Pass, and conditional jockey with Edward O’Grady, is another young jockey who has caught my eye over the last 12 months. Patrick, who currently claims 5lb, has proven profitable to follow for both O’Grady, in chases, with four wins from 30 career rides giving an overall 8.25 level stakes profit and for his father, for whom he has had six wins from 86 career rides, giving an overall level stakes profit of 6.50 points. Other trainers for whom Mangan has ridden winners for include JP O’Keefe, RA Cotter, Gerard J O’Keefe and Michael T Horan. With an overall level stakes profit of 31.25 points, with seven winners from 41 runners, Mangan’s ability to get horses into a nice rhythm when jumping, marks the up and coming conditional as a jockey to follow in handicap chases.

Bryan Cooper

The experience gained from a year spent with Kevin Prendergast, before weight concerns brought Bryan to the yard of Dessie Hughes, have held the Kerry man in good stead, as his neat and stylish riding style has seen him rise to third in the season’s conditional jockeys’ table. The son of Tom Cooper, trainer of 2009 Arkle winner Forpadydeplasterer and 2004 Champion Bumper heroine, Total Enjoyment, Bryan, who claims a generous looking 5lb, has a healthy strike rate for Hughes, with six wins from 43 rides showing a level stakes profit of 20.25 points for the current season, which increases to 24.25 points when only hurdles races are taken into account. Maiden and novice hurdles have provided Cooper with 10 wins from 55 rides, a strike rate of 18% and a level stakes profit of 36.25 points. While 14 of his 15 wins have come over hurdles, Bryans biggest win of the season came aboard the Thomond O’Mara trained Banna Man in the Connacht Tribune Handicap Steeplechase at Galway, one of a number of outside trainers that he has ridden winners for, other trainers include Lawrence Walshe, Leonard Whitmore, Philip Rothwell, Willie Harvey and Meryvn Torrens.

Note for remainder of season:

Adrian Heskin

All handicaps hurdles and chases

Patrick Mangan

Chases when riding for Edward O Grady and Jimmy Mangan

All handicap chases

Bryan Cooper

All rides in maiden and novice hurdles

All rides for Dessie Hughes

By James Condron