Born in County Galway in May 1981, Paddy Brennan wants more than anything to be a champion jockey. Even more than that he wants to win the Grand National, though, according to him, only after Richard Johnson ‘Who deserves it more than anyone else.’
Given that he is one of Ireland’s brightest jockey prospects for the future, there is absolutely no point in thinking that either of these ambitions won’t be realised. It also helps that he is a self confessed winning addict.
After winning the Conditional Champion Jockey title in the 2004/05 season, Brennan turned professional and his first season started off well, when he secured 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.
Such is Brennan’s capability on the racecourse that 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.
So into winning is Brennan that his legendary temper tantrums, following a defeat, briefly earned him the nickname ‘Psycho’. And while he has calmed down he admits that it does still get to him when he doesn’t achieve the ultimate goal of winning, he just doesn’t show it as much.
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 according to Brennan ‘It was like David Beckham turning up at your local football club.’
Clearly the admiration is mutual as it was McCoy who arranged Brennan a job in England with Paul Nicholls, but unfortunately a combination of the wrong attitude, a broken leg and 6 months recovery meant a re-evaluation of his career. He spent more time with Philip Hobbs, before working briefly with Howard Johnson and then on to Graham Wylie, who still sponsors him today.
He is now in his third season at Naunton with Twiston-Davies who, Brennan said ‘Is the most positive man I’ve ever worked for’. He has ridden for him in the last two Grand Nationals on the 50/1 outsider Knowhere in 2009 and Fundamentalist in 2008 but fell at fence three.
Though trainers have not yet declared their submissions for the 2010 Grand National, Brennan’s best chance could be Hello Bud if he is entered. He is a decent horse with good ante-post odds and if all goes well he could be the ticket to a Grand National win.
For all of the up to date information on the 2010 Grand National including the runners, odds, trainers, jockeys, form, going and tips check out our website. We have everything that you need to know to make a decision on which horse to back for the best chances of winning. We also have all of the pundit tips as well as our user survey where you get o have your say on who you think will win big in April this year.
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