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Racing News |
| Wednesday 6th December 2017 | |
Top 10 Jump Jockeys of All Time
With the jump season now in full swing and the Cheltenham festival just months away many of the top jockeys will be aboard the stars of the current racing scene. So who are the top jump jockeys of all time?
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The now retired Sir Anthony Peter McCoy OBE is regarded by nearly all racing purists as the greatest jump jockey there has ever been. His unrivalled skill and drive meant so many horses continued to find and produce for the star rider. McCoy ended his career with a record 4,358 winners and was incredibly the champion Jockey for a record 20 consecutive times and every year he was a professional. He was also awarded the 2010 BBC Sports personality of the year award and in the process become the only jockey to do so further cemented his popularity and legacy.
RUBY WALSH
Without a doubt the star of Cheltenham is Ruby Walsh as he has continued to dominate on the biggest stage. Walsh is regarded as one of the top jockeys as his cool and composed riding style enables many horses to remain behind the bridle and produce their best. Walsh already holds the recorded for the most festival winners and continues to break records. This included his 4 timer on the 3rd day of the 2017 festival as Mullins army of stars fired. Bet on the horses here as Walsh gears up for his return ahead of the 2018 Cheltenham festival.
RICHARD JOHNSON
The now two time Champions Jockey is without a doubt one of the greatest to ever do it but throughout his career has had to pay second fiddle to McCoy. He continued to finish second but was miles clear of the rest as his talent has shown from an early stage. Following McCoy’s retirement Johnson has put in two dominating seasons proving himself as a unique talent and one to savour for years to come.
JOHN FRANCOME
John Francombe MBE is one of the top talents to have ridden in the jumps ranks. He is now a popular pundit and was awarded the RTS Best Sports Pundit in 2004. Francome is renowned as being the best jockey ever to not win the Grand National and finished his successful career with 1,138 wins. He also won the British Champion Jump Jockey title on 7 occasions putting him only behind champions Tony McCoy and Peter Scudamore.
PAUL CARBERRY
The now retired Paul Carberry was always expected to enter the ranks as he came from a successful racing family. His incredible career span for over 26 years with in excess of over 1500 winners which he must be regarded as one the greatest to ever do it. Carberry’s highlight will have been aboard Bobbyjo in 1999 in which he steered his father’s horse to victory in the most prestigious race of all; The Grand National.
BARRY GERAGHTY
The now retained rider for JP McManus following the retirement of McCoy is an incredible talent and one of the top riders around currently. His honours include the Irish jump racing Champion jockey in 1999/2000 and 2003/04. Geraghty has ridden so many stars of racing and has won nearly every top race there is to win. His two key horses must be former champions in Moscow Flyer and the iconic modern day superstar in Sprinter Sacre. Before the injury Sprinter Sacre had this air of invisibility about him that very few horses have.
TIMMY MURPHY
One of the top talents who has ridden in both flat and jumps racing. His talent did not go unnoticed as he was awarded the 2005 Jump Jockey of the year at the Lester awards. Murphy rode a vast amount of winners that included the 2008 Ryanair Chase aboard Our Vic at the Cheltenham festival. His career highlight must be the 2008 Grand National as he guided the star stayer Comply or Die to victory for trainer David Pipe and owner David Johnson.
DAVY RUSSELL
One of the greatest modern talents who is regarded as a key jockey to have on side at the Cheltenham festival. Russell won the Irish jump racing Champion Jockey in the 2011/12 and 2012/13 seasons. He has an incredible 18 Cheltenham festival wins to his name with his highlight coming aboard Lord Windermere as the horse came from last to first to win the 2014 Cheltenham Gold Cup.
PETER SCUDAMORE
Peter Scudamore MBE is now involved in the training ranks but is one of the highest achieving jockeys in history. The star rider ended his career with a record 1,679 wins across many of the top races. Scudamore was also an 8 time Champion jockey which him only second to the previously mentioned AP McCoy. Through his lengthy career in racing he has recently been awarded an MBE for his services to the sport of horse racing.
JASON MAGUIRE
The now retired Maguire is one of the riders of the modern era who could have been mentioned in the same breath as stars such as McCoy, Johnson and Walsh. His incredible career was mostly spent riding for Donald McCain before he had to unfortunately retire due to injury. His career highlight came in the 2011 Grand National has he guided the incredible Ballabriggs to triumph on the biggest stage.
