An Interview With Paddy Brennan

In National Hunt racing, Cheltenham Racecourse is the biggest stage there is. After winning there in April on Manothepeople, Paddy Brennan hung up his boots, bringing an end to a career that has spanned over twenty-five years.

It was a worthy ending at the place that gave him many great days, including six Cheltenham Festival winners, one of which being the 2010 Gold Cup on Imperial Commander.

Paddy, struck up a successful partnership on the talented son of Flemensfirth, starting with the Paddy Power Gold Cup in ’08, a Ryanair Chase in ’09 and a Betfair Chase six months after their scintillating Gold Cup victory. Imperial Commander’s trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies and Paddy shared several prosperous seasons, possibly most notably when Paddy rode a personal best of 106 winners in the 2007-8 season.

Paddy Brennan also struck up a successful partnership with another Gloucestershire trainer in Tom George. Together they had big victories with Parsnip Pete, God’s Own and Module. Teaming up with Colin Tizzard and Cue Card gave Paddy Brennan a further six major wins, including the ‘15 Charlie Hall, two Betfair Chases, a King George and a Betfred Bowl.

Paddy supported the then-rookie trainer Fergal O’Brien, riding his first winner in Horsham Lad in October 2011 and they proceeded to work together for thirteen years. Thus, it was fitting that Fergal was the trainer of Manothepeople. They shared a big Aintree success with Dysart Enos, a Grade 1 victory in the Challow Hurdle with Poetic Rhythm and a Midlands Grand National triumph with Flying Spud – amongst many other big winners.

The lad from Galway came along way from riding his first winner at Gowran Park aboard Ivory Isle in August 1998… The hair is now salt and pepper compared to those Imperial Commander days and maybe, when the likes of Dysart Enos win again, Paddy may feel the stab of regret that he wasn’t on board – but equally maybe not given the career he has to look back on. Racecourses, especially on those big days, may well be emptier without Paddy Brennan.

Did you have a horsey childhood? No, I didn’t – not until I was about twelve, anyway. Then, I rode the neighbours’ ponies and just fell in love with riding straight away.

How did you get into racing? One Sunday morning, I was on one of the ponies and my neighbour, who knew Gerry Stack who had a racing yard in Kildare, asked if I’d like to try riding racehorses. When my mum asked me about going there, I said ‘Absolutely’ and I couldn’t wait.

What trainers have you worked for? I started with Gerry Stack as a groom. I went to Jim Bolger’s as an apprentice, staying for five years. I went to Paul Nicholls as a conditional and was there for three years; then I went to Philip Hobbs’, again as conditional and also stayed there for three years. I went to Howard Johnson’s, where I was retained by owner Graham Wylie but I got sacked after a year. I went to Nigel Twiston-Davies’ for about five years, after which I was sort of freelance but was mostly at Tom George’s. I then joined Fergal O’Brien.

Favourite racecourse: There was always two tracks that I always loved: Cheltenham was my favourite. Yet, I always enjoyed Exeter too. The Haldon Gold Cup meeting at Exeter was always special to me as it’s start of the big season with a good, happy racing environment.

Favourite racehorse: Pigeon Island. I’ve ridden some great horses but I became personally attached to him. We even had him in his retirement.

What were your best days in racing? Obviously winning the Cheltenham Gold Cup was my best day. My next one was winning the King George at Kempton on Cue Card.

What do you remember about winning the Gold Cup? In big races, I just wanted to hit the line. That day, when I had pulled up, that first person I saw was Richard ‘Sparky’ Bevis (Twiston-Davies’ head lad and Imperial Commander’s daily rider) and that’s when it really hit me that something really amazing had happened. I can still remember it now.

What do you miss the most now you're retired? I will miss trying to find the next Imperial Commander, the next Gold Cup horse. I kept going for so long trying to find other good horses – as a jockey, that keeps you going. Cue Card came at a good time but it went too quickly – when I was riding him, it felt like weeks, not years. I then spent the last few years of my career looking for the next one but one never came along.

Is there anything you won’t miss about race riding? The travelling, the fear of getting beaten and a lot of the pressure. For over twenty years, I sacrificed a lot and now it’s time for me.

Favourite meal: Sirloin steak.
Favourite drink: Lager.
Favourite holiday destination: Vilamoura in Portugal.
Favourite music: I love all music but especially Coldplay and Mumford & Sons.
Favourite film: Jerry Maguire is an unbelievable film. I watch it at least every year.
Favourite book: I’ve never read a book but, now, my aims are to have the time to, hopefully, read books and write letters.
Other hobbies: I love golf. I also love youngstock – if I hadn’t been a jockey, I would’ve loved to have been involved in young horses. I enjoy supporting horses and get as much satisfaction from their success as much as I did my own.

Click here to watch an interview with Fergal O'Brien