Kings of the Saddle

The recent retirement of Mick Kinane, doyen of flat racing jockeys whose swansong was his 2009 Classic victories on the great Sea the Stars, reminded us once again how many of the greatest jockeys in racing, over jumps as well as on the flat, hail from Ireland. Brian O’Connor is the experienced racing correspondent of the Irish Times, and his survey of the twelve finest jockeys currently riding in Ireland (six on the flat, six National Hunt) was acclaimed in hardback by both the racing press and the Irish media. He interviewed most of the featured jockeys specially for the book, and provides a truly intimate insight into what has made them great race riders, and what inspires their continuing hunger to succeed at the very top. The full list of jockeys covered is: On the Flat: Michael Kinane, John Murtagh, Jamie Spencer, Kieren Fallon, Pat Smullen and Kevin Manning. Over Jumps: Ruby Walsh, Barry Geraghty, Tony McCoy, Paul Carberry, Timmy Murphy and Nina Carberry.