Adrian Heskins at 18 years of age is soon becoming one of Ireland's most talented National Hunt Jockeys
Principal Trainers: Michael Hourigan 
Notable Wins:
- Greenmount Park Novice Chase (Mr Cracker 2010)
- bet365 Gold Cup Chase Handicap Grade (Church Island 2010)
- Guinness Chase (One Cool Cookie 2010)
- Glenfarclas Handicap Cross Country Chase (A New Story 2010)
- Guinness Handicap Hurdle (Turf War 2009)
- Johnstown Handicap Hurdle (Mystical Breeze 2009)
A Promising Beginning
Having graduated from the pony racing circuit, Heskin was soon associated with the Michael Hourigan yard and had his first ride in public on the Hourigan-trained Fashion Parade in a bumper at Cork on August 8th 2008 and over the next number of months he acquired plenty of experience both in bumpers and over hurdles. He gained his first win on the racecourse on the Hourigan-trained Mystical Breeze in the valuable Johnstown Handicap Hurdle at Naas on March 14th 2009. That proved to be his only win of that season, but he really found his stride right from the beginning of the 2009/10 season. Wins soon followed on the likes of Warcraft, Shanballa, Turf War and Born High and as summer progressed into autumn, many people were taking note of the riding ability of the 7 lb claimer. What followed next was the biggest win of his career to that point on the Hourigan-trained Turf War in the Guinness Handicap Hurdle at the Listowel Harvest Festival, his third win of the season on the Gigginstown House Stud-owned gelding. That win brought him to wider attention of the racing public, but unfortunately, his momentum was halted by suffering a broken ankle the following month. He returned to the track in December like he had never been away, winning a maiden hurdle at Downpatrick on the Hourigan-trained Awkward Moment on just his second ride back.
A Memorable Month
2010 started off a little slowly for Heskin, with him riding just one winner in January and February, but he would erupt into form in March and take his career to another level. The winning sequence was kicked off in great style by Heskin’s excellent winning ride on the tricky Dancing Tornado in a handicap hurdle at Naas and just nine days later, the highlight of the his career thus far would come at the Mecca of National Hunt racing, the Cheltenham Festival. Riding the Hourigan-trained A New Story in the Glenfarclas Handicap Cross Country Chase, the pairing were considered just sporting outsiders in a race that has traditionally been dominated by horses trained by Enda Bolger. However, Heskin conjured a career-best effort out of the wily 12-year-old and the pair ran out the 2½ lengths winner, giving Hourigan his first win at the Cheltenham Festival in 11 years, as well as giving Heskin the perfect start to his own career at Cheltenham. A memorable few days for Heskin was completed the following day at Down Royal, with him riding the Charlie Swan-trained One Cool Cookie to success in the valuable Guinness Chase. A remarkable season was capped the following month with him riding the Hourigan-trained Church Island to success in the prestigious bet365 Gold Cup Chase Handicap Grade at Sandown.
Another Successful Campaign
While Hourigan has been very keen to protect Heskin, not allowing him to take too many outside rides, he has loosened his grip slightly in 2010/11 and Heskin is reaping the benefits. He got off the big-race mark at Limerick’s Christmas meeting, winning the Grade 2 Greenmount Park Novice Chase on the Hourigan-trained Mr Cracker.
Heskin remains one of the hottest properties in the Irish weighing room and with him still having a few winners left to ride before his claim is reduced to 3 lb, he is very much one to watch in valuable handicaps in the weeks and months ahead. Still just a teenager, the future looks very bright indeed for this very promising rider.
Info supplied by Horse Racing Ireland - Updated January 2011
