Age: 20
Principal Trainers: Edward O’Grady, Jimmy Mangan
Notable Win: Kinloch Brae Chase (Follow The Plan 2011), Sanserv Handicap Hurdle (Judge Roy Bean 2009)
Patrick Mangan is another promising National Hunt rider that hails from a family steeped in jump racing success. Patrick’s father Jimmy was well known as a top-class horseman before he trained Monty’s Pass to win the Aintree Grand National in 2003, but that success cemented his reputation in no uncertain terms. Having had such racing-related excitement in his teenage years, it was no surprise that Patrick sought to make his living in racing and he has already made a notable impact in his chosen profession.
Making An Impact
Patrick first came to attention in point-to-points, riding eight winners between the flags prior to getting on the mark on the racecourse at the third attempt when riding his father’s Alpine Glade to success in a bumper at Tramore on May 31st 2008. That was the only winner he rode in what was a light first season of racecourse action, but the 2009/10 campaign would see him enjoy increased success.
Having joined Edward O’Grady’s yard as a conditional rider, Mangan’s work rate increased notably in 2009/10 and along with the continued support of his father, the winners soon began to flow. He solidified his partnership with O’Grady by partnering the JP McManus-owned Judge Roy Bean to win the valuable Sanserv Handicap Hurdle at Galway in October. By the end of the campaign, he had ridden a total of seven winners from 122 rides, which was a more than satisfactory haul for his second season on the racecourse and it set him up for what would be a break-out season in 2010/11.
Breaking Out
2010/11 proved to be an excellent season for Mangan, with him maintaining a consistent strike rate throughout the campaign and establishing himself as one of the leading conditional riders in the country. As well as his main patrons Edward O’Grady and Jimmy Mangan, Patrick also rode winners for no less than nine other trainers, which shows just how in demand he was. Without question the highlight of his season was his win on the Oliver McKiernan-trained Follow The Plan in the Grade 2 Kinloch Brae Chase at Thurles in January, his first win in a Graded contest. With less than a week to go in the season, Mangan had ridden 19 winners from 343 rides, which is an excellent tally considering it was just his third full season as a jockey.
With most of his claim still intact, it would be no surprise to see Patrick Mangan make a bold bid in the race for the title of Champion Conditional Rider in 2011/12.
Info supplied by Horse Racing Ireland. Updated May 2011.
