Gavin Sheehan reaches 1,000 winners at Sandown
Gavin Sheehan rides his 1,000th career winner aboard Rialannah at Sandown, while Cheltenham Festival winner White Noise finishes fourth on her return.
Gavin Sheehan reached 1,000 career winners when partnering Rialannah to victory in the mares' handicap hurdle at Sandown on Sunday. The milestone came aboard the Lucy Wadham-trained seven-year-old, who finished four and a half lengths clear of Just A Glance in the two-mile-three-furlong contest.
Rialannah was sent off at 6-1 and came from off the pace to take command in the closing stages. Just A Glance held second by a head from Karoline Banbou, while the 5-2 favourite White Noise, carrying top weight of 12st, finished fourth on her seasonal return. The winner's late progress provided Sheehan with a notable landmark at a meeting that also marked the return of a Cheltenham Festival winner.
Sheehan described the achievement as a source of pride, while noting that his total includes four victories in Ireland and one in Sweden. The jockey has established himself as a familiar figure in the British jumping season, with his association with Jamie Snowden's stable an important part of his recent career. He has continued to ride for a range of trainers, and Sunday's winner came for Wadham rather than his principal yard.
The number represents sustained success over several seasons in a profession where opportunities, injuries and the demands of travelling between meetings can make progress uneven. Sheehan said afterwards that he still enjoyed riding and hoped to build on the total rather than regard it as an endpoint.
Rialannah's performance was also a useful return for her connections. She was able to settle behind the early pace and respond when asked to make her challenge, finishing strongly enough to put clear daylight between herself and the placed horses. No next target was announced immediately after the race.
White Noise had attracted attention on her first start since finishing second at Haydock in the spring. Trained by Kim Bailey and Mat Nicholls, she won the Grade 2 mares' novices' hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in March, but found this handicap assignment under 12st demanding and could not sustain her early position. Her fourth-place finish leaves connections to assess her programme as the winter develops.
For Sheehan, the day will be remembered primarily for the round-number milestone. His 1,000th success came in an ordinary handicap rather than a championship race, a fitting reflection of the day-to-day work on which a jump jockey's career is built.
By TP Editorial
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