Biography

Aidan Coleman (born August 17, 1988) was not born into a racing family, as both his parents were teachers. Being born and raised in Cork, however, he was surrounded by horses and showed natural ability as a rider in his teenage years. He followed his elder brother, Kevin, who won the 2007 Galway Plate, into race-riding in 2007.

Aidan moved to the UK in 2007 and rapidly made his mark in the 2007-2008 season, after Henrietta Knight recommended him to trainer Venetia Williams.

Aged just 19 he became one of the youngest jockeys ever to ride in the Grand National, finishing 10th in 2008 on subsequent winner Mon Mome, in only his first full season riding. At the same meeting he rode Stan to victory in the Red Rum Chase. He topped off that 2007-08 season by being crowned leading conditional jockey in the UK.

The following season, Coleman rode his first Cheltenham Festival winner thanks to Kayf Aramis in the Pertemps Final. As one of the rising stars in the sport he signed a sponsorship deal with Racing UK at the start of the 2009-10 season to carry the company’s branding and act as the channel’s ambassador.

This season Coleman is well on target to eclipse his highest tally of winners of 69 he set in 2010, and with a improving strike-rate over the past three seasons he could well ride 100 winners in a season soon enough.