Andrew Tinkler

Age: 24
D.o.B:03/05/1985
Profession: National hunt jockey
First winner: Nafith, Musselburgh racecourse, aged 16.
Winners to date...over 200
Lives: Cheltenham, Glos

Employers: mainly Henry Daly, Nicky Henderson and George Baker.

Big race wins include: Coral ascot hurdle (ZAYNAR). Johnny Henderson Memorial Grand Annual Chase, Cheltenham festival (GREENHOPE). Grimpthorpe chase (WOGAN). John Smith’s class 1 mares bumper, Aintree festival (CAROLE’S LEGACY)

Grand National rides: 4

6TH SMARTY
PU SHOTGUN WILLY
PU NAUNTON BROOK
FELL FLEET STREET

BEST WINNER.......Greenhope, Johnny Henderson Memorial Grand Annual Chase at the Cheltenham festival. A magic feeling and riding winners at the Cheltenham festival is something you can only dream of as a child so to get one and an important one for the Henderson family was a special day. Also, Zaynar in this year’s ascot hurdle was a special day, I’d won the first for Henry Daly on the talented Possol and Zaynar followed later in the afternoon with a special winner. He was unbeaten going into the race after winning last year’s triumph hurdle so it was a pressure ride and the whole day went perfectly.

FIRST WINNER.... aged 16. First ride. May 4th. Musselburgh racecourse on Nafith. My brother Nicky rode in the race also and it didn’t sink in until about a week later that I’d actually won, I was so young and the horse was a faultless first ride to have in a race. Things went well for my first 12 rides or so and I got 3 or 4 winners but I had no experience and didn’t learn a thing until I had a lot more rides on the flat pushing along and learning on horses throughout the summer months. I enjoyed my time riding on the flat as a teenager and I would recommend it to anyone as it does help a lot with style, finesse, fitness and tactical awareness.