The Carberry Family: Irish Grand National Top Jockeys
For the Carberry family jockeys, horse racing is in the bloodline! Tommy Carberry is a legendary National Hunt jockey, with Gold Cup and Grand National wins in the 1960s and 1970s. His sons Paul and Philip, and his daughter Nina, have gone on to become National Hunt champion jockeys themselves.
Paul Carberry
Paul Carberry has been awarded the Champion National Hunt Jockey title in Ireland on two occasions, in the 2001/2002 and 2002/2003 seasons. In 1998, Paul Carberry took the Irish Grand National aboard Bobbyjo – a horse trained by his father, Tommy Carberry. In 1991, he went on to ride Bobbyjo to victory in the Martell Grand National at Aintree.
Paul Carberry’s racing career so far has included an impressive string of major wins. Included in these are the 2006 Thyestes Chase on Dun Doire and the 2006 Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup on Beef Or Salmon. Paul Carberry also took two wins at the 2006 Cheltenham Festival – the Sun Alliance Novice Hurdle on Nicanor, and the Weatherbys Champion Bumper on Hairy Molly.
In 2007, Paul Carberry rode to victory in the National Lottery Agent Champion Chase at Gowran Park, the Lismullen Hurdle at Navan, and the Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown. Other Grade One wins include the Barry & Sandra Kelly Memorial Novice Hurdle at Navan, the Deloitte Novice Hurdle at Leopardstown, and the Red Mills Chase at Gowran Park.
Philip Carberry
Philip Carberry has established himself as a top-class jump jockey, with a win on Point Barrow (at odds of 20/1) in the 2006 Powers Whiskey Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse and, in 2007, and with two major wins at the 2007 Cheltenham Festival. At the Festival, Philip Carberry took the Smurfit Kappa Champion Hurdle on John Carr-trained Sublimity (odds 16/1). In the last race of the Festival, he won the Vincent O’Brien County Hurdle on Tony Mullins-trained Pedrobob.
Philip Carberry has signed a retainer with Jean-Paul Senechal, a leading National Hunt owner in France. It’s near certain that we can look to Philip Carberry for more big wins ahead.
Nina Carberry
Nina Carberry is established as the top female rider in the UK and Ireland, and is a top-favourite jockey with fans. Her impressive string of wins include the 2005 Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle and the 2006 Sporting Index Cross Country Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival. In 2007/2008, Nina Carberry has won the Murphys Irish Stout Handicap Hurdle at Killarney. Like her brother Paul, Nina Carberry is associated with famous trainer Noel Meade, and looks sure to continue with her string of successes as a top jockey.
