With what seems a carbon copy of the impish grin, immense natural ability and the fierce determination of her brother Paul, Nina Carberry has had a rapid rise over the last four years from promising young amateur jockey in Ireland to being hailed as perhaps the best female rider in Jump Racing history.

In fact, despite his success, Paul is always quick to tell you that Nina is the most talented jockey in the family! Their father Tommy is one of the giants of the jumping game himself and there was certainly no prouder man than Carberry senior when Nina became the first lady to ride a winner at The Festival against the professional jockeys for 18 years, when partnering Dabiroun to victory at 20/1 in the Fred Winter Juvenile Novices’ Handicap Hurdle in 2005.

She followed this with victory aboard well-backed favourite Heads Onthe Ground in the BGC Cross Country Steeplechase in 2007. Nina also became one of an elite band of just four female riders to complete the course in the history of the Grand National, finishing ninth on Forest Gunner behind Numbersixvalverde in the world’s most famous steeplechase in April, 2006. Still only 23, Nina Carberry seems sure to have many more big winners ahead of her and there is no doubt that she has put female Jump jockeys well and truly back on the map.

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Tags: Forest Gunner, Heads Onthe Ground, Nina Carberry, Paul Carberry, Tommy Carberry