Shark Hanlon’s 17-year-old son rides stunning 275-1 double

Teenage jockey Paddy Hanlon had a night to remember at Limerick on Thursday when riding a sensational double on the week he became a professional jockey.

Hanlon, who only turned 17 on Tuesday, is known as ‘Baby Shark’ and is the son of popular Carlow trainer John ‘Shark’ Hanlon.

Shark and his son Paddy have enjoyed incredible success with their superstar chaser Hewick, who won the King George Chase last December, and almost €1m in prize-money having been famously bought for just €850.

Paddy leads Hewick up at the races and looks after him at home but now looks set for a big career himself after a brilliant start to his life as a jockey.

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His wins at Limerick came on Half A Chance in the valuable RED MILLS EBF Auction Maiden Hurdle worth €20,000, while just over an hour later he was back in the winners’ enclosure after his mount Seasett won the €10,500 Tote Never Beaten By SP Handicap Hurdle by just a nose.

His first winner came in at huge odds of 25-1 while the second leg of the double was 11-1 with the cumulative odds a whopping 275-1.

Both horses were trained by his dad Shark and were his first winners in Ireland. He had ridden three winners in England as an amateur jockey but took out his conditional licence just this week.

The Carlow youngster now heads for Listowel on Saturday where he is booked to ride six horses for his father at the Co Kerry venue.

He promises to give him plenty of rides after he found it difficult to pick up mounts as an amateur rider.

A thrilled Shark told Irishracing.com afterwards: “Paddy tries hard and with the bumpers at the moment, Willie (Mullins) is winning 95 percent of them so no lad gets a chance. I have plenty of horses at home, and some I shouldn’t have as they’re not much good, but they will give him plenty of experience.

“He was 17 the day before yesterday and got his licence on his birthday and finished third on his first ride as a professional. Garry Cribbin is his agent and he recently went over to England to Charlie and Francesca Poste where he learned a lot.

“He did plenty of pony racing, won the Dingle Derby and was the first Irish lad to win the Scottish Championship. I’m delighted for him.”

Hanlon senior, who has become something of a cult hero in racing through his exploits with Hewick, said of his opening winner: “The horse had form, ran well here in a bumper and I’m delighted for the syndicate which I put together after doing a Cheltenham preview night in England. They are an English group so we’ll have to go there at some stage to run him.

“He is a nice horse, probably wants farther and the ground is mixed but seems yielding, and I wouldn’t have ran him on any quicker.”

Paddy was winning for the second time on Seasett having also won him at Carlisle in March and his dad was full of praise for his winning ride saying: “I thought Paddy was very good as he hadn’t much room but was very strong on him. He rode a very clever race and for a young lad, he’s not too bad. You can’t beat the ‘flapping’ (pony racing) as it absolutely crowned him as he learned so much.

“Paddy has six rides for me at Listowel on Saturday and, as he knows all the horses from being at home, I’ll get him experience on mine instead of letting him ride for every Tom, Dick or Harry. I have plenty of horses for him.”

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