Lizzie Kelly
Lizzie Kelly made sporting history by becoming the first female jockey to ride a Grade One winner over jumps when guiding Tea For Two to victory in the Kauto Star Novices’ Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day 2015.
Lizzie Kelly made sporting history by becoming the first female jockey to ride a Grade One winner over jumps when guiding Tea For Two to victory in the Kauto Star Novices’ Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day 2015.
Born on April 24, 1993, Lizzie started out riding in point-to-points. She won three times in successive months on Blackstaff, who then provided her with her first victory under National Hunt rules when winning a novices’ hunter chase at Exeter on April 5, 2011.
Born on April 24, 1993, Lizzie started out riding in point-to-points. She won three times in successive months on Blackstaff, who then provided her with her first victory under National Hunt rules when winning a novices’ hunter chase at Exeter on April 5, 2011.
One of her early wins under rules came in a Wincanton bumper on April 11, 2013 aboard the 18-1 shot Tea For Two, trained by her stepfather Nick Williams and owned by her mother Jane Williams. First prize was only £1,624.50 but it was a hugely significant moment for Lizzie, the start of the most important working relationship in her career.
One of her early wins under rules came in a Wincanton bumper on April 11, 2013 aboard the 18-1 shot Tea For Two, trained by her stepfather Nick Williams and owned by her mother Jane Williams. First prize was only £1,624.50 but it was a hugely significant moment for Lizzie, the start of the most important working relationship in her career.
She first hit the headlines on New Year’s Day 2014 when, as a 20-year-old 7lb-claiming amateur still studying event management at university, she rode Aubusson, trained by her stepfather, to win the Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham, the first race of the year shown on Channel 4 TV, beating AP McCoy and Richard Johnson in the process.
She first hit the headlines on New Year’s Day 2014 when, as a 20-year-old 7lb-claiming amateur still studying event management at university, she rode Aubusson, trained by her stepfather, to win the Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham, the first race of the year shown on Channel 4 TV, beating AP McCoy and Richard Johnson in the process.
She spent a couple of summers riding out for Willie Mullins in Ireland and continued to fare well in the pointing field. Having ridden around 50 point-to-point winners while at school and university, she turned professional aged 21 and joined Neil King as a conditional. Her stepfather then offered her the chance to ride for his stable on a regular basis.
She spent a couple of summers riding out for Willie Mullins in Ireland and continued to fare well in the pointing field. Having ridden around 50 point-to-point winners while at school and university, she turned professional aged 21 and joined Neil King as a conditional. Her stepfather then offered her the chance to ride for his stable on a regular basis.
She recorded he first major success for him on Tea For Two in the Lanzarote Handicap Hurdle at Kempton Park on January 10, 2015. Later that year, she returned to Kempton to register that milestone victory on Tea For Two in the Grade 1 Kauto Star Novices’ Chase.
She recorded he first major success for him on Tea For Two in the Lanzarote Handicap Hurdle at Kempton Park on January 10, 2015. Later that year, she returned to Kempton to register that milestone victory on Tea For Two in the Grade 1 Kauto Star Novices’ Chase.
In November 2015 she came second on Aubusson in the Grand Prix d’Automne at Auteuil. Had she won she would have been the first female jockey to win a Grade 1 race in France.
In November 2015 she came second on Aubusson in the Grand Prix d’Automne at Auteuil. Had she won she would have been the first female jockey to win a Grade 1 race in France.
She became the first female in 33 years to compete in the Cheltenham Gold Cup on Tea For Two in 2017. They parted company at the second fence that day but made handsome amends the following month when landing another big race triumph in the Betway Bowl at Aintree, beating Cue Card in a thrilling finish. She rode Tea For Two in the 2018 Cheltenham Gold Cup, finishing seventh.
She became the first female in 33 years to compete in the Cheltenham Gold Cup on Tea For Two in 2017. They parted company at the second fence that day but made handsome amends the following month when landing another big race triumph in the Betway Bowl at Aintree, beating Cue Card in a thrilling finish. She rode Tea For Two in the 2018 Cheltenham Gold Cup, finishing seventh.
Another star performer trained by Nick Williams was Agrapart, on whom Lizzie won Newbury’s Betfair Handicap Hurdle in February 2016, followed by two Cheltenham successes in the Relkeel Hurdle on New Year’s Day 2017, and the Cleeve Hurdle in January 2018.
Another star performer trained by Nick Williams was Agrapart, on whom Lizzie won Newbury’s Betfair Handicap Hurdle in February 2016, followed by two Cheltenham successes in the Relkeel Hurdle on New Year’s Day 2017, and the Cleeve Hurdle in January 2018.
In March 2018, Lizzie claimed her first Cheltenham Festival winner with Coo Star Sivola in the Ultima Handicap Chase. She enjoyed a second winner there in 2019 on Siruh Du Lac in the Brown Advisory & Merriebelle Stable Plate Handicap Chase. Both races were ultra-competitive Grade 3 handicap chases with maximum fields.
In March 2018, Lizzie claimed her first Cheltenham Festival winner with Coo Star Sivola in the Ultima Handicap Chase. She enjoyed a second winner there in 2019 on Siruh Du Lac in the Brown Advisory & Merriebelle Stable Plate Handicap Chase. Both races were ultra-competitive Grade 3 handicap chases with maximum fields.
In July 2019 she married her long-time partner Ed Partridge. In July 2020, she announced her immediate retirement from race riding following the news she was expecting her first child, bringing to an end an 11-year career in the saddle, during which she rode 72 winners with earnings of £1,273,651 (UK) + €5,920 (Ireland).
In July 2019 she married her long-time partner Ed Partridge. In July 2020, she announced her immediate retirement from race riding following the news she was expecting her first child, bringing to an end an 11-year career in the saddle, during which she rode 72 winners with earnings of £1,273,651 (UK) + €5,920 (Ireland).
On December 10, 2020, following the recent birthday of their son Hugo Philip, Lizzie and her husband were in the winner’s enclosure for the first time as owners after Hamilton Dici had justified a big market move in a juvenile hurdle at Warwick, having been backed into 11-2 joint-second favourite from 33-1. Trained by Lizzie’s mother Jane and ridden by Chester Williams, the horse carried the colours of their bloodstock venture, Valentine Bloodstock.
On December 10, 2020, following the recent birthday of their son Hugo Philip, Lizzie and her husband were in the winner’s enclosure for the first time as owners after Hamilton Dici had justified a big market move in a juvenile hurdle at Warwick, having been backed into 11-2 joint-second favourite from 33-1. Trained by Lizzie’s mother Jane and ridden by Chester Williams, the horse carried the colours of their bloodstock venture, Valentine Bloodstock.
Lizzie Kelly’s major wins were:
Lizzie Kelly’s major wins were:
2015: Lanzarote Handicap Hurdle – Tea For Two
2015: Lanzarote Handicap Hurdle – Tea For Two
2015: Kauto Star Novices’ Chase – Tea For Two
2015: Kauto Star Novices’ Chase – Tea For Two
2016: Betfair Handicap Hurdle- Agrapart
2016: Betfair Handicap Hurdle- Agrapart
2017: Relkeel Hurdle – Agrapart
2017: Relkeel Hurdle – Agrapart
2017: Betway Bowl – Tea For Two
2017: Betway Bowl – Tea For Two
2018: Cleeve Hurdle – Agrapart
2018: Cleeve Hurdle – Agrapart
2018: Ultima Handicap Chase – Coo Star Sivola
2018: Ultima Handicap Chase – Coo Star Sivola
2019: Brown Advisory & Merriebelle Stable Plate Handicap Chase – Siruh Du Lac
2019: Brown Advisory & Merriebelle Stable Plate Handicap Chase – Siruh Du Lac