Niall Madden (Slippers)
Niall ‘Slippers’ Madden was born on November 11, 1985, the son of multiple Cheltenham Festival-winning rider turned trainer Niall ‘Boots’ Madden. He had his first ride at Punchestown in 2001 and rode his first winner aboard Teknash, trained by his father, in the Smirnoff Handicap Hurdle at Wexford on July 12, 2002.
Niall ‘Slippers’ Madden was born on November 11, 1985, the son of multiple Cheltenham Festival-winning rider turned trainer Niall ‘Boots’ Madden. He had his first ride at Punchestown in 2001 and rode his first winner aboard Teknash, trained by his father, in the Smirnoff Handicap Hurdle at Wexford on July 12, 2002.
‘Slippers’ achieved his first major success when winning the 2005 Galway Hurdle aboard Noel Meade’s More Rainbows. However, his banner year came in 2006 when guiding the Martin Brassil-trained Numbersixvalverde to Grand National glory at Aintree.
‘Slippers’ achieved his first major success when winning the 2005 Galway Hurdle aboard Noel Meade’s More Rainbows. However, his banner year came in 2006 when guiding the Martin Brassil-trained Numbersixvalverde to Grand National glory at Aintree.
Later that year he recorded Grade 1 victories on successive days when winning Kempton’s Christmas Hurdle on Boxing Day on Noel Meade’s Jazz Messenger and the Paddy Power Dial-a-Bet Chase on Nickname for Martin Brassil at the Leopardstown Christmas festival.
Later that year he recorded Grade 1 victories on successive days when winning Kempton’s Christmas Hurdle on Boxing Day on Noel Meade’s Jazz Messenger and the Paddy Power Dial-a-Bet Chase on Nickname for Martin Brassil at the Leopardstown Christmas festival.
‘Slippers’, so nicknamed as his father was ‘Boots,’ (his younger brother Tom is known as ‘Socks’), was an appropriate partner for a horse called Nickname.
‘Slippers’, so nicknamed as his father was ‘Boots,’ (his younger brother Tom is known as ‘Socks’), was an appropriate partner for a horse called Nickname.
Also that same year, he rode the Noel Meade-trained Rockall Blizzard to win the Listed Ardilaun House Hotel Oyster Stakes on the Flat at Galway, beating Kieren Fallon on Aiden O’Brien’s Be My Queen by a short-head.
Also that same year, he rode the Noel Meade-trained Rockall Blizzard to win the Listed Ardilaun House Hotel Oyster Stakes on the Flat at Galway, beating Kieren Fallon on Aiden O’Brien’s Be My Queen by a short-head.
Other major successes included the 2006 Slaney Novice Hurdle on Toofarback, the 2008 Golden Cygnet Hurdle on Liskennett, and the 2010 Galmoy Hurdle with former Cheltenham Gold Cup hero War Of Attrition.
Other major successes included the 2006 Slaney Novice Hurdle on Toofarback, the 2008 Golden Cygnet Hurdle on Liskennett, and the 2010 Galmoy Hurdle with former Cheltenham Gold Cup hero War Of Attrition.
‘Slippers’ rode what was to be his final winner aboard Philip Dempsey’s The Long Mile in the Tim Duggan Memorial Handicap Chase at Limerick’s Christmas meeting on Monday, December 28, 2020, a horse owned by JP McManus, with whom he enjoyed a long association.
‘Slippers’ rode what was to be his final winner aboard Philip Dempsey’s The Long Mile in the Tim Duggan Memorial Handicap Chase at Limerick’s Christmas meeting on Monday, December 28, 2020, a horse owned by JP McManus, with whom he enjoyed a long association.
He called time on his riding career at Punchestown on New Year’s Eve 2020, aged 35, after finishing 11th in the Tote Supporting Punchestown Three-Year-Old Maiden Hurdle on Rich Belief. He said he felt the time was right to retire.
He called time on his riding career at Punchestown on New Year’s Eve 2020, aged 35, after finishing 11th in the Tote Supporting Punchestown Three-Year-Old Maiden Hurdle on Rich Belief. He said he felt the time was right to retire.
In in a career spanning the best part of two decades, he partnered 391 winners in total. Noel Meade and ‘Boots’ Madden provided the bulk of them.
In in a career spanning the best part of two decades, he partnered 391 winners in total. Noel Meade and ‘Boots’ Madden provided the bulk of them.
After announcing his retirement at Punchestown, he said: “I’ve had a great career. This is my local track. I had my first ride here in 2001 so it was great to start and finish my career at Punchestown.
After announcing his retirement at Punchestown, he said: “I’ve had a great career. This is my local track. I had my first ride here in 2001 so it was great to start and finish my career at Punchestown.
He added: “I've had fantastic support from trainers and owners down through the years. Mum and Dad have been great, and Aine (O’Connor, his girlfriend) and it’s a pity they couldn’t be here today. I’m just delighted to be able to walk out on my own terms.”
He added: “I've had fantastic support from trainers and owners down through the years. Mum and Dad have been great, and Aine (O’Connor, his girlfriend) and it’s a pity they couldn’t be here today. I’m just delighted to be able to walk out on my own terms.”
‘Slippers’ Madden’s major wins included:
‘Slippers’ Madden’s major wins included:
2005: Galway Hurdle – More Rainbows
2005: Galway Hurdle – More Rainbows
2006: Grand National – Numbersixvalverde
2006: Grand National – Numbersixvalverde
2006: Ardilaun House Hotel Oyster Stakes – Rockall Blizzard
2006: Ardilaun House Hotel Oyster Stakes – Rockall Blizzard
2006: Slaney Novice Hurdle – Toofarback
2006: Slaney Novice Hurdle – Toofarback
2006: Christmas Hurdle – Jazz Messenger
2006: Christmas Hurdle – Jazz Messenger
2006: Paddy Power Dial-a-Bet Chase – Nickname
2006: Paddy Power Dial-a-Bet Chase – Nickname
2008: Golden Cygnet Novice Hurdle – Liskennett
2008: Golden Cygnet Novice Hurdle – Liskennett
2010: Galmoy Hurdle – War Of Attrition
2010: Galmoy Hurdle – War Of Attrition
Slippers Madden wins the 2006 Grand National on Numbersixvalverde
Slippers Madden wins the 2006 Grand National on Numbersixvalverde