Andrew Tinkler
Jump jockey Andrew Tinkler was born in Malton on 3 May 1985 and hails from one of Yorkshire’s most famous racing families.
Jump jockey Andrew Tinkler was born in Malton on 3 May 1985 and hails from one of Yorkshire’s most famous racing families.
His grandfather Colin was a celebrated punter and tipster whose Aintree stalwart Monanore was third in the 1988 Grand National, while Andrew’s grandmother Marie was a champion amateur rider.
His grandfather Colin was a celebrated punter and tipster whose Aintree stalwart Monanore was third in the 1988 Grand National, while Andrew’s grandmother Marie was a champion amateur rider.
Their two children Colin – Andrew’s father – and Nigel were both successful National Hunt jockeys before beginning training careers. Andrew’s brother Nicky rode as an amateur on the Flat and then became heavily involved in Yorkshire point-to-point racing.
Their two children Colin – Andrew’s father – and Nigel were both successful National Hunt jockeys before beginning training careers. Andrew’s brother Nicky rode as an amateur on the Flat and then became heavily involved in Yorkshire point-to-point racing.
Andrew rode his first winner, the 100-1 shot Nafith a day after his 16th birthday in 2001 and went on to forge a career that brought more than 400 winners.
Andrew rode his first winner, the 100-1 shot Nafith a day after his 16th birthday in 2001 and went on to forge a career that brought more than 400 winners.
He enjoyed a long-term association with Nicky Henderson, for whom he achieved several big-race successes. His key victories for the Seven Barrows team included Greenhope in the 2006 Grand Annual Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, Zaynar in the 2009 Ascot Hurdle, Finian’s Rainbow in the 2011 Kingmaker Novices’ Chase, and a second Cheltenham Festival success on Call The Cops in the 2015 Pertemps Final.
He enjoyed a long-term association with Nicky Henderson, for whom he achieved several big-race successes. His key victories for the Seven Barrows team included Greenhope in the 2006 Grand Annual Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, Zaynar in the 2009 Ascot Hurdle, Finian’s Rainbow in the 2011 Kingmaker Novices’ Chase, and a second Cheltenham Festival success on Call The Cops in the 2015 Pertemps Final.
He also won the Grimthorpe Chase at Doncaster twice – aboard Henderson’s Wogan in 2010 and the Henry Daly-trained Quentin Collonges in 2013. He rode the latter to record one of his biggest victories in the 2013 Bet365 Gold Cup (more famously remembered as the Whitbread Gold Cup) at Sandown the following month.
He also won the Grimthorpe Chase at Doncaster twice – aboard Henderson’s Wogan in 2010 and the Henry Daly-trained Quentin Collonges in 2013. He rode the latter to record one of his biggest victories in the 2013 Bet365 Gold Cup (more famously remembered as the Whitbread Gold Cup) at Sandown the following month.
Andrew took part in seven Grand Nationals, achieving his best placing when finishing sixth on Smarty in 2004, when he was still a teenager. His mounts in 2006, 2008, 2009 and 2010 all pulled up, but he finished eleventh for Willie Mullins on The Midnight Club in 2012. His last participation in the race was in 2014 when he finished seventeenth on Hunt Ball.
Andrew took part in seven Grand Nationals, achieving his best placing when finishing sixth on Smarty in 2004, when he was still a teenager. His mounts in 2006, 2008, 2009 and 2010 all pulled up, but he finished eleventh for Willie Mullins on The Midnight Club in 2012. His last participation in the race was in 2014 when he finished seventeenth on Hunt Ball.
He rode Hunt Ball in two other races over the Grand National course, finishing sixth in the 2014 Grand Sefton Chase and fourth in the 2015 Topham Trophy. He also rode Hunt Ball in the 2015 American Grand National at Fair Hills, finishing eighth. He subsequently rode him to win three novice hurdles, two at Worcester and one at Fakenham.
He rode Hunt Ball in two other races over the Grand National course, finishing sixth in the 2014 Grand Sefton Chase and fourth in the 2015 Topham Trophy. He also rode Hunt Ball in the 2015 American Grand National at Fair Hills, finishing eighth. He subsequently rode him to win three novice hurdles, two at Worcester and one at Fakenham.
Andrew rode what was to prove his last winner on the George Baker-trained Dazibao in a Stratford bumper on July 21, 2019. He announced his immediate retirement from the saddle after riding Diva Spirit for Baker in the Follow At The Races On Twitter Mares’ Standard Open NH Flat Race at Fontwell on October 23, 2019. Sadly, there was no fairy-tale ending, with Diva Spirit finishing in fourth place.
Andrew rode what was to prove his last winner on the George Baker-trained Dazibao in a Stratford bumper on July 21, 2019. He announced his immediate retirement from the saddle after riding Diva Spirit for Baker in the Follow At The Races On Twitter Mares’ Standard Open NH Flat Race at Fontwell on October 23, 2019. Sadly, there was no fairy-tale ending, with Diva Spirit finishing in fourth place.