Aidan Coleman

Born: August 17, 1988

Brought up in Cork, where his parents are both teachers, Aidan Coleman learned his trade on the Irish pony racing circuit, where he had over 100 winners.

"It's brilliant and you learn to deal with the nerves too," he said, "There was a lot of betting and the owners always wanted them to win. I was 12 or 13 and had one owner who always told me how many grand he had on his horse, but I never let it get to me. I still don’t."

Although his brother, Kevin, had become a jockey in Ireland and was doing well (so well, in fact that in August, 2007 he won the Galway Plate on Sir Frederick), Aidan opted instead to work in England.

Through Irish trainer John Murphy, Coleman got a place at Henrietta Knight's yard, and it was her horse Silverbar that provided the young jockey with his first ride under Rules on December 23, 2006, at Hereford.

At the end of 2006/2007 season, Coleman moved to Venetia Williams’ stable at King’s Caple and his first winner arrived in the shape of Tashkandi, who was successful in a selling hurdle at Uttoxeter on October 17. That victory put the 21-year-old on the fast track to success.

Last season he partnered his first Cheltenham Festival winner when Kayf Aramis won the Pertemps Final, while he has also enjoyed notable success this term on Stan, Chief Yeoman and Mon Mome.

Stan also provided Coleman with his first Aintree Festival triumph when winning the 2008 renewal of the Red Rum Handicap Chase. He was appointed stable jockey to Venetia Williams in 2009 and is also Racing UK ambassador, having signed a two-year deal with the leading broadcaster.

Cheltenham Festival wins (1):

Pertemps Final: 2009 Kayf Aramis