JOCKEYS might spend a large part of their life covered in mud and smelling like a horse, but that hasn’t hampered them when it comes to winning over the ladies.
Today at Aintree the riders will be fighting for a stab at the £1million jackpot in the Grand National.
The Grand National is today – but who will take home the £1m jackpot?
And for some, their stunning wives and girlfriends will be nervously cheering them on from the enclosures at the horse racing event of the year.
With 6-1 Betfair odds, the current favourite is Corach Rambler, and his rider is jockey Derek Fox, who is seemingly single.
But coming up the rear are happily paired-up Sean Bowen, riding last year’s winner Noble Yeats, and Keith Donohue, on Delta Work with 9-1 odds.
From Italian beauties to home-grown horsie lasses, we take a look at the WAGs of the Grand National.
The match made in heaven
Good-looking couple Bridget and Harry Skelton are both jockeys at the same stables
National hunt jockey Harry Skelton got hitched to fellow jump jockey Bridget Andrews in 2019.
The pair met both riding in his brother Dan’s stables which is based in Warwickshire.
Last year the pair enjoyed a trip to France and say they blow off steam with holidays.
Harry told MailOnline: “When racing is off and I’ve got a free day, me and Bridget do like to get away. We’ve got two whippets, we like to take them off for a walk, after riding out though.
“We have a few breaks in the year when we can get away but when I am away, I can’t wait to get back.”
Riding Le Milos today, Harry’s odds are 14-1.
The lovebirds
Kieren Buckley isn’t afraid to love bomb his gorgeous girlfriend Sarah on social media
Kieran and Sarah have been together two years
Riding Diol Ker, Kieren Buckley is an outsider with 66-1 odds.
But at the sidelines girlfriend Sarah Blois will be cheering him on nevertheless.
Sarah has just relocated from Somerset to Ireland to be closer to her boyfriend but still works in eventing which includes dressage, showjumping and cross-country.
The pair got together in 2021 and aren’t afraid of declaring their love for each other in public.
On his Instagram Kieren posted a picture of Sarah with the caption: “Apple of my eye.”
To which Sarah responded: “I love you.”
The ex-jockey
Brendan Powell Jr has found love with ex jockey Lucy Barry
Stable jockey for Colin Tizzard, Brendan Powell Jr has found love with former jockey Lucy Barry.
Barry – a dual purpose jockey excelling in jumps and flats – retired from racing in 2021 and now works for Melbourne 10 Racing while managing a farm.
She told how she walked away after suffering eating disorders and mental health problems.
Speaking to the Racing Post, she said: “I ended up in hospital with stomach problems because I wasn’t eating and trying to keep my weight down so much. I wasn’t healthy.”
Last year the lovebirds went on a two-week road trip across the United States.
The passionate Italian
Jockey Paul Townend and partner Anna Paoletti at Cheltenham earlier this year
Five-time jockey of the year Paul Townend has captured the heart of Italian beauty Anna Paoletti.
She moved to Ireland in 2005 to study equine sports therapy and now works with injured horses in Kilkenny.
Industrious Anna also runs an online shop selling eco-friendly Italian cosmetics.
They live together in Kilkenny and also own a little dog.
Paul has also worked his way to the top – starting out as an apprentice for Charlie Mullins and is today riding Gaillard Du Mesnil.
The holiday lovers
Bikini babe Hattie and Sean Bowen went Greek island hopping last year
Welsh jockey Sean Bowen likes to have a blast with girlfriend Harriett Matthews.
And last year they certainly did, taking holidays to Madrid, skiing in Flaine, France and soaking up the sun on Greek islands Kos, Mykonos and Crete.
The couple have a sausage dog called Dottie but it’s not known if they live together.
Keen rider Hattie works for Paul Nicholls Racing near Bath and has been with Sean since 2016.
With Sean riding last year’s winner Noble Yeats, his odds are placed at 8-1.
The high-achieving mum
Brainbox Edelle Russell is a maths teacher but also a former pole vault champ
Edelle Russell is married to two-time Grand National winner Davy who retired last year.
The 43-year-old is coming out of retirement for his last Grand National filling in for injured Jack Kennedy on Galvin.
The couple have four kids together Lily, Finn, Liam and Tess and live in Youghal, Co. Cork – while Davy has daughter Jaimee from a previous relationship.
Edelle is a former Irish record holder for pole vault but has left sports aside to become a chemistry and maths teacher.
The private couple
Keith Donoghue and girlfriend Sarah Dempsey enjoyed a jaunt to France last year
Irish Keith Donoghue – riding Delta Work – has quietly been dating blonde beauty Sarah Dempsey.
He recently whisked Sarah away to Villefranch-sur-mer in France while she took him skiing for the first time in Morzine in the French Alps.
While their relationship has been low key, Sarah was by his side after he won Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase at Cheltenham in March.
Although just two years ago, Keith told his local paper the Meath Chronicle of some advice he’d give his younger self – which Sarah might not be too happy with.
He said: “Don’t get a girlfriend, live your life.”
The Romeo and Juliet
Katie Young works as a trainer at Gordon Elliot Racing
Katie is a steady presence at partner Mark Walsh’s races
Horse trainer Katie Young is the stunning partner of jockey Mark Walsh – who will be riding Any Second Now today
In true Romeo and Juliet fashion, Mark’s the son of trainer and pundit Ted Walsh while Katie works for Gordon Elliott Racing.
She will no doubt be busy too – the yard has trained twice Grand National winner Tiger Roll and this year’s runners Delta Work and Galvin.
The brunette is pictured with Mark at almost all of his races and being from Co. Kildare she is also good friends with EGR jockey Keith Donoghue.
