Andy Devaney
When it comes to grit, graft, and guile in the saddle, Gavin Sheehan is a name that needs little introduction. The Irish jump jockey, who steered Hewick to King George VI Chase glory, has built a career on tactical brilliance and fearless rides. With 863 winners and more than £9 million in prize money to his name, he’s one of the most respected figures on the British and Irish National Hunt scene.
But there’s a twist in this tale: Gavin Sheehan is just as happy with a five wood in hand as he is guiding a thoroughbred around Kempton. Golf, fatherhood, and a new TV series are shaping the man as much as the racetrack ever has.
Life beyond the saddle
In ITV’s Champions: Full Gallop (series two), Sheehan opens the stable doors on both his professional and personal life. “In this series, viewers will learn that we’re not just machines on the racecourse, we’re real people with lives, families, and personalities off the track. With Teddy at home and the work behind the scenes, it gives a fuller picture of who I am beyond racing.”
It’s a reminder that even the hardest men in the weighing room still go soft when it comes to their children. “When Teddy was first born, I was running on pure adrenaline, I even rode a couple of winners straight after. But I’ll admit, in those first few days I was more mindful of the risks in my sport because of him. In terms of leaving bad rides behind, I’ve always been able to switch off quite quickly, usually within five minutes of a race. Now, if I’ve had a really tough day, going back to Teddy makes me forget straight away. He puts everything into perspective.”
Why the early starts still matter
Prize money? Forget it. Sheehan insists his motivation lies elsewhere. “I’ve never been driven by prize money. What gets me out of bed every morning is the chance to get on a good horse — that’s what gives me the real buzz. I don’t tend to set long-term targets; I like to take each day as it comes. For me, the focus is simply on doing better than last year and making sure I stay in that 100-winners circle each season.”
And when the big ones roll around, like the King George VI Chase, instinct takes over. “In a race like the King George VI Chase, the start is non-negotiable; you can win a race there, so you need to make sure you get that right. From that point on, it’s all about feel. The horse tells you everything.
Over the distance of the three miles, when I was on Hewick, it was about encouraging him to keep going without using up absolutely everything too soon, because the winning line was a circuit away, not down the back straight. I’ve built a really strong sense of how much a horse has left in the tank underneath me, and I trust my instincts to judge the right moment: when to commit, and when to wait.”
So why’s a jockey talking golf?
The simple answer: sanity. Gavin Sheehan found golf back in 2012 at West Berks, introduced by fellow jockeys Peter Carberry, Mark Grant, and David Crosse. “When I first picked up golf back in 2012 with Peter Carberry, Mark Grant, and David Crosse, it just clicked because it was still competitive, but also relaxed, good exercise, and not dangerous, unless you get hit by a ball!
It didn’t become a weekly thing until around 2016, but now it’s my reset. It’s my way of switching off from racing and doing something completely different. At the end of the day, I just love playing sports, and golf gives me that balance.”
Now a proud 8.8 handicapper who loves Wrag Barn and jaunts to Durbuy for the Five Nations trips, he squeezes in his rounds between seasons. “A good golfing week for me fits in between the busy racing schedule, usually June through September, because once the early starts kick in, I am riding every day and when the clocks change, the clubs go away.”
The crossover between racing and golf isn’t lost on him either. “In both golf and racing, focus is everything. In golf, every shot needs your full attention, and in racing it’s the same with every horse you ride, from leaving the parade ring to coming back in.
They’re also both individual sports, so the mindset is quite similar: it’s down to you to make the right decisions. I wouldn’t say golf has made me calmer in a race as they’re very different pressures, but the focus and discipline definitely overlap.”
Adare Manor and the wish list
There’s one course firmly on his horizon: Adare Manor, host of the 2027 Ryder Cup. “Adare Manor is probably the best course in Ireland, and there’s that great connection with JP McManus through racing.
But for me, there’s also a personal side, I used to drive past it every day when I was working at a yard in Ireland, back before I was really into golf. So, it would be quite nostalgic to finally play there. And if I ever got the chance to tee it up in the Pro-Am, that would be pretty special.”
Golf bag, nutrition, and flapjacks
As for the tools of the trade? “I’ve got the full set in my bag, but the most reliable club for me is the five wood, it’s the one I can always trust. My favourite though, has to be the 58-degree wedge, just because you can play so many different shots with it.”
On-course snacks don’t stray far from the racetrack either. “Nutrition is pretty similar whether I’m racing or playing golf.I’m lucky to work with Matt Nolan from We Prep. He is the owner and nutritionist, and he prepares my food and delivers it to me every day. He tailors it for energy rather than weight, so I’m fuelled for whatever I’m doing. My go-to snack is usually a good flapjack – simple, reliable, and keeps me going.”
The grind behind the glamour
For all the glory of big wins and golf escapes, Sheehan doesn’t sugar-coat the life of a jump jockey. “I’d like casual sports fans to understand just how demanding life is as a jump jockey. We spend hours a day in the car every week, which isn’t paid for, we have to constantly manage our weight and have little to no days off in the peak season. There are even times when we go racing and make a loss, which is the tough reality of the sport. It’s challenging, but the camaraderie and the standards we hold ourselves to make it all worthwhile.”
And that’s Gavin Sheehan in a nutshell: a man balancing glory with grind, a golf club with a crop, and family with fierce ambition.
The series may give fans an inside look, but on and off the track, he’s already writing one of the sport’s most compelling stories.
Champions: Full Gallop will air on ITV1 this October.
