Ciaran Gethings

The headline moment of 2026 so far came at Kempton Park on 21 February, when Gethings won the race known simply as Kempton — a top-level Class 1 race, the kind of race that represents the very peak of British racing. It was his third win at that level, following earlier big-occasion victories at Leicester and Aintree. Aintree, in particular, carries enormous weight in the jumping world, so a winner there belongs on any career CV worth reading.

One detail that stands out from his record is how he performs when conditions turn ugly. On very wet, muddy ground — the kind of day that sorts the serious riders from the rest — Gethings has won 3 races from 16 rides, a win rate of 19%, or nearly 1 in every 5. That is meaningfully better than his overall average, and it suggests he has the patience and feel to get horses running through difficult conditions rather than fighting them.

His most fruitful partnership has been with trainer Jane Williams. Across 104 rides together, they have produced 16 winners — a win rate of 15%, or roughly 1 in every 6 to 7 races. That is a better return than his career average, and the volume of rides suggests Williams trusts him with her string regularly. When a trainer keeps putting you up, it usually means one thing: the horses are running well. At 119 career winners, three top-level wins, and a win rate heading sharply in the right direction, Gethings looks like a jockey whose best years are still ahead of him.