The highlight of his career so far came at Cheltenham on 10 March 2026, when McLernon landed a top-level win at one of the most scrutinised festivals in the racing calendar. Cheltenham is the kind of stage that exposes jockeys who are not ready for it, so winning there at the top level — combined with an earlier Class 1 success at Uttoxeter — tells you something meaningful about his ability to perform when it matters most. Two wins at that level from a career still only four years old is a decent return.
His most productive relationship is with the Jonjo and A J O'Neill yard, where he has ridden 8 winners from 87 races — around 1 in every 11. That is roughly in line with his overall numbers, but the volume of rides from a yard of that standing reflects a trust that takes time to earn. Jockeys do not get 87 rides from a serious trainer by accident.
Where McLernon genuinely stands out is on wet or muddy ground. In those conditions he has won 6 races from just 39 — a rate of 15%, or roughly 1 in every 6 — which is noticeably better than his overall average. That kind of edge in specific conditions is exactly the sort of detail a trainer files away. At Hexham specifically, he has won 3 races from just 8 — a remarkable conversion rate of more than 1 in 3 at a course where most jockeys would be pleased with half that.
The one note of caution is a dip in form. His win rate has slipped from around 1 in every 7 last season to 1 in every 10 this year. That is worth watching, but a Cheltenham top-level winner in March suggests that when the big days arrive, McLernon still knows how to show up.
| Course | Races | Wins | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Worcester | 31 | 3 | 9.7% |
| Fontwell Park | 30 | 4 | 13.3% |
| Cartmel | 26 | 4 | 15.4% |
| Plumpton | 19 | 1 | 5.3% |
| Uttoxeter | 16 | 1 | 6.2% |
| Sedgefield | 15 | 2 | 13.3% |
| Wetherby | 12 | 3 | 25% |
| Haydock Park | 12 | 1 | 8.3% |
| Newcastle | 10 | 1 | 10% |
| Warwick | 9 | 1 | 11.1% |
| Southwell | 9 | 0 | 0% |
| Market Rasen | 9 | 0 | 0% |
| Ludlow | 9 | 0 | 0% |
| Chepstow | 9 | 0 | 0% |
| Hexham | 8 | 3 | 37.5% |
| Cheltenham | 8 | 2 | 25% |
| Ayr | 8 | 0 | 0% |
| Stratford-on-Avon | 8 | 0 | 0% |
| Taunton | 8 | 0 | 0% |
| Newton Abbot | 8 | 0 | 0% |
| Huntingdon | 8 | 0 | 0% |
| Wincanton | 7 | 0 | 0% |
| Newbury | 6 | 0 | 0% |
| Aintree | 6 | 0 | 0% |
| hereford | 5 | 1 | 20% |
| Punchestown | 5 | 0 | 0% |
| Doncaster | 5 | 0 | 0% |
| Carlisle | 5 | 0 | 0% |
| Ffos Las | 4 | 2 | 50% |
| Bangor-on-Dee | 4 | 0 | 0% |
| Perth | 3 | 1 | 33.3% |
| Ascot | 3 | 1 | 33.3% |
| Kelso | 3 | 0 | 0% |
| Kempton Park | 3 | 0 | 0% |
| Exeter | 2 | 1 | 50% |
| Musselburgh | 2 | 1 | 50% |
| Fakenham | 2 | 0 | 0% |
| Sandown Park | 1 | 1 | 100% |
| Leicester | 1 | 0 | 0% |
| Windsor | 1 | 0 | 0% |
| York | 1 | 0 | 0% |
| Lingfield Park | 1 | 0 | 0% |
| Catterick Bridge | 1 | 0 | 0% |