The last twelve months have seen him ride 350 times and win 31 of those races — roughly 1 in every 11. That is a slight dip from the 1 in 9 win rate he was hitting the previous season, and it is worth watching whether that represents a temporary dip in form or something more meaningful. In a sport where fractions of a percentage point separate the riders in demand from those on the outside looking in, the difference between 9% and 11% matters. Still, 31 winners from 350 rides is a solid season by any measure, and there is nothing in his record to suggest a collapse in confidence.
The most telling number in Whelan's career is what happens when he rides for trainer Aidan P O'Brien's yard. From 60 rides together, he has won 11 — that is roughly 1 in every 5 or 6, compared to the 1 in 11 he manages overall. That gap is striking. It says two things: that O'Brien's team clearly rate him enough to put him up repeatedly, and that when he gets on a quality horse, he delivers. That is exactly the kind of partnership a young jockey needs to build a reputation on.
He also has a specific edge in wet conditions. On soft or muddy ground, Whelan has won 5 races from just 16 rides — a 31% win rate, or nearly 1 in every 3. That is a remarkable conversion rate and suggests he rides with particular intelligence when the ground gets testing, adjusting his tactics in a way that catches opponents off guard.
Then there are the big days. Three wins at the very top level of British racing, at York, Goodwood and Doncaster, including one at Doncaster as recently as October 2025, confirm that he is not a jockey who only shines in lesser company. Those are the courses and occasions that define careers, and Whelan has answered the call on all three. At 4 years in, that is a genuinely impressive foundation.
| Course | Races | Wins | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Curragh | 66 | 5 | 7.6% |
| Dundalk | 63 | 5 | 7.9% |
| Leopardstown | 27 | 5 | 18.5% |
| Naas | 25 | 2 | 8% |
| Galway | 22 | 3 | 13.6% |
| Cork | 22 | 2 | 9.1% |
| Navan | 21 | 1 | 4.8% |
| Tipperary | 16 | 0 | 0% |
| Gowran Park | 15 | 1 | 6.7% |
| Limerick | 13 | 1 | 7.7% |
| Roscommon | 13 | 0 | 0% |
| Listowel | 11 | 1 | 9.1% |
| Killarney | 10 | 1 | 10% |
| Bellewstown | 5 | 1 | 20% |
| Down Royal | 5 | 0 | 0% |
| Punchestown | 4 | 1 | 25% |
| Clonmel | 4 | 0 | 0% |
| Fairyhouse | 3 | 0 | 0% |
| Sligo | 2 | 1 | 50% |
| Doncaster | 1 | 1 | 100% |
| Laytown | 1 | 0 | 0% |
| Thurles | 1 | 0 | 0% |