Niall "Slippers" Madden (born 11 November 1985) is a retired Irish

jockey A jockey is someone who rides horses in horse racing or steeplechase (horse racing), steeplechase racing, primarily as a profession. The word also applies to camel riders in camel racing. The word "jockey" originated from England and was used ...

who rode the racehorse Numbersixvalverde to win the

2006 Grand National The 2006 Grand National (officially known as the John Smith's Brewery, John Smith's Grand National for sponsorship reasons) was the 159th official annual running of the Grand National Steeplechase (horse racing), steeplechase which took place ...

steeplechase at

Aintree Racecourse Aintree Racecourse is a horse racing, racecourse in Aintree, Merseyside, England, near to Liverpool. The racecourse is the venue for the Grand National steeplechase (horse racing), steeplechase, which takes place annually in April over three da ...

. Madden's nickname is "Slippers", as a comparison with his father Niall Madden, also a jockey, whose nickname was "Boots". He rode for

Noel Meade Noel Meade is a horse trainer from Castletown, County Meath, Ireland. He established Tu Va Stables in County Meath as a place to train his horses. Early career: flat racing Meade began his career as a horse trainer in 1971, ...

and won the 2006 Christmas Hurdle for Meade on Jazz Messenger. Madden retired as a jockey after riding at

Punchestown Punchestown Racecourse is located in the parish of Eadestown, between the R410 and R411 regional roads near Naas, County Kildare, in Ireland. It is known as the home of Irish Jumps Racing and plays host to the annual Punchestown Irish Nationa ...

on 31 December 2020.

Personal life

He married fellow jockey Aine O'Connor in June 2022.

Major wins

Ireland * Slaney Novice Hurdle -(1) Toofarback (2006) * Golden Cygnet Novice Hurdle -(1) Liskennett (2008) * Paddy's Reward Club "Sugar Paddy" Chase -(1) Nickname (2006) ----

Great Britain Great Britain is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean off the north-west coast of continental Europe, consisting of the countries England, Scotland, and Wales. With an area of , it is the largest of the British Isles, the List of European ...

Grand National The Grand National is a National Hunt horse race held annually at Aintree Racecourse in Aintree, Merseyside, England. First run in 1839, it ...

-(1) Numbersixvalverde (2006) * Christmas Hurdle - (1) Jazz Messenger (2006)

References

* 1985 births Irish jockeys Living people {{Ireland-horseracing-bio-stub