JJ Slevin

James Joseph Slevin (born July 1992) is an Irish National Hunt jockey, who has ridden multiple Grade 1 winners and two Irish Grand National winners. In January 2025 he was appointed retained rider to owners Simon Munir and Isaac Souede.

Background Slevin comes from a racing background. His father, Shay Slevin, is a trainer and his mother, Elizabeth, is the sister of trainer Aidan O'Brien. Slevin grew up in Kiltrea, near Enniscorthy in County Wexford. He obtained a degree in journalism from Griffith College Dublin, while his brother Mark trained as a vet.

Career as a jockey Slevin rode for several years as an amateur jockey. He rode 34 winners in point-to-points, the first of them being Herecomestherain, trained by his father Shay, at Ballydarragh on 14 November 2010.

Slevin won his first Irish Grand National on the Elliott-trained General Principle in April 2018. Starting at odds of 20/1, General Principle was not one of the more fancied of Elliot's 13 runners but gave the trainer his first victory in the race in a photo-finish. A second win in the race for Slevin came six years later on the grey Intense Raffles, trained by Thomas Gibney and owned by Simon Munir and Isaac Souede.

Cheltenham Festival winners (4) Stayers' Hurdle - (1) Home By The Lee (2026) Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle - (1) Champagne Classic (2017) Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle - (2) Band of Outlaws (2019), Lark in the Mornin (2024)

Major wins Ireland Golden Cygnet Novice Hurdle - (1) Tower Bridge (2018) Christmas Hurdle - (2) Home By The Lee (2022, 2024) Punchestown Gold Cup - (2) Fastorslow (2023, 2024) John Durkan Memorial Punchestown Chase - (1) Fastorslow (2023) Punchestown Champion Chase - (1) Banbridge (2024) Paddy's Reward Club Chase - (1) Solness (2024) Tattersalls Ireland Novice Hurdle - (1) Talk The Talk (2026) Channor Real Estate Group Novice Hurdle - (1) Le Frimeur (2026)

Great Britain Liverpool Hurdle - (1) Home By The Lee (2026) Manifesto Novices' Chase - (1) Banbridge (2023) Sefton Novices' Hurdle - (1) Zeus Power (2026)