Leighton Aspell

Leighton Aspell (born 12 June 1976) is a retired Irish jockey, best known for winning both the 2014 and 2015 Grand National's riding Pineau de Re and Many Clouds

Personal life Leighton Aspell was born 12 June 1976 in Dublin, Ireland. He grew up in Narraghmore, County Kildare. Aspell has a brother, Paddy, who is also a jockey, Aspell has a fan club, making him "one of the few jockeys" to have such a thing.

Aspell continued working closely with Gifford, Peter Bowen and Pat Murphy. It would be for Murphy that he won his first Welsh Grand National for in December 2001 riding Supreme Glory, finishing ahead of Bindaree who would go on to win the Grand National at Aintree the following April. Aspell also won the 2005 Welsh Grand National with L'Aventure for Paul Nicholls.

2005 would also mark Aspell's only Grade 1 victory in the Champion Four Year Old Hurdle at Punchestown Racecourse for trainer Lucy Wadham riding United. Aspell and United would later win the National Spirit Hurdle at Fontwell Park.

In July 2007, Aspell announced his retirement from race riding, and left to work for trainer John Dunlop in Arundel.

A strong start to the 2013/14 season saw Aspell win several key races including the Persian War Novices Chase and the December Novices Chase. At the turn of the year, victories for Emma Lavelle and Oliver Sherwood in two feature races at Warwick - the Classic Chase and Leamington Novices Hurdle led to him securing the ride on Pineau de Re in the 2014 Grand National for trainer Richard Newland. The horse's regular rider Sam Twiston-Davies opted to ride the more fancied Tidal Bay around three weeks prior to the race.

Heading into the 2014/15 season saw Aspell form a close relationship with Many Clouds riding for Sherwood in the colours of owner Trevor Hemmings. Wins in the Hennessey Gold Cup and Cotswold Chase were chalked up on the way to Aintree where Aspell won his second Grand National, recording the first back-to-back wins for a jockey in the race since the 1970s by Red Rum jockey Brian Fletcher.

In February 2020, Aspell retired from racing riding almost 1,000 winners.

Major wins Great Britain

Grand National – (2) Pineau de Re (2014), Many Clouds (2015) Welsh Grand National – (2) Supreme Glory (2001), L'Aventure (2005)

Ireland Champion Four Year Old Hurdle – (1) United (2005)