Sean O'Keeffe

Sean is a horse racing & betting expert at Gambling.com and a professional National Hunt jockey with first-hand experience competing at the highest level of British and Irish racing.

A multiple Cheltenham Festival-winning rider, he has partnered leading horses for trainers including Willie Mullins and Paul Nolan and ridden in some of the biggest races on the National Hunt calendar.

His experience in the saddle gives Sean a unique perspective on racing form, horses, courses and the factors that can influence the outcome of a race.

Areas of Expertise

• Horse Racing
• Horse Racing Betting
• National Hunt Racing
• Cheltenham Festival
• Racing Form & Analysis

Professional Experience

Hailing from County Wexford, Sean grew up around horses and began his career in point-to-points, riding his first winner for his father Jim in 2016. He shared the champion U21 riders' title in 2017/18 before turning professional, having recorded his first winner under rules at Punchestown in 2017.

His breakthrough on the biggest stage came at the 2021 Cheltenham Festival, where he rode Galopin Des Champs to victory in the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle for Willie Mullins. The future multiple Gold Cup winner provided Sean with his first Festival success, with Mullins praising the patience and composure of his ride.

Sean has since added further major victories, including the Munster National aboard Ontheropes, and returned to the Cheltenham winner's enclosure in 2025 aboard Lecky Watson. He has also ridden leading horses including Energumene and continues to partner horses for some of Ireland's most successful trainers.

What Sean Does at Gambling.com

At Gambling.com, Sean provides horse racing analysis from the perspective of a professional jockey, offering insight into major races, leading contenders and the challenges riders and horses face at the biggest meetings.

His coverage includes the Cheltenham Festival and Grand National, where he draws on his own rides and experience of horses in leading yards to assess form, race conditions and potential betting opportunities.

Every contribution follows Gambling.com's Editorial Policy and gives readers access to first-hand insight from a jockey actively competing at the highest levels of National Hunt racing.