Forgotten Grand National hero who had world at his feet but retired at 25 bounces back with nine wins from nine rides
A FORGOTTEN Grand National hero who had the world at his feet but retired at 25 has bounced back with nine wins from his last nine completed rides.
Ryan Mania won the world's most famous race on 66-1 outsider Auroras Encore in 2013.
He retired a year later aged just 25, citing difficulties keeping his weight down.
But he came back to the sport in 2019 having found his love for it again.
And a further four years on he has hit the heights as arguably the world's hottest jockey.
Mania won all nine of his past nine completed rides - not including those where he pulled up or fell.
His amazing form figures, dating back to December 29, read: 1-1-PU-1-1-PU-1-1-F-1-1-1.
That astonishing run came to an end with defeat in the closing bumper at Musselburgh on Tuesday.
Most read in Horse Racing
OFFERS OF THE DAY
William Hill: Bet £10 Get £30 in free bets -
Betfair: Bet £10 Get £30 -
Paddy Power: Bet £20 and get it back as cash if it loses -
Sky Bet: Bet £10 on Racing and get £30 in free bets -
Ladbrokes: Bet £5 Get £20 -
Coral: Bet £5 Get £20 -
William Hill: 18+. Play Safe. From 00:01 on 13.04.2022. £30 bonus. New customers only. Minimum £10 stake on odds of 1/2 (1.5) or greater on sportsbook. Further terms apply.
Betfair - Place a min £10 bet on the Sportsbook on odds of min 1/2 (1.5), get £30 in Free Bets. Rewards valid for 30 days. SMS verification required. Only deposits via cards will qualify. T&Cs apply. Please Gamble Responsibly 18+
Paddy Power: New customers only. Place your FIRST bet on any market at odds of min 2.0 (EVS) and if it loses we will refund your stake in CASH. Max refund for this offer is £20. Only deposits made using cards will qualify for this promotion. T&Cs apply. 18+
Sky Bet: New customers only. First single & e/w bet only odds of 1/1 or greater. 3 x £10 bet tokens. Free bet stakes not included in returns. Free bets only redeemable on horse racing. Free bets are non withdrawable. No free bet expiry. Eligibility restrictions and further t&cs apply.
Ladbrokes: 18+ New UK+IRE Customers only. Certain deposit methods & bet types excl. Min first £/€5 bet within 14 days of account reg at min odds 1/2 to get 4x £/€5 free bets. Free bets available to use on selected sportsbook markets only. Free bets valid for 7 days, stake not returned. Restrictions + T&Cs apply. Begambleaware.org
Coral: Eligible UK+IRE players. Paypal & some deposit & bet types excl. Min first £5 bet within 14 days of account reg at min odds 1/2 = 4x £5 free bets. Free bets valid for 7 days, stake not returned. No cash-out, restrictions & T&Cs apply. 18+ T&Cs Apply. Begambleaware.org
But, in truth, that failed to dampen an amazing sequence of victories.
Six of those winners came for Scottish trainer Sandy Thomson, the former rugby player.
The last of them was 11-4 Massini Man in the Fitzdares Handicap Chase at Musselburgh on Tuesday.
And Mania told Racing TV afterwards: "It’s a little bit emotional because it’s been a great festive period for me and for Sandy [Thomson] who I predominantly ride for.
"It’s just great to have some winners and great that the horses are running well.
"I’m just trying to look forward to the next one, trying to ignore it and just focus on the job.
"It’ll end at some point but so long as the horses keep running well, that’s all you can ask for."
Ryan Mania's nine winners from nine completed rides
December 29
1st Carcaci Castle 7-4 - Kelso
£5,000
December 30
1st War Soldier 2-1 - Haydock
£7,000
December 31
1st Bak Rocky 5-1 - Uttoxeter
£9,000
January 1
1st Bringbackmemories 13-8 - Musselburgh
£4,000
1st Large Action 25-1 - Musselburgh
£4,000
1st Benson 2-1 - Musselburgh
£11,000
January 2
1st Donna's Double 100-30 - Ayr
£5,000
1st Storm Nelson 6-5 - Ayr
£11,000
January 3
READ MORE SUN STORIES
1st Massini Man 11-4 - Musselburgh
£5,000
FREE BETS GET OVER £2,000 IN SIGN UP OFFERS HERE
Commercial content notice: Taking one of the bookmaker offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. 18+. T&Cs apply. Begambleaware.org
Remember to gamble responsibly
A responsible gambler is someone who:
- Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
- Only gambles with money they can afford to lose
- Never chases their losses
- Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry or depressed
- Gamcare –
- Gamble Aware –