Date of birth: 1 May 1972 Place of birth: Co Down Main trainer: Len Lungo 2002-03 wins: 109 2001-2002 wins: 109 2000-01 wins: 84 1999-00 wins: 71

He often plies his trade at the less-heralded northern tracks and does not always get the plaudits his riding skills deserve.

Even his 1997 Grand National victory on Lord Gyllene was overshadowed by the bomb scare which forced the race to be postponed for 48 hours.

Dobbin began his apprenticeship under the guidance of Jonjo O'Neill in 1988 and also worked under Gordon Richards out of the Greystoke stables in Cumbria.

His first big win came in the 1994 Hennessy Gold Cup on One Man before a victory on his first outing at the Cheltenham Festival on Dizzy in the County Hurdle.

However, he had to wait another six years for a second Festival win, when, like buses, two came along in 2000.

Dobbin's successful association with Len Lungo made him the top north of England-based jockey in the 2001-02 season, passing the 100-winner mark for the first time in his career.

And he clocked up another century last season.

However, away from the track, Dobbin endured more than his share of tragedy.

He pulled out of the 2002 Cheltenham Festival following the death of one of his brothers in a car crash only a month after he survived a crash of his own.

And another of his brothers was seriously injured in another car crash later in the year.