'His Grade 1 strike-rate is incredible' - JJ Slevin announced as new retained rider for Simon Munir and Isaac Souede

Anthony Bromley has hailed JJ Slevin's Grade 1 strike-rate as "incredible" after the rider was announced as the new retained jockey for powerful owners Simon Munir and Isaac Souede on Thursday. 

Bromley, who manages Munir and Souede's sizeable enterprise spanning Britain, Ireland and France, said there would be a smooth change to arrangements following the retirement of longtime ally Daryl Jacob at Leopardstown on Sunday. 

Bromley said: "It came as a slight surprise over Christmas when Daryl retired, but this means there will be a seamless transition because JJ’s a regular rider for us. We’ve got a strong connection with him and it’ll hopefully work very neatly. 

"We had a great 11 seasons with Daryl, so JJ's got big boots to fill, but his Grade 1 strike-rate is incredible. He’s been a big-race jockey and we’ve known him for a long time. We’d call ourselves friends and he’s been a part of the double green team for a number of years."

JJ Slevin: showed his prowess in the saddle aboard Solness in the Paddy's Rewards Club Chase at Leopardstown over ChristmasCredit: Patrick McCann

Slevin, 32, was in excellent form over Christmas when he added two Grade 1s to his haul aboard Solness and Home By The Lee, and he carried that momentum into his first day in the new role by partnering Al Kalila and O'Toole to success at Ayr.

He said: “I’m really looking forward to it. I’ve known them for a good few years now and it’s a good role to get. Daryl had his last ride on Sunday and Simon called me after that and asked if I’d like to come aboard. Obviously I was delighted to.

“I’m still going to ride for Sean and Bernardine Mulryan, and for Joseph [O'Brien], and that was something that was important to me. Sean and Bernardine have been very good to me and I will try to ride for them as much as I can, but it is a case now that Double Green are number one with Ballymore just behind.”

As well as Jacob's final big winner Impaire Et Passe, Slevin will have leading Supreme Novices' Hurdle candidate Jasmin De Vaux to look forward to in the coming months when Paul Townend, stable jockey for Willie Mullins, is not available.

"Impaire Et Passe is all fine," Bromley said. "I’d imagine we’ll look towards the 2m5f Grade 1 novice chase at the Dublin Racing Festival. Willie had Champ Kiely win yesterday, so I suspect it could be an option for him too.

"We don’t need to worry about which race we’ll go to at Cheltenham – if we go at all. He won’t have enough runs for the novice handicap so it’s whether we go to the Brown Advisory or wait for Aintree. 

"Jasmin De Vaux is entered in the Lawlor’s of Naas on Sunday and the form of his last win gives us confidence. He needs to get slicker with his jumping and it’s going to be a big jump from a maiden hurdle into a Grade 1. We’ll see where we are."

Jasmin De Vaux: Champion Bumper winner will bid for Grade 1 honours again on SundayCredit: Alan Crowhurst

Slevin deputised successfully for Jacob aboard Intense Raffles in the Irish Grand National last year and the grey could run over hurdles next month, while four-time Grade 1 winner El Fabiolo is also nearing a return.

Bromley said: "We nearly ran Intense Raffles in the Grade 1 staying hurdle in Ireland, but it was quite a big field and the ground wasn't that soft. We’ll look at another run over hurdles in February.

"We’re hoping El Fabiolo can make it to the Dublin Racing Festival if all goes well this month. He came into training a bit late."

Slevin is one of the most respected riders in Ireland and has enjoyed high-profile success with Martin Brassil's classy staying chaser Fastorslow, with the pair teaming up to win the last two runnings of the Punchestown Gold Cup.

Read these next:

'I'm very lucky - I've had an amazing career and so much fun' - Daryl Jacob has his final ride at Leopardstown 

'He's a fantastic rider who deserves all the plaudits he's getting' - Paul Nicholls leads tributes to Daryl Jacob 

Joseph O'Brien hails 'special ride' as JJ Slevin steers Solness to Grade 1 win over Gaelic Warrior 

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