Dillon. Dennis

Born on February 2, 1929, Dennis Brian Dillon  served his apprenticeship with Victor Smyth at Mospey, Smyth's stables at Burgh Heath Road, Epsom.In 1957, Dennis won the Triumph Hurdle (then run on a Saturday at Hurst Park) on the blinkered 20/1 shot Meritorious.

It was compensation in a way for Dennis, who had won the same race a year earlier, only to be disqualified.

Photo, left, shows Dennis winning the Rank Challenge Cup at Fontwell, 1949, on National Spirit

Dennis took Meritorious out for a pipe-opener on the morning of the race and, because the ground was steadily drying out, the horse 'strode out in champion style' as Dennis said later. 

In the race, Meritorious was never out of the first four, going away to win by an easy three lengths.

However, this was to be the highlight of Dennis's career. The 25 winners he rode in that season was to be his best ever total.                                                   Photo, right, courtesy of Chris Pitt

His first winner had come some thirteen years earlier on Merry Mood at Windsor on 4 November, 1944. This was the fifth war-time Flat race season and this meeting was the last fixture of the year.

Merry Mood, a five-year-old grey gelding by Mahmoud, started at 25/1.

Dennis nominated Approval as the best horse that he'd ridden.