Duggan, Jimmy

When, at Ascot in November, 1983, Dawn Run beat Amarach by a short head, it was the riding of Jimmy Duggan on the runner-up which drew the plaudits. The young 

7 lb claimer had excelled himself by staying close to the far rail and thereby saving invaluable ground. Amarach took a half-length lead at the last hurdle and O'Neill's desperate rally on the mare regained the lead in the final stride.

Jimmy Duggan was born in Hillingdon, Middlesex, England on Sunday, 9th August 1964.

He had his first competitive race ride on 22nd October 1979. His first winner came five months later at an Irish point-to-point meeting on 10th February, 1980. 

His first of 311 professional victories came at Leopardstown when riding "Killeenyarda" in February of 1982.

Jimmy took up his apprenticeship in England under the wing of Ulverston trainer Roger Fisher, where his association with horses such as Amarach and Aonoch came into fruition.

Both horses were owned by his mother, Elizabeth, and it was in her colours that, on Saturday, December 10, 1983, he rode Amarach (above) to win the Tia Maria Bula Hurdle at Cheltenham.

With only one hurdle left, he still had five runners in front of him, but he did not panic, even when Cima fell in front of him.

Jimmy, aged 19, had ridden his first big winner with panache and precision, two qualities which were to become his trademark.

Sailor's Dance was formerly the pacemaker for Sun Princess on the Flat and promised much over hurdles. And so it was - Jimmy's best win on him came at Liverpool on Thursday March 29, 1985, when, at 12/1, they won together the Whitbread Best Scotch Novice Hurdle by four lengths.

When Jimmy won on the same horse next time out, at Ayr, in the Scottish Champion Hurdle, it took Lambourn trainer Fred Winter past the £200,000 prize-money mark for the season.

Jimmy revealed after the race that 'Mr Winter has indicated that now John Francome has retired, I will share the number one jockey's spot with Ben de Hann for the stable next season.'

(left) Jimmy's winning ride in the 1985 Christmas Hurdle at Kempton. Jimmy was originally booked to ride for Fred Winter at Huntingdon, but when that meeting was cancelled due to the river rapidly rising, Jimmy re-routed to Kempton.

Jimmy had two winning rides for Fred Winter on Celtic Shot.

Then the partnership were brought down in the Supreme Novices Hurdle at Cheltenham and, subsequently, he lost that ride to Peter Scudamore.  

The new partnership ultimately went on to win the 1986 Champion Hurdle, a thorn that still pricks predominantly in Jimmy's side.  

When both Amarach and Aonoch were moved to trainer Sally Oliver's yard in Worcestershire, the association with the pair was continued. Unfortunately Amarach's racing career was cut brutally short following a training injury. 

As a six year old, Aonoch (left) underwent tests at Bristol University. The horse developed lumps all over his body which turned out to be  cancerous.

Happily, the horse made a full recovery and was eventually retired to Ireland.

'He was a really good horse,' said Jimmy later. 'He was at his peak when he won the Haig Whisky Qualifier at Cheltenham but was starting to go off the boil  when he won the Deep Wealth Memorial Hurdle at Chepstow. And he was definitely over the top in the Haig Whisky Final. 

One of Jimmy Duggan's most memorable winning rides came at Aintree, Liverpool in the 1986 Sandemans Hurdle, where the partnership took on a number of top class hurdlers, including the three times and reigning Champion Hurdler, See You Then. 

The pair battled it out side by side up the run in to the line, Aonoch gamely and bravely holding on to beat the champion by a neck.

Jimmy won a total of 14 races on Aonoch, yet it was on this horse that he suffered his greatest disappointment.

This came in the 1986 Champion Hurdle (for Sally Oliver). Though strongly fancied for at least a place, Aonoch was never moving fluently. He finished tailed off and returned from the course with blood streaming profusely from his nostrils.

Aonoch had suffered a heavy blow to his head after Corporal Clinger had fallen at the fourth, catching him as he fell.

Jimmy later discovered that the horse was also suffering from corns. 

All of that was forgotten just 25 days later at Aintree with the famous victory over See You Then. 

Since retiring from the saddle Jimmy Duggan has moved to America where he has become a successful businessman.

He married Jane on July, 2003. She gave him a daughter, Grace. 

Jimmy's wedding 2003.

Big Race Wins

Bula Hurdle... (Cheltenham)

Sandeman Aintree Hurdle... (Liverpool)

Scottish Champion Hurdle... (Ayr)

Holstein Diet Pils Hurdle... (Sandown)

Juvenile Champion Hurdle... (Liverpool)

Golden Miller Chase... (Cheltenham)

The Christmas Hurdle... (Kempton)

Deep Wealth Hurdle... (Chepstow)