EDDIE McNALLY

Article by Chris Pitt

Edward Joseph McNally was born on August 23, 1933, the younger brother by one year of Owen McNally. Both became professional jump jockeys, as did their younger siblings Gerry and Brendan.

Eddie held a jockey’s licence between 1954 and 1966 and rode his first winner on the Jack O’Donoghue-trained Dictaphone at Fontwell Park on November 3, 1958. He had one more winner that season, Fire Follet at Wye.

His best season numerically was 1960/61 during which he rode five winners from 72 rides. He married Deirdre Ann Lavender on September 20, 1961. They had three daughters: Sharon Elizabeth, Kerry Bernadette and Sally-Ann.

Eddie rode a total of 15 winners during his career, including three on Fison, owned and trained by John Trueman at Satins Hill Farm, Sissinghurst, in Kent.

When he retired from race riding he took over as trainer at Satins Hill Farm, where he trained Fison and another of Trueman’s horses, Fanfare, who won several hurdle races, initially ridden by Owen McNally and latterly Richard Pitman after Owen’s enforced retirement through injury.

Subsequently, Eddie moved his string to Battenhurst Stables at Stoneygate, Wadhurst, in Sussex, where his owners included Stan Powell, who colours of ‘white, green sleeves, black star’ were quite prominent during the 1970s.

Eddie saddled Powell’s Francophile, a 16-1 shot, in the 1974 Grand National, ridden by Richard Pitman. Francophile refused at the 28th fence when in arrears.