Stobbs, Christopher

It is highly likely that Chris’s first ride in public came on Honorable Sir at Wetherby on

Saturday December 28, 1957.

Christopher Stobbs, usually known as Kit Stobbs, was born on September 5, 1931 and, served

his apprenticeship with Arthur (W. A.) Stephenson, who trained Honorable Sir.

A late starter as a jockey, he did not ride his first winner until he was 26, that success being

achieved on Taxinthus in the Castle Eden Novices’ Chase at Sedgefield on February 28, 1959.

Kit was not a prolific winner, but did boot home 15 in 1959/60. He also managed to ride a

four-timer at Wetherby on Easter Monday, March 30, 1964, on Harry Black, Windydell, Mr

Jones and Johnnie Walker, all trained by Arthur Stephenson. Mr Jones’ win came in the

valuable (£2,424 10s) Wetherby Handicap Chase, getting the better of 5/4 favourite Kapeno

(the mount of David Mould) by half a length.

Mr Jones had also given Kit a winning ride over the Aintree fences in the 1962 Becher Chase.

His other big winners included the 1961 Scottish Grand National on Kinmont Willie and the

1968 National Hunt Handicap Chase at Cheltenham on Battledore.

However, the best horse he rode was Cocky Consort, on which he finished third in the 1962

Cheltenham Gold Cup. Earlier that season he’d ridden Cocky Consort to victory in

Wetherby’s Grand National Trial and finished second on him in the Great Yorkshire Chase

and in Sandown’s Stone’s Ginger Wine Handicap Chase.

Kit was also Arthur Stephenson’s head lad and lived at the yard at Crawleas Farm,

Leasingthorpe, Bishop Auckland.

The last good horse with which he was associated was Interview II, on whom he won five

novice hurdles in a row in the 1969/70 season before finishing second in the London and

Northern Securities Champion Novices’ Hurdle at Ayr. Interview II was also his last ride in

public when finishing eighth at Newcastle on April 15, 1970.

He died in October 2018, aged 87.