Adrian Phillips
Article by Chris Pitt
Article by Chris Pitt
Jump jockey Adrian ‘Duggie’ Phillips began his career as a conditional at Martin Tate’s Kidderminster stable.
Jump jockey Adrian ‘Duggie’ Phillips began his career as a conditional at Martin Tate’s Kidderminster stable.
His father bought a horse named Grando King for him to ride and he duly gained his first winner on him in division two of the Birchfield Novices’ Hurdle at Haydock Park on January 4, 1974.
His father bought a horse named Grando King for him to ride and he duly gained his first winner on him in division two of the Birchfield Novices’ Hurdle at Haydock Park on January 4, 1974.
He won twice more on Grando King that season, both times at nice prices in handicap company, scoring at 12/1 at Nottingham on February 16, and at 10/1 at Devon & Exeter on March 23.
He won twice more on Grando King that season, both times at nice prices in handicap company, scoring at 12/1 at Nottingham on February 16, and at 10/1 at Devon & Exeter on March 23.
The following season he won three more handicap hurdles on Grando King, beginning with a pair of ‘opportunity’ (conditional jockeys) events at Stratford on September 28 and Ascot on October 30, 1974, and lastly at Towcester on May 24, 1975. They
The following season he won three more handicap hurdles on Grando King, beginning with a pair of ‘opportunity’ (conditional jockeys) events at Stratford on September 28 and Ascot on October 30, 1974, and lastly at Towcester on May 24, 1975. They
accounted for three of the five winners he rode that term, which included another of his father’s horses, My Christine, also trained by Martin Tate, at Uttoxeter on May 15.
accounted for three of the five winners he rode that term, which included another of his father’s horses, My Christine, also trained by Martin Tate, at Uttoxeter on May 15.
It was a similar story for the 1975/76 campaign, his four winners comprising three on Grando King and one on My Christine. All three of Grando King’s wins were gained in decent events with four-figure winner’s prizes, namely:
It was a similar story for the 1975/76 campaign, his four winners comprising three on Grando King and one on My Christine. All three of Grando King’s wins were gained in decent events with four-figure winner’s prizes, namely:
Harrison Homes Handicap Hurdle, Worcester, September 17, 1975
Harrison Homes Handicap Hurdle, Worcester, September 17, 1975
Autumn Handicap Hurdle, Doncaster, November 8, 1975.
Autumn Handicap Hurdle, Doncaster, November 8, 1975.
Joe Coral Handicap Hurdle, Worcester, April 22, 1976
Joe Coral Handicap Hurdle, Worcester, April 22, 1976
My Christine scored in somewhat lesser company, winning a selling hurdle at Uttoxeter in March.
My Christine scored in somewhat lesser company, winning a selling hurdle at Uttoxeter in March.
All bar one of his first dozen winners had been achieved on either Grando King or My Christine. However, Martin Tate decided to use other conditional jockeys from then on, leading Adrian to venture north.
All bar one of his first dozen winners had been achieved on either Grando King or My Christine. However, Martin Tate decided to use other conditional jockeys from then on, leading Adrian to venture north.
He brought off a 20/1 surprise victory on Cool Siloam at Carlisle on September 30, 1978. Soon afterwards, he began riding for Ulverston, Cumbria trainer Roger Fisher and partnered his 200/1 outsider Cartwright in the 1979 Grand National, being brought down at the Chair when in arrears.
He brought off a 20/1 surprise victory on Cool Siloam at Carlisle on September 30, 1978. Soon afterwards, he began riding for Ulverston, Cumbria trainer Roger Fisher and partnered his 200/1 outsider Cartwright in the 1979 Grand National, being brought down at the Chair when in arrears.
Adrian rode three winners in the 1979/80 season, all of them for Roger Fisher, beginning with four-year-old handicap hurdler Benowen at Wolverhampton on
Adrian rode three winners in the 1979/80 season, all of them for Roger Fisher, beginning with four-year-old handicap hurdler Benowen at Wolverhampton on
November 7. Good Job won a two-mile handicap chase at Wetherby’s 1980 Easter meeting; and finally, Meadow Bridge, obliged in the Breadalbane Novices’ Hurdle at Perth on April 23, 1980.
November 7. Good Job won a two-mile handicap chase at Wetherby’s 1980 Easter meeting; and finally, Meadow Bridge, obliged in the Breadalbane Novices’ Hurdle at Perth on April 23, 1980.
That turned out to be his last winner.
That turned out to be his last winner.
Adrian’s career came to an end when he was brought down at the fourth fence on Loch Owen in a Sedgefield novices’ chase on October 21, 1980. He had ridden a total of 19 winners.
Adrian’s career came to an end when he was brought down at the fourth fence on Loch Owen in a Sedgefield novices’ chase on October 21, 1980. He had ridden a total of 19 winners.
After retiring from the saddle, he became travelling head lad to Henry Candy. However, a combination of the work and the travelling got him down. He died on April 11, 1997, aged 44, two days after his wife had discovered him having attempted to hang himself in a shed at the back of his home.
After retiring from the saddle, he became travelling head lad to Henry Candy. However, a combination of the work and the travelling got him down. He died on April 11, 1997, aged 44, two days after his wife had discovered him having attempted to hang himself in a shed at the back of his home.