Paddy Powell Sr.
1895 -1979
1895 -1979
To quote Guy St John Williams and Francis Hyland’s 1995 book ‘Jameson Irish Grand National’, “Paddy Powell was one of the old school of devil-may-care, happy-go-lucky, naturally gifted horsemen, who could ride equally well ‘with drink taken’ or without.”
To quote Guy St John Williams and Francis Hyland’s 1995 book ‘Jameson Irish Grand National’, “Paddy Powell was one of the old school of devil-may-care, happy-go-lucky, naturally gifted horsemen, who could ride equally well ‘with drink taken’ or without.”
Born in 1895, he rode mainly in his native Ireland but made his first mount in Britain a winning one, landing the 1926 Molyneux Chase over one circuit of the Grand National course on the talented six-year-old Easter Hero. He then joined Frank Barbour’s powerful stable and became Easter Hero’s regular jockey, partnering him to win the 1927 Becher Chase and, in March 1928, Kempton’s Coventry Chase under top weight of 12st 7lb.
Born in 1895, he rode mainly in his native Ireland but made his first mount in Britain a winning one, landing the 1926 Molyneux Chase over one circuit of the Grand National course on the talented six-year-old Easter Hero. He then joined Frank Barbour’s powerful stable and became Easter Hero’s regular jockey, partnering him to win the 1927 Becher Chase and, in March 1928, Kempton’s Coventry Chase under top weight of 12st 7lb.
Shortly after that Kempton win, Barbour sold the horse for £7,000 to Captain Lowenstein, a Belgian financier. However, barely a month after Easter Hero had won the Prix des Drags for him, Captain Lowenstein vanished in his private plane over the North Sea and no trace was ever found of him. Thus, for the second time that year, Easter Hero was sold, this time to the American millionaire Jock Hay Jock Whitney, for whom he won the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 1929 and again in 1930.
Shortly after that Kempton win, Barbour sold the horse for £7,000 to Captain Lowenstein, a Belgian financier. However, barely a month after Easter Hero had won the Prix des Drags for him, Captain Lowenstein vanished in his private plane over the North Sea and no trace was ever found of him. Thus, for the second time that year, Easter Hero was sold, this time to the American millionaire Jock Hay Jock Whitney, for whom he won the Cheltenham Gold Cup in 1929 and again in 1930.
Another top-class horse in the Barbour yard was Koko, on whom Paddy won the Hurst Park Grand National Trial Chase in 1928 and finished third in that year’s Cheltenham Gold Cup. He rode two winners at the 1929 Cheltenham National Hunt meeting, landing the National Hunt Juvenile Chase on Spring Blossom and the Cotswold Chase on Curtain Raiser.
Another top-class horse in the Barbour yard was Koko, on whom Paddy won the Hurst Park Grand National Trial Chase in 1928 and finished third in that year’s Cheltenham Gold Cup. He rode two winners at the 1929 Cheltenham National Hunt meeting, landing the National Hunt Juvenile Chase on Spring Blossom and the Cotswold Chase on Curtain Raiser.
On home soil he won the 1927 Irish Grand National on Jerpoint and the 1929 Galway Plate on Guiding Light.
On home soil he won the 1927 Irish Grand National on Jerpoint and the 1929 Galway Plate on Guiding Light.
Although he won the Valentine Chase and Becher Chase, his Grand National record was far from glorious. He had six attempts but never once completed the course. His mounts were:
Although he won the Valentine Chase and Becher Chase, his Grand National record was far from glorious. He had six attempts but never once completed the course. His mounts were:
1927: Marsin (fell)
1927: Marsin (fell)
1928: Easter Hero (fell)
1928: Easter Hero (fell)
1929: Uncle Ben (fell)
1929: Uncle Ben (fell)
1930: Curtain Raiser (refused)
1930: Curtain Raiser (refused)
1931: Easy Virtue (fell)
1931: Easy Virtue (fell)
1935: Southern Hue (fell)
1935: Southern Hue (fell)
Paddy was the unfortunate jockey on board Easter Hero when he famously landed on top of the Canal Turn fence in 1928, causing both Grakle and Darracq to fall, while three or four loose horses balked more than half the field and put them out of the race.
Paddy was the unfortunate jockey on board Easter Hero when he famously landed on top of the Canal Turn fence in 1928, causing both Grakle and Darracq to fall, while three or four loose horses balked more than half the field and put them out of the race.
Paddy’s last British winner was a dead-heat on White Winter in the Danby Whiske (3yo) Hurdle at Catterick on November 13, 1930, sharing the spoils with Fred Gurney’s mount Park Rat. Thereafter, he made only occasional forays to Britain, the last being to ride Southern Hue in the 1935 Grand National, only to fall at Becher’s first time round.
Paddy’s last British winner was a dead-heat on White Winter in the Danby Whiske (3yo) Hurdle at Catterick on November 13, 1930, sharing the spoils with Fred Gurney’s mount Park Rat. Thereafter, he made only occasional forays to Britain, the last being to ride Southern Hue in the 1935 Grand National, only to fall at Becher’s first time round.
Paddy Powell died in 1979. His son, Paddy Powell Jnr, rode with equal success on the Flat and over hurdles. In turn, his son Anthony continued a family tradition as a stylish and successful National Hunt rider and emulated his grandfather by the Irish Grand National on Maid Of Money in 1989. Tragically, Anthony was killed when his car left the road near the Curragh in February 2003.
Paddy Powell died in 1979. His son, Paddy Powell Jnr, rode with equal success on the Flat and over hurdles. In turn, his son Anthony continued a family tradition as a stylish and successful National Hunt rider and emulated his grandfather by the Irish Grand National on Maid Of Money in 1989. Tragically, Anthony was killed when his car left the road near the Curragh in February 2003.