Patrick Farrell Jr.
Article by Chris Pitt
Article by Chris Pitt
Patrick Farrell was a successful National Hunt jockey during the 1980s early 90s, riding more than a hundred winners. His major victories included the three big handicap hurdles, the Schweppes, the Swinton and the Free Hurdle, plus the Welsh Champion Hurdle and some notable successes on top-class chaser Jodami.
Patrick Farrell was a successful National Hunt jockey during the 1980s early 90s, riding more than a hundred winners. His major victories included the three big handicap hurdles, the Schweppes, the Swinton and the Free Hurdle, plus the Welsh Champion Hurdle and some notable successes on top-class chaser Jodami.
Patrick Anthony Farrell was born on November 2, 1963, the son of former top northern NH jockey Paddy Farrell (1930-1999), whose career was ended by a broken back when falling at the Chair in the 1964 Grand National, confining him to a wheelchair for the rest of his life. His accident, and that of Tim Brookshaw at Aintree earlier that season, led to the eventual formation of the Injured Jockeys Fund.
Patrick Anthony Farrell was born on November 2, 1963, the son of former top northern NH jockey Paddy Farrell (1930-1999), whose career was ended by a broken back when falling at the Chair in the 1964 Grand National, confining him to a wheelchair for the rest of his life. His accident, and that of Tim Brookshaw at Aintree earlier that season, led to the eventual formation of the Injured Jockeys Fund.
He began his racing career at Michael Dickinson’s Harewood stable and made the perfect start by winning on his first ride in public, Maurice Camacho’s five-year-old Raperon in the Swan Conditional Jockeys’ Selling Hurdle at Newcastle on January 26, 1983.
He began his racing career at Michael Dickinson’s Harewood stable and made the perfect start by winning on his first ride in public, Maurice Camacho’s five-year-old Raperon in the Swan Conditional Jockeys’ Selling Hurdle at Newcastle on January 26, 1983.
The horse that really kick-started his career was Ra Nova, trained at Lambourn by Mrs Nan Kennedy for owner Peter Travis Clarke. Patrick was not yet 20 years old with just a handful of winners to his credit but he got off to a perfect beginning on Ra Nova – who was making his first start for Mrs Kennedy, having previously been trained by John Jenkins – when winning the Free Handicap Hurdle at Chepstow on October 1, 1983.
The horse that really kick-started his career was Ra Nova, trained at Lambourn by Mrs Nan Kennedy for owner Peter Travis Clarke. Patrick was not yet 20 years old with just a handful of winners to his credit but he got off to a perfect beginning on Ra Nova – who was making his first start for Mrs Kennedy, having previously been trained by John Jenkins – when winning the Free Handicap Hurdle at Chepstow on October 1, 1983.
Then came a far greater triumph, with Patrick and Ra Nova making virtually all the running to land the Schweppes Gold Trophy, worth £21,853 to the winner, at Newbury on February 11, 1984. Just seven days later, he rode Ra Nova in the Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown, finishing fifth behind Dawn Run.
Then came a far greater triumph, with Patrick and Ra Nova making virtually all the running to land the Schweppes Gold Trophy, worth £21,853 to the winner, at Newbury on February 11, 1984. Just seven days later, he rode Ra Nova in the Irish Champion Hurdle at Leopardstown, finishing fifth behind Dawn Run.
The next good horse to come his way was Past Glories, trained by Bill Elsey at Malton. Patrick won a brace of novice hurdles on Past Glories at Market Rasen and Haydock in January 1987, and followed up by winning Newbury’s Stroud Green Hurdle easily by 10 lengths. They then finished second to Cashew King in Haydock’s Victor Ludorum Hurdle, and second again, beaten half a length, in the 1987 Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham.
The next good horse to come his way was Past Glories, trained by Bill Elsey at Malton. Patrick won a brace of novice hurdles on Past Glories at Market Rasen and Haydock in January 1987, and followed up by winning Newbury’s Stroud Green Hurdle easily by 10 lengths. They then finished second to Cashew King in Haydock’s Victor Ludorum Hurdle, and second again, beaten half a length, in the 1987 Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham.
Following a belated start to the 1987/88 campaign, Patrick rode Past Glories to land the Welsh Champion Hurdle at Chepstow, beating Floyd by half a length, and then won the valuable Swinton Insurance Trophy at Haydock on May 2, 1988, beating his Victor Ludorum conqueror Cashew King by 2½ lengths.
Following a belated start to the 1987/88 campaign, Patrick rode Past Glories to land the Welsh Champion Hurdle at Chepstow, beating Floyd by half a length, and then won the valuable Swinton Insurance Trophy at Haydock on May 2, 1988, beating his Victor Ludorum conqueror Cashew King by 2½ lengths.
Patrick married amateur rider Anthea Beaumont, daughter of trainer Peter Beaumont and rode regularly for his father-in-law. On January 27, 1990, a rare if not unique occurrence in British racing took place in the William Hill Golden Spurs Handicap Chase at Doncaster, when husband Patrick and wife Anthea Farrell rode in the same race, both on horses trained by Peter Beaumont. Patrick finished second Fleming, while Anthea pulled up her mount J-J-Henry.
Patrick married amateur rider Anthea Beaumont, daughter of trainer Peter Beaumont and rode regularly for his father-in-law. On January 27, 1990, a rare if not unique occurrence in British racing took place in the William Hill Golden Spurs Handicap Chase at Doncaster, when husband Patrick and wife Anthea Farrell rode in the same race, both on horses trained by Peter Beaumont. Patrick finished second Fleming, while Anthea pulled up her mount J-J-Henry.
That was also around the time when Jodami came along. Patrick won five out of six races on him over hurdles between January and April 1991, culminating in the £8,545 Scottish Farm Dairy Foods Novices Handicap Hurdle at Ayr on April 20. It was a particularly good time for the husband and wife duo, as Anthea won three races in a row on J-J-Henry, culminating in the 1991 John Hughes Memorial (Topham) Trophy at Aintree.
That was also around the time when Jodami came along. Patrick won five out of six races on him over hurdles between January and April 1991, culminating in the £8,545 Scottish Farm Dairy Foods Novices Handicap Hurdle at Ayr on April 20. It was a particularly good time for the husband and wife duo, as Anthea won three races in a row on J-J-Henry, culminating in the 1991 John Hughes Memorial (Topham) Trophy at Aintree.
Peter Beaumont sent Jodami over fences the following season, Patrick rode him to win a Kelso novice chase, followed by the West of Scotland Pattern Novices’ Chase at Ayr, worth £7,984, on January 25, 1992. They were then second in the Reynoldstown Chase at Ascot and second again, beaten three-quarters of a length by Bradbury Star, in Aintree’s Mildmay Chase. They then finished third in a valuable Listed novices’ handicap chase at the Punchestown festival at the end of April. That would be the final time he rode Jodami, for Mark Dwyer took over the following season and was later to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup on him.
Peter Beaumont sent Jodami over fences the following season, Patrick rode him to win a Kelso novice chase, followed by the West of Scotland Pattern Novices’ Chase at Ayr, worth £7,984, on January 25, 1992. They were then second in the Reynoldstown Chase at Ascot and second again, beaten three-quarters of a length by Bradbury Star, in Aintree’s Mildmay Chase. They then finished third in a valuable Listed novices’ handicap chase at the Punchestown festival at the end of April. That would be the final time he rode Jodami, for Mark Dwyer took over the following season and was later to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup on him.
Sadly, Patrick's marriage broke up and soon afterwards he suffered an injury that necessitated his retirement from race riding.
Sadly, Patrick's marriage broke up and soon afterwards he suffered an injury that necessitated his retirement from race riding.
He spent some time working in Kent and Cumbria before moving to Jersey, where he became assistant trainer to the island’s leading trainer, Stephen Arthur.
He spent some time working in Kent and Cumbria before moving to Jersey, where he became assistant trainer to the island’s leading trainer, Stephen Arthur.