Paul Fessey
Paul John Fessey was born in Waterloo, on Merseyside, on August 17, 1975. He was apprenticed to Jack Berry and rode his first winner on Very Dicey, trained by Berry, in a five-furlong apprentices’ handicap at Ripon on April 14, 1994.
Paul John Fessey was born in Waterloo, on Merseyside, on August 17, 1975. He was apprenticed to Jack Berry and rode his first winner on Very Dicey, trained by Berry, in a five-furlong apprentices’ handicap at Ripon on April 14, 1994.
While still an apprentice he was lucky to escape serious injury when his mount Secret Voucher snapped a foreleg and fell when leading the field in the William Hill Trophy at York in June 1996. Luckily, he suffered no more than bruises and a hand injury.
While still an apprentice he was lucky to escape serious injury when his mount Secret Voucher snapped a foreleg and fell when leading the field in the William Hill Trophy at York in June 1996. Luckily, he suffered no more than bruises and a hand injury.
Paul went on to carve out a successful career as a jockey, achieving a career-best score of 39 winners from 509 rides in 1997. His big wins included the Haydock Silver Bowl in 1998 on Jack Berry’s French Connection and the Listed City Wall Stakes at Chester on Bishops Court in 2003.
Paul went on to carve out a successful career as a jockey, achieving a career-best score of 39 winners from 509 rides in 1997. His big wins included the Haydock Silver Bowl in 1998 on Jack Berry’s French Connection and the Listed City Wall Stakes at Chester on Bishops Court in 2003.
He enjoyed another good year in 2006 with 36 winners, which included a 1,803/1 hat-trick on the all-weather at Southwell aboard 40/1 outsider Beauchamp Star, 10/1 chance Petrichon and 7-1 dead-heater Sierra. The downside to that season was when he received a 28-day ban for dropping his hands and losing first place on Dotty’s Daughter at Thirsk in May.
He enjoyed another good year in 2006 with 36 winners, which included a 1,803/1 hat-trick on the all-weather at Southwell aboard 40/1 outsider Beauchamp Star, 10/1 chance Petrichon and 7-1 dead-heater Sierra. The downside to that season was when he received a 28-day ban for dropping his hands and losing first place on Dotty’s Daughter at Thirsk in May.
In May 2007 he won the Mitie Handicap at Newcastle on Royal Flynn, a lucky spare ride, coming in for the mount when Fergus Sweeney was injured in a fall in an earlier race. A few days later, on Bank Holiday Monday, May 28, 2007, he won Redcar’s Zetland Gold Cup on 14/1 shot Flipando, trained by David Barron.
In May 2007 he won the Mitie Handicap at Newcastle on Royal Flynn, a lucky spare ride, coming in for the mount when Fergus Sweeney was injured in a fall in an earlier race. A few days later, on Bank Holiday Monday, May 28, 2007, he won Redcar’s Zetland Gold Cup on 14/1 shot Flipando, trained by David Barron.
He rode a double at Musselburgh on August 12, 2008, aboard David Barron’s King Of The Moors and the Paul Midgley-trained Dispol Grand. However, by then his opportunities were diminishing. He rode what was to be his last British winner on Eljaaz for trainer Geoff Harker at Catterick on November 4, 2008, and had his final ride in Britain two weeks later, on November 18, when finishing third on Double Carpet for Garry Woodward in a class 6 handicap at Southwell.
He rode a double at Musselburgh on August 12, 2008, aboard David Barron’s King Of The Moors and the Paul Midgley-trained Dispol Grand. However, by then his opportunities were diminishing. He rode what was to be his last British winner on Eljaaz for trainer Geoff Harker at Catterick on November 4, 2008, and had his final ride in Britain two weeks later, on November 18, when finishing third on Double Carpet for Garry Woodward in a class 6 handicap at Southwell.