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David Elsworth
David Elsworth
Born on 12 December 1939, David Raymond Cecil Elsworth is arguably the greatest dual-purpose trainer of his generation. He scaled the heights with some of Flat and jump racing’s best-known horses, from Desert Orchid and Rhyme 'N' Reason to Persian Punch and In The Groove. Classic and Group 1 successes stand proud alongside Grand National and Cheltenham Gold Cup triumphs.
Born on 12 December 1939, David Raymond Cecil Elsworth is arguably the greatest dual-purpose trainer of his generation. He scaled the heights with some of Flat and jump racing’s best-known horses, from Desert Orchid and Rhyme 'N' Reason to Persian Punch and In The Groove. Classic and Group 1 successes stand proud alongside Grand National and Cheltenham Gold Cup triumphs.
Raised in a Salisbury council house, began his career in racing when setting off on his pushbike in 1955 to serve a three-year apprenticeship at Alec Kilpatrick’s Herridge stable at Collingbourne Ducis, in Wiltshire.
Raised in a Salisbury council house, began his career in racing when setting off on his pushbike in 1955 to serve a three-year apprenticeship at Alec Kilpatrick’s Herridge stable at Collingbourne Ducis, in Wiltshire.
In 1956 he led up Grand National favourite Must at Aintree, only for the horse to fall at the first fence. It was the year the Queen Mother’s Devon Loch jumped a shadow on the run-in with the race at his mercy.
In 1956 he led up Grand National favourite Must at Aintree, only for the horse to fall at the first fence. It was the year the Queen Mother’s Devon Loch jumped a shadow on the run-in with the race at his mercy.
David showed little precociousness as a jump jockey, his first three winners taking eight years to achieve, the first of those having come on Rathronan in a 35-runner novices’ hurdle at Cheltenham on 15 November 1957. After a dozen years with a licence he had mustered just 11 winners. Not exactly the stuff dreams are made of.
David showed little precociousness as a jump jockey, his first three winners taking eight years to achieve, the first of those having come on Rathronan in a 35-runner novices’ hurdle at Cheltenham on 15 November 1957. After a dozen years with a licence he had mustered just 11 winners. Not exactly the stuff dreams are made of.
When coming in for the ride on Chamoretta in the 1968 Grand National he had not ridden a winner all season and didn’t expect to break his duck on the 100/1 shot. However, he nursed her round with the aim of completing the course and got as far as the last ditch, where the two horses in front of him, Forecastle and Vultrix both refused, baulking Chamoretta in the process and leaving her straddled across the fence.
When coming in for the ride on Chamoretta in the 1968 Grand National he had not ridden a winner all season and didn’t expect to break his duck on the 100/1 shot. However, he nursed her round with the aim of completing the course and got as far as the last ditch, where the two horses in front of him, Forecastle and Vultrix both refused, baulking Chamoretta in the process and leaving her straddled across the fence.
The two seasons following that 1968 Grand National were his most successful of his riding career, with five winners in 68/69 and a career high of nine in 69/70, including a double at Wye. But the following campaign yielded just two, courtesy of an Easter Monday double at Newton Abbot. His his final three victories were recorded in the 71/72 season, the last of them on Willow Hound at Taunton on 20 April.
The two seasons following that 1968 Grand National were his most successful of his riding career, with five winners in 68/69 and a career high of nine in 69/70, including a double at Wye. But the following campaign yielded just two, courtesy of an Easter Monday double at Newton Abbot. His his final three victories were recorded in the 71/72 season, the last of them on Willow Hound at Taunton on 20 April.
Having cut little ice riding – just thirty wins during a long career – he switched his attentions to training. After a spell as a hands-on assistant to lieutenant-colonel Ricky Vallance, he began training in his own right, initially at Figheldean, near Stonehenge in 1978.
Having cut little ice riding – just thirty wins during a long career – he switched his attentions to training. After a spell as a hands-on assistant to lieutenant-colonel Ricky Vallance, he began training in his own right, initially at Figheldean, near Stonehenge in 1978.
He had moved to Lucknam Park, near Bath by the time Heighlin came along. He was a horse who typified David’s dual-purpose operation in those early years. In 1980, he became one of only three horses to win at both the Cheltenham Festival (Triumph Hurdle) and Royal Ascot (Ascot Stakes) in the same year.
He had moved to Lucknam Park, near Bath by the time Heighlin came along. He was a horse who typified David’s dual-purpose operation in those early years. In 1980, he became one of only three horses to win at both the Cheltenham Festival (Triumph Hurdle) and Royal Ascot (Ascot Stakes) in the same year.
David then moved to Whitsbury Manor Stables, where he trained successfully on the Flat and over jumps for 25 years. The first really good horse to emerge from Whitsbury was the game front-running Floyd, who may have had his ailments but nonetheless won several big-races. Between 1985 and 1989, Floyd won two Fighting Fifth and Kingwell Hurdles, an Imperial Cup, a County Hurdle and a Bula Hurdle. He then stepped up in trip to win the Long Walk and Rendlesham Hurdles.
David then moved to Whitsbury Manor Stables, where he trained successfully on the Flat and over jumps for 25 years. The first really good horse to emerge from Whitsbury was the game front-running Floyd, who may have had his ailments but nonetheless won several big-races. Between 1985 and 1989, Floyd won two Fighting Fifth and Kingwell Hurdles, an Imperial Cup, a County Hurdle and a Bula Hurdle. He then stepped up in trip to win the Long Walk and Rendlesham Hurdles.
Then came the magnificent grey Desert Orchid, the highest-rated chaser for five consecutive seasons, his victories including four King George VI Chases, a Cheltenham Gold Cup in bottomless ground in 1989, an Irish Grand National, plus a host of other big-race triumphs. In the Racing Post’s poll of 100 Favourite Racehorses in 2004, Desert Orchid was second only to Arkle.
Then came the magnificent grey Desert Orchid, the highest-rated chaser for five consecutive seasons, his victories including four King George VI Chases, a Cheltenham Gold Cup in bottomless ground in 1989, an Irish Grand National, plus a host of other big-race triumphs. In the Racing Post’s poll of 100 Favourite Racehorses in 2004, Desert Orchid was second only to Arkle.
During the Desert Orchid era, Rhyme ‘N’ Reason landed the Grand National in 1988, the year David was crowned champion jumps trainer. Then there was Barnbrook Again. He won the Ladbroke Hurdle in Ireland and was third in the Champion Hurdle before graduating to chasing, becoming a dual winner of the Queen Mother Champion Chase and finishing second to Desert Orchid in a King George.
During the Desert Orchid era, Rhyme ‘N’ Reason landed the Grand National in 1988, the year David was crowned champion jumps trainer. Then there was Barnbrook Again. He won the Ladbroke Hurdle in Ireland and was third in the Champion Hurdle before graduating to chasing, becoming a dual winner of the Queen Mother Champion Chase and finishing second to Desert Orchid in a King George.
In the same year as Barnbrook Again won his second Champion Chase, David showed his versatility when campaigning In The Groove to become champion three-year-old filly by winning the Irish 1,000 Guineas, the Juddmonte International and the Champion Stakes. In addition to those three Group 1 victories at three, she won the Coronation Cup as a four-year-old.
In the same year as Barnbrook Again won his second Champion Chase, David showed his versatility when campaigning In The Groove to become champion three-year-old filly by winning the Irish 1,000 Guineas, the Juddmonte International and the Champion Stakes. In addition to those three Group 1 victories at three, she won the Coronation Cup as a four-year-old.
He could win at the top level with two-year-olds too. Either side of In The Groove’s Classic-winning year, David saddled Dead Certain to win the Queen Mary, Lowther and Group 1 Cheveley Park Stakes, and Seattle Rhyme to win the Racing Post Trophy.
He could win at the top level with two-year-olds too. Either side of In The Groove’s Classic-winning year, David saddled Dead Certain to win the Queen Mary, Lowther and Group 1 Cheveley Park Stakes, and Seattle Rhyme to win the Racing Post Trophy.
And who could forget Persian Punch? The popular stayer’s 13 Group wins between 1997 and 2003 equalled the record at the time for the most European Flat Pattern victories and, although he never quite managed to win at Group 1 level, his three Jockey Club Cups, two Goodwood Cups and a Doncaster Cup guaranteed him a place in the public’s affection.
And who could forget Persian Punch? The popular stayer’s 13 Group wins between 1997 and 2003 equalled the record at the time for the most European Flat Pattern victories and, although he never quite managed to win at Group 1 level, his three Jockey Club Cups, two Goodwood Cups and a Doncaster Cup guaranteed him a place in the public’s affection.
In 2006, David moved to Egerton House Stables in Newmarket. Persian Punch’s owner Jeff Smith followed him there and in 2015 provided the trainer with his final Group 1 winner, Arabian Queen. Having already won a Group 2 as a two-year-old and the Group 2 Lancashire Oaks at three, Arabian Queen became the first horse to defeat Derby hero Golden Horn when landing the Juddmonte International.
In 2006, David moved to Egerton House Stables in Newmarket. Persian Punch’s owner Jeff Smith followed him there and in 2015 provided the trainer with his final Group 1 winner, Arabian Queen. Having already won a Group 2 as a two-year-old and the Group 2 Lancashire Oaks at three, Arabian Queen became the first horse to defeat Derby hero Golden Horn when landing the Juddmonte International.
David ended his training career with 1,146 wins on the Flat and 487 over jumps, including 16 successes at Royal Ascot and nine at the Cheltenham Festival.
David ended his training career with 1,146 wins on the Flat and 487 over jumps, including 16 successes at Royal Ascot and nine at the Cheltenham Festival.
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