Connie Eddery

Connie Eddery

Article by Alan Trout

Cornelius Eddery, always known as Connie, enjoyed a measure of success in his native Ireland but only had one win in England. This came at Ludlow on March 1, 1951, when his mount Battling Pedulas dead-heated with Betsy Brooks, ridden by Rex Hamey, at the end of the Aldon Handicap Chase. 

This race was confined to jockeys who had not ridden 14 winners, and such good riders as Bert Morrow and Derek Leslie were among those who finished behind the front two. 

Battling Pedulas was trained by top Flat jockey Michael Beary during his brief spell out of the saddle. He had not run since finishing fourth in the 1950 Welsh Grand National. Prior to that he had fallen at Becher’s first time round in the Grand National itself, when ridden by the leading American steeplechase jockey Danny Marzani. 

Following his Ludlow success, Battling Pedulas fell on his next two outings, including the Topham Trophy at Liverpool when partnered by Tommy Cusack. His Ludlow win was the only ride Connie had in England that season and he does not appear to have ridden thereafter, thereby boasting an undefeated record on British soil.