Brendan Donaghy

Brendan Donaghy

Article by Alan Trout

Gerald Brendan Donaghy, always shown in results as ‘B. Donaghy’, rode for three seasons over jumps in the mid-1970s and had four winners. 

Attached to the Greystoke, Penrith stable of Gordon W. Richards, his first ride was on Sheil, a distant last of five in the Rushyford Handicap Chase at Sedgefield on November 6, 1974. Thirteen days later came his first success when Napazi took the Mr. Sponge Handicap Hurdle at Teesside Park. The four-year-old had led to the second last flight when overhauled by Peter Brogan’s mount Stay-Bell but fought back on the run-in to score by a length and a half. 

It was not until the Saturday of Carlisle’s Easter meeting on March 29, 1975 that he registered his second success, this time for Cockermouth-based owner Tom Stamper, whose nine-year-old Cagey Boy led all the way and held off the challenge of Black Peter to land the Cummersdale Opportunity Selling Handicap Hurdle by half a length. 

Gordon W. Richards, Napazi’s trainer, also supplied Brendan with his third win when King Midas took the Beckfoot Novices’ Hurdle (Division 2) at Ayr on May 12 by four lengths. 

Brendan had over 30 rides the following season but managed only one victory when Napazi turned out to be his last winner as well as his first. The combination came with a strong run to catch Ridley Lamb on Red Herring and take the Easington Handicap Hurdle at Teesside Park on January 6, 1976 by a length. 

He had his final ride when Cool Gabriel unseated him at the first flight in the Symington Handicap Hurdle at Ayr on November 22, 1976. It is not known whether that spill was responsible for bringing his career in the saddle to a premature end. 

Brendan Donaghy’s winners were, in chronological order:

1. Napazi, Teesside Park, November 19, 1974

2. Napazi, Teesside Park, November 19, 1974

3. King Midas, Ayr, May 12, 1975 

4. Napazi, Teesside Park, January 6, 1976