Granville Davies
1960 - 2021
1960 - 2021
National Hunt jockey Granville Davies was a protégé of Milton Bradley and spent the majority of his career as stable jockey for that renowned Chepstow-based trainer. Bradley’s long career has seen him produce a string of prolific winners, ranging from top sprinter The Tatling to multiple-winning chasers such as Mighty Marine. Granville was the beneficiary of two others during a career that spanned the 1980s.
National Hunt jockey Granville Davies was a protégé of Milton Bradley and spent the majority of his career as stable jockey for that renowned Chepstow-based trainer. Bradley’s long career has seen him produce a string of prolific winners, ranging from top sprinter The Tatling to multiple-winning chasers such as Mighty Marine. Granville was the beneficiary of two others during a career that spanned the 1980s.
Granville Davies was born on November 14, 1960. He first took out a jump jockey’s licence in the 1977/78 season. On May 14, 1981, while still a 7lb claimer he won a Ludlow novices’ chase on a horse named Grey Dolphin. He won on him again at the start of the next season at Devon & Exeter. Grey Dolphin did not win again that season, nor the next, but returned to winning form with a vengeance during the 1983/84 campaign, partnered throughout by Granville.
Granville Davies was born on November 14, 1960. He first took out a jump jockey’s licence in the 1977/78 season. On May 14, 1981, while still a 7lb claimer he won a Ludlow novices’ chase on a horse named Grey Dolphin. He won on him again at the start of the next season at Devon & Exeter. Grey Dolphin did not win again that season, nor the next, but returned to winning form with a vengeance during the 1983/84 campaign, partnered throughout by Granville.
The hot streak began at Devon & Exeter on August 4, 1983 with victory in the John Lumley Memorial Challenge Cup Handicap Chase at Devon & Exeter (left). After losing their next three starts, Granville and Grey Dolphin returned to the Devonshire course on September 22 to win the Viscountess Petersham Trophy. They won again the very next day at Worcester, followed up at Ludlow five days later, then won twice on successive days at Worcester on October 7/8. Although only second next time out, they returned to winning ways in the Nickel Coin Challenge Cup Chase at Fontwell on November 1, then won again at Chepstow four days later. Rested during the winter until the ground firmed up again, Grey Dolphin won twice at Ludlow in May 1984, making a total of ten wins for the season, thus contributing majority of Granville’s 16 winners that term.
The hot streak began at Devon & Exeter on August 4, 1983 with victory in the John Lumley Memorial Challenge Cup Handicap Chase at Devon & Exeter (left). After losing their next three starts, Granville and Grey Dolphin returned to the Devonshire course on September 22 to win the Viscountess Petersham Trophy. They won again the very next day at Worcester, followed up at Ludlow five days later, then won twice on successive days at Worcester on October 7/8. Although only second next time out, they returned to winning ways in the Nickel Coin Challenge Cup Chase at Fontwell on November 1, then won again at Chepstow four days later. Rested during the winter until the ground firmed up again, Grey Dolphin won twice at Ludlow in May 1984, making a total of ten wins for the season, thus contributing majority of Granville’s 16 winners that term.
The following season kicked off well enough with another victory on Grey Dolphin at Devon & Exeter on August 8, but the handicapper had belatedly caught up by then. Sadly, there was a tragic end to the partnership when Grey Dolphin was killed in an eighth fence fall at Worcester on April 24, 1985.
The following season kicked off well enough with another victory on Grey Dolphin at Devon & Exeter on August 8, but the handicapper had belatedly caught up by then. Sadly, there was a tragic end to the partnership when Grey Dolphin was killed in an eighth fence fall at Worcester on April 24, 1985.
Miraculously, Milton Bradley found another grey firm ground specialist chaser just two years later. This one was named Yangtse-Kiang. Between August 14 and September 16, 1987, Granville and Yangtse-Kiang won six in a row, beginning with the Greenall Whitley Handicap Chase at Uttoxeter and including the Virginia Gold Cup at Stratford on September 10. Just as with Grey Dolphin, Yangtse-Kiang was rested over the winter and returned to score twice at Ludlow in May 1988.
Miraculously, Milton Bradley found another grey firm ground specialist chaser just two years later. This one was named Yangtse-Kiang. Between August 14 and September 16, 1987, Granville and Yangtse-Kiang won six in a row, beginning with the Greenall Whitley Handicap Chase at Uttoxeter and including the Virginia Gold Cup at Stratford on September 10. Just as with Grey Dolphin, Yangtse-Kiang was rested over the winter and returned to score twice at Ludlow in May 1988.
Nor were they finished. Granville and Yangtse-Kiang won four chases on the bounce during the first month of the next season, August 1988, starting with the Tom Garratt Challenge Cup at Devon & Exeter on August 3, then scoring twice at Fontwell, and finishing up with victory at Newton Abbot, carrying 12st 7lb, on August 31. Once again, however, the handicapper finally caught up with them.
Nor were they finished. Granville and Yangtse-Kiang won four chases on the bounce during the first month of the next season, August 1988, starting with the Tom Garratt Challenge Cup at Devon & Exeter on August 3, then scoring twice at Fontwell, and finishing up with victory at Newton Abbot, carrying 12st 7lb, on August 31. Once again, however, the handicapper finally caught up with them.
Unfortunately, there were no more rabbits to be plucked from Bradley’s hat and, starved of all those early season victories, Granville did not ride as many winners the following term and announced his retirement from the saddle soon after.
Unfortunately, there were no more rabbits to be plucked from Bradley’s hat and, starved of all those early season victories, Granville did not ride as many winners the following term and announced his retirement from the saddle soon after.
He died in March 2021, aged 60, following a battle against cancer.
He died in March 2021, aged 60, following a battle against cancer.