Jean Daumas
Jean Daumas
Jean Daumas
1930 - 2001
1930 - 2001
Horses trained in France enjoyed plenty of success in major British Flat races during the immediate post-war years. So too did French hurdlers prosper, particularly in the early years of Hurst Park’s Triumph Hurdle, which, restricted to four-year-olds, was among the most valuable hurdle races of the season. .
Horses trained in France enjoyed plenty of success in major British Flat races during the immediate post-war years. So too did French hurdlers prosper, particularly in the early years of Hurst Park’s Triumph Hurdle, which, restricted to four-year-olds, was among the most valuable hurdle races of the season. .
Indeed, French-trained runners won five of the first seven renewals of the Triumph Hurdle, which, following Hurst Park’s closure in 1962, now forms part of the Cheltenham Festival.
Indeed, French-trained runners won five of the first seven renewals of the Triumph Hurdle, which, following Hurst Park’s closure in 1962, now forms part of the Cheltenham Festival.
First run in 1939 when won by French raider Grey Talk, the second Triumph Hurdle did not take place until 1950 as Hurst Park had not been used for jump racing after the war until the end of 1949. Abrupto won that second running, trained by Edward Diggle at Maisons-Laffitte and ridden by Roger Mantelin. French horses won the next two renewals, then after British-trained runners had won in 1953 and 1954, Kwannin gave France a fifth victory in 1955, partnered by Pierre Delfarguiel.
First run in 1939 when won by French raider Grey Talk, the second Triumph Hurdle did not take place until 1950 as Hurst Park had not been used for jump racing after the war until the end of 1949. Abrupto won that second running, trained by Edward Diggle at Maisons-Laffitte and ridden by Roger Mantelin. French horses won the next two renewals, then after British-trained runners had won in 1953 and 1954, Kwannin gave France a fifth victory in 1955, partnered by Pierre Delfarguiel.
French raiders won other races too. The three-year-old Mercury IV, trained in France for the Marquis de Portago, won races at Newbury and Hurst Park in the closing weeks of 1951 under rider Robert Obry. One or two French jockeys did well here too, most notably eight-time French champion jump jockey Bobby Bates, and Rene Emery, whose major successes included a brace of Imperial Cups and Cheltenham’s Mildmay of Flete and Cotswold Chases.
French raiders won other races too. The three-year-old Mercury IV, trained in France for the Marquis de Portago, won races at Newbury and Hurst Park in the closing weeks of 1951 under rider Robert Obry. One or two French jockeys did well here too, most notably eight-time French champion jump jockey Bobby Bates, and Rene Emery, whose major successes included a brace of Imperial Cups and Cheltenham’s Mildmay of Flete and Cotswold Chases.
French-trained chasers were not seen quite as often as the hurdlers, although the sporting Marquis de Portago finished third on his own horse Garde Toi in the 1950 Cheltenham Gold Cup and was brought down at the Canal Turn in that year’s Grand National; Le Drole, ridden by Roger Obry, finished last of six in the 1951 King George VI Chase; and Imposant took part in the 1961 Grand National, ridden by his owner, Mr Roger Couetil.
French-trained chasers were not seen quite as often as the hurdlers, although the sporting Marquis de Portago finished third on his own horse Garde Toi in the 1950 Cheltenham Gold Cup and was brought down at the Canal Turn in that year’s Grand National; Le Drole, ridden by Roger Obry, finished last of six in the 1951 King George VI Chase; and Imposant took part in the 1961 Grand National, ridden by his owner, Mr Roger Couetil.
France’s leading jump jockey around that time was Jean Daumas. He had won France’s premier chase, the Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris on the James de Rothschild-owned Xanthor in 1959 and did so again aboard Cousin Pons for trainer Max Bonaventure in 1961. In 1962 he was instrumental in helping Fred Winter steer Mandarin to his historic Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris triumph despite the horse’s bit snapping under its rubber covering as early as the fourth fence.
France’s leading jump jockey around that time was Jean Daumas. He had won France’s premier chase, the Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris on the James de Rothschild-owned Xanthor in 1959 and did so again aboard Cousin Pons for trainer Max Bonaventure in 1961. In 1962 he was instrumental in helping Fred Winter steer Mandarin to his historic Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris triumph despite the horse’s bit snapping under its rubber covering as early as the fourth fence.
As Winter recalled in the biography ‘Mr Grand National’ by David Hedges: “By the time that we came to the first bend, several of the French jockeys had realised the jam I was in. Daumas, who was on my outside on Taillefer, actually helped me round the first bend. He was about half a neck behind me and he swung Taillefer in so that the pressure of his horse and my own efforts got him round.”
As Winter recalled in the biography ‘Mr Grand National’ by David Hedges: “By the time that we came to the first bend, several of the French jockeys had realised the jam I was in. Daumas, who was on my outside on Taillefer, actually helped me round the first bend. He was about half a neck behind me and he swung Taillefer in so that the pressure of his horse and my own efforts got him round.”
That selfless act had its reward on September 19, 1963, when Jean Daumas won the Somerset Chase at Wincanton by a neck on L’Empereur, beating the useful Caduval, ridden by the good amateur jockey and future leading trainer Ian Balding. L’Empereur was trained in France by Paul Péraldi, who had himself ridden four winners in England in the mid-1950s.
That selfless act had its reward on September 19, 1963, when Jean Daumas won the Somerset Chase at Wincanton by a neck on L’Empereur, beating the useful Caduval, ridden by the good amateur jockey and future leading trainer Ian Balding. L’Empereur was trained in France by Paul Péraldi, who had himself ridden four winners in England in the mid-1950s.
Three unsuccessful outings followed, including the Massey-Ferguson Gold Cup, won by Tos Taaffe on Limeking, before L’Empereur and Jean Daumas lined up in the 1964 Grand National. Although prominent early, they gradually faded and pulled up at Valentine’s on the second circuit.
Three unsuccessful outings followed, including the Massey-Ferguson Gold Cup, won by Tos Taaffe on Limeking, before L’Empereur and Jean Daumas lined up in the 1964 Grand National. Although prominent early, they gradually faded and pulled up at Valentine’s on the second circuit.
While L’Empereur returned to Aintree a year later and finished sixth under his intrepid amateur pilot John Ciechanowski, Jean Daumas remained in France, where he partnered one of the greatest French chasers of all time, Hyeres III, to three successive Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris victories in 1964, ’65 and ’66 for trainer Léon Gaumondy.
While L’Empereur returned to Aintree a year later and finished sixth under his intrepid amateur pilot John Ciechanowski, Jean Daumas remained in France, where he partnered one of the greatest French chasers of all time, Hyeres III, to three successive Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris victories in 1964, ’65 and ’66 for trainer Léon Gaumondy.
L’Empereur’s Wincanton success of September 1963 was the last time a horse trained in France won a steeplechase in Britain for 24 years, until Nupsala’s shock victory under André Pommier in the 1987 King George VI Chase.
L’Empereur’s Wincanton success of September 1963 was the last time a horse trained in France won a steeplechase in Britain for 24 years, until Nupsala’s shock victory under André Pommier in the 1987 King George VI Chase.
And while French jockeys once rode successfully in Britain, English jockeys James Reveley and Felix de Giles are now doing well in France, the latter having been crowned the country’s champion jump jockey in 2023.
And while French jockeys once rode successfully in Britain, English jockeys James Reveley and Felix de Giles are now doing well in France, the latter having been crowned the country’s champion jump jockey in 2023.
Jean Daumas & Hyères lll upset the odds-on favourite at Wincanton in September 1963
Jean Daumas on his triple Grand Steeple-Chase de Paris winner Hyères lll
