Jim Doyle
National Hunt jockey Jim Doyle was born in Ireland on January 15, 1963. He rode winners in his homeland before moving in Britain at the start of the 1984/85 season, aged 21, and joining Roger Fisher’s burgeoning Ulverston stable.
National Hunt jockey Jim Doyle was born in Ireland on January 15, 1963. He rode winners in his homeland before moving in Britain at the start of the 1984/85 season, aged 21, and joining Roger Fisher’s burgeoning Ulverston stable.
It didn’t take him long to make his mark, registering his first British success on Troilena, trained by Fisher, at Bangor-on-Dee on November 9, 1984. He won on Troilena again at Sedgefield later that month.
It didn’t take him long to make his mark, registering his first British success on Troilena, trained by Fisher, at Bangor-on-Dee on November 9, 1984. He won on Troilena again at Sedgefield later that month.
His third British success was to prove his biggest, winning the valuable L’Oreal Handicap Hurdle at Newbury aboard the Roger Fisher-trained Flarey Sark on December 29, 1984. It was his first ride at Newbury and the victory was hard-earned after a battle royal with Prideaux Boy, scraping home by a short-head.
His third British success was to prove his biggest, winning the valuable L’Oreal Handicap Hurdle at Newbury aboard the Roger Fisher-trained Flarey Sark on December 29, 1984. It was his first ride at Newbury and the victory was hard-earned after a battle royal with Prideaux Boy, scraping home by a short-head.
Jim enjoyed a successful association with Roger Fisher over the next three seasons. He rode a treble at Carlisle’s 1987 Easter Monday fixture on three of Fisher’s horses. Troilena set the ball rolling in the opening two-mile handicap chase; then Spartan Flashback landed a novices’ handicap hurdle, resulting in Jim riding out his claim; then novice chaser Run Leah Run completed the treble, becoming Jim’s first winner as a non-claimer.
Jim enjoyed a successful association with Roger Fisher over the next three seasons. He rode a treble at Carlisle’s 1987 Easter Monday fixture on three of Fisher’s horses. Troilena set the ball rolling in the opening two-mile handicap chase; then Spartan Flashback landed a novices’ handicap hurdle, resulting in Jim riding out his claim; then novice chaser Run Leah Run completed the treble, becoming Jim’s first winner as a non-claimer.
He won on Run Leah Run again at Perth three weeks later, ending the season with victory on Smart Jack, also trained by Fisher, in the Bass Handicap Hurdle at Cartmel’s Whitsun meeting.
He won on Run Leah Run again at Perth three weeks later, ending the season with victory on Smart Jack, also trained by Fisher, in the Bass Handicap Hurdle at Cartmel’s Whitsun meeting.
He left the Fisher stable the following season and began riding for a number of Midlands-based trainers such as Wilmer Mann, Mark Castell, John O’Shea, Chris Trietline and John Bukovets. He found success harder to come by, although he struck up a partnership with Wilmer Mann’s long-distance chaser Red Columbia, starting with a Southwell novice chase success at Southwell on May 8, 1988.
He left the Fisher stable the following season and began riding for a number of Midlands-based trainers such as Wilmer Mann, Mark Castell, John O’Shea, Chris Trietline and John Bukovets. He found success harder to come by, although he struck up a partnership with Wilmer Mann’s long-distance chaser Red Columbia, starting with a Southwell novice chase success at Southwell on May 8, 1988.
Jim failed to win on Red Columbia the following season but they performed well in high-class company during the early part of 1989, finishing third in Warwick’s Brooke Bond Oxo National, Haydock’s Greenall Whitley Gold Cup and Aintree’s John Hughes Memorial (Topham) Trophy.
Jim failed to win on Red Columbia the following season but they performed well in high-class company during the early part of 1989, finishing third in Warwick’s Brooke Bond Oxo National, Haydock’s Greenall Whitley Gold Cup and Aintree’s John Hughes Memorial (Topham) Trophy.
Jim rode winners for John Bukovets that 1988/89 campaign, including Tewtrell Lad at Nottingham on November 18, Honeyman at Sedgefield on January 17, and Sheer Steel at Ludlow on April 13. However, he was unable to build on that and eventually relinquished his jockey’s licence in 1991.
Jim rode winners for John Bukovets that 1988/89 campaign, including Tewtrell Lad at Nottingham on November 18, Honeyman at Sedgefield on January 17, and Sheer Steel at Ludlow on April 13. However, he was unable to build on that and eventually relinquished his jockey’s licence in 1991.