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John Neil Daniell was born on November 14, 1921, and rode 40 winners under Rules.
John Neil Daniell was born on November 14, 1921, and rode 40 winners under Rules.
His family had long farmed in the Berkeley Hunt country of Gloucestershire. His father kept a variety of horses on the farm: hunters, hirelings, liveries, some to sell and some to race.
His family had long farmed in the Berkeley Hunt country of Gloucestershire. His father kept a variety of horses on the farm: hunters, hirelings, liveries, some to sell and some to race.
It was racing which, along with hunting, became John’s enduring passion and he went on to become one of the very best riders in point-to-points and hunter chases. He twice won Liverpool Foxhunters’ Chase, on Mervyn Fear’s good horses April Queen (1960) and Aerial III (1964), the latter when he was 42 years old.
It was racing which, along with hunting, became John’s enduring passion and he went on to become one of the very best riders in point-to-points and hunter chases. He twice won Liverpool Foxhunters’ Chase, on Mervyn Fear’s good horses April Queen (1960) and Aerial III (1964), the latter when he was 42 years old.
Out of hunter chase company, he rode a good horse named Sea Net (shown in action with John at Hurst Park), on whom he won a Cheltenham novices’ chase in December 1952 and a Worcester novices’ hurdle in November 1953.
Out of hunter chase company, he rode a good horse named Sea Net (shown in action with John at Hurst Park), on whom he won a Cheltenham novices’ chase in December 1952 and a Worcester novices’ hurdle in November 1953.
Probably the best he rode was Gay Roger, winning four hunter chases on him in 1957 including the United Hunts Challenge Cup Chase at Cheltenham’s National Hunt Meeting. Another decent performer was Saint Columkille, who won hunter chases at Taunton and Wincanton in 1958.
Probably the best he rode was Gay Roger, winning four hunter chases on him in 1957 including the United Hunts Challenge Cup Chase at Cheltenham’s National Hunt Meeting. Another decent performer was Saint Columkille, who won hunter chases at Taunton and Wincanton in 1958.
John dominated Wincanton’s Easter Monday feature, the Pat Ruthven and Guy Nixon Memorial Gold Vase Hunters’ Chase, between 1951 and 1962, winning it six times on Polly’s Pride (1951, 1952), Gay Roger (1957), April Queen (1958, 1960) and Madam Alligator (1962).
John dominated Wincanton’s Easter Monday feature, the Pat Ruthven and Guy Nixon Memorial Gold Vase Hunters’ Chase, between 1951 and 1962, winning it six times on Polly’s Pride (1951, 1952), Gay Roger (1957), April Queen (1958, 1960) and Madam Alligator (1962).
Between the flags, he was twice champion point-to-point rider and between 1956 and 1970, riding for Lucy Jones’s stable, he dominated point-to-point ‘classic’, the Worcestershire Hunt’s Lady Dudley Cup, winning it four times, finishing second five times and third once. In 1961, when he was leading rider, he won both divisions of the Lady Dudley Cup on the same day with Flippant Lad (a horse which had been denerved after suffering pedalostitis) and Corn Star (pictured, being led in after the race by Lucy Jones).
Between the flags, he was twice champion point-to-point rider and between 1956 and 1970, riding for Lucy Jones’s stable, he dominated point-to-point ‘classic’, the Worcestershire Hunt’s Lady Dudley Cup, winning it four times, finishing second five times and third once. In 1961, when he was leading rider, he won both divisions of the Lady Dudley Cup on the same day with Flippant Lad (a horse which had been denerved after suffering pedalostitis) and Corn Star (pictured, being led in after the race by Lucy Jones).
He also won several good races on Bartlemy Boy, including the four-mile Lord Ashton of Hyde’s Cup in 1969, and the 1968 Players Gold Leaf Trophy Hunter Chase Final at Newbury, (below) his last winner under National Hunt Rules.
He also won several good races on Bartlemy Boy, including the four-mile Lord Ashton of Hyde’s Cup in 1969, and the 1968 Players Gold Leaf Trophy Hunter Chase Final at Newbury, (below) his last winner under National Hunt Rules.
After hanging up his racing boots and saddle, he became a respected judge of hunter shows and trials.
After hanging up his racing boots and saddle, he became a respected judge of hunter shows and trials.
John Daniell died in September, 2013 aged 91.
John Daniell died in September, 2013 aged 91.
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