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Article by Chris Pitt
Article by Chris Pitt
Northern jump jockey John Conleth Michael Doyle was born in 1943, the son of Wetherby trainer Tony Doyle, who came from a famous Irish racing family. A successful jockey and one of five Doyle brothers all riding at the same time, Tony had ridden his first winner on Chesmint in an apprentices’ race at the Curragh on April 20, 1927 and moved to England seven years later to ride over jumps for Bobby Renton. He had one ride in the Grand National, on Limestone Edward in 1946, completing the course last of just six to get round in the 34-runner field. He continued riding until 1954.
Northern jump jockey John Conleth Michael Doyle was born in 1943, the son of Wetherby trainer Tony Doyle, who came from a famous Irish racing family. A successful jockey and one of five Doyle brothers all riding at the same time, Tony had ridden his first winner on Chesmint in an apprentices’ race at the Curragh on April 20, 1927 and moved to England seven years later to ride over jumps for Bobby Renton. He had one ride in the Grand National, on Limestone Edward in 1946, completing the course last of just six to get round in the 34-runner field. He continued riding until 1954.
John was apprenticed to Sam Armstrong on the Flat before graduating to jumping. He rode his first winner on his father’s novice hurdler Lingate at his local track, Wetherby, on November 14, 1964. He waited almost two years before his second, the Alf Smith-trained Blackhall, also at Wetherby, on October 15, 1966, his only winner of that season.
John was apprenticed to Sam Armstrong on the Flat before graduating to jumping. He rode his first winner on his father’s novice hurdler Lingate at his local track, Wetherby, on November 14, 1964. He waited almost two years before his second, the Alf Smith-trained Blackhall, also at Wetherby, on October 15, 1966, his only winner of that season.
Another lengthy wait ensued before he rode his next, Steve Norton’s three-mile chaser Wave-On in the George Mulcaster Memorial Cup at Sedgefield on January 5, 1969, but then three more came before the end of the season: his father’s four-year-old selling hurdler Redlands at Haydock on March 7; Wave-On at Southwell on April 5; and Charlie Hall’s hurdler Design at Market Rasen on May 31.
Another lengthy wait ensued before he rode his next, Steve Norton’s three-mile chaser Wave-On in the George Mulcaster Memorial Cup at Sedgefield on January 5, 1969, but then three more came before the end of the season: his father’s four-year-old selling hurdler Redlands at Haydock on March 7; Wave-On at Southwell on April 5; and Charlie Hall’s hurdler Design at Market Rasen on May 31.
From then on his winners became more frequent, achieving a score of nine for the 1969/70 campaign. Tony Gillam’s novice chaser Royal Charity set the ball rolling by winning at Southwell at 50-1 and Cheltenham in September; Taffy Williams’ novice chaser John Collins won at Teesside Park on October 11; as did Steve Norton’s juvenile hurdler Inca Lily at Southwell two days later; George Vergette’s useful chaser King Of Diamonds won at Uttoxeter in December; so did Harry Blackshaw’s novice hurdler Mi Lu at Newcastle in January; and Tony Doyle’s Roslevin rounded off the season in style by winning novice chases at Wetherby, Southwell and Newcastle in May.
From then on his winners became more frequent, achieving a score of nine for the 1969/70 campaign. Tony Gillam’s novice chaser Royal Charity set the ball rolling by winning at Southwell at 50-1 and Cheltenham in September; Taffy Williams’ novice chaser John Collins won at Teesside Park on October 11; as did Steve Norton’s juvenile hurdler Inca Lily at Southwell two days later; George Vergette’s useful chaser King Of Diamonds won at Uttoxeter in December; so did Harry Blackshaw’s novice hurdler Mi Lu at Newcastle in January; and Tony Doyle’s Roslevin rounded off the season in style by winning novice chases at Wetherby, Southwell and Newcastle in May.
The 1971/72 season started well enough with an early season strike on his father’s novice chaser Vincetor at Worcester on August 24 but it was otherwise relatively quiet by comparison with what had gone before, having to wait until April 3 before his next victory on Cyril Alexander’s hurdler Pandorana at Kelso. His only other winner that term came on his father’s selling hurdler Aberfylde at Southwell on May 29.
The 1971/72 season started well enough with an early season strike on his father’s novice chaser Vincetor at Worcester on August 24 but it was otherwise relatively quiet by comparison with what had gone before, having to wait until April 3 before his next victory on Cyril Alexander’s hurdler Pandorana at Kelso. His only other winner that term came on his father’s selling hurdler Aberfylde at Southwell on May 29.
But fortune smiled on him in 1971/72 when he rode a career-best ten winners, kicked off by Roslevin who won a pair of two-mile chases at Teesside Park and Wetherby in October and another at Nottingham in November. George Vergette put John on a couple of useful winners, hurdler Honest Lawyer at Leicester in December and chaser Gin Fizz at Huntingdon in March. He rode a Boxing Day double at Wetherby on Denis Yeoman’s selling chaser Wainstones and Mick Easterby’s handicap hurdler French Legend. He won twice on Doncaster trainer Eddie
But fortune smiled on him in 1971/72 when he rode a career-best ten winners, kicked off by Roslevin who won a pair of two-mile chases at Teesside Park and Wetherby in October and another at Nottingham in November. George Vergette put John on a couple of useful winners, hurdler Honest Lawyer at Leicester in December and chaser Gin Fizz at Huntingdon in March. He rode a Boxing Day double at Wetherby on Denis Yeoman’s selling chaser Wainstones and Mick Easterby’s handicap hurdler French Legend. He won twice on Doncaster trainer Eddie
Magner’s novice hurdler Sandowner, at Doncaster in January and Wetherby in February, while Worksop permit holder Ben Bealby chipped in with novice chaser Fairfield Boy (right) at Doncaster on February 28.
Magner’s novice hurdler Sandowner, at Doncaster in January and Wetherby in February, while Worksop permit holder Ben Bealby chipped in with novice chaser Fairfield Boy (right) at Doncaster on February 28.
The 1972/73 campaign also got off to a promising start with victory on a pair of novice chasers, George Vergette’s Concord II at Southwell on August 29 and his father’s Aberfylde on October 21, and then he went through the card at Catterick on December 30 – well, sort of. He won the first race on Eddie Magner’s selling chaser John’s Key and the remainder of the programme was abandoned because of fog.
The 1972/73 campaign also got off to a promising start with victory on a pair of novice chasers, George Vergette’s Concord II at Southwell on August 29 and his father’s Aberfylde on October 21, and then he went through the card at Catterick on December 30 – well, sort of. He won the first race on Eddie Magner’s selling chaser John’s Key and the remainder of the programme was abandoned because of fog.
There was just one winner to show for the 1973/74 season, his father’s juvenile hurdler Longridge Spur at Kelso on October 6; none the next, then only one in 1975/76, albeit in a decent race, aboard Lady Herries’ 20-1 outsider Another Fred in the Scottish Borders’ Novices’ Chase at Kelso on April 3, 1976.
There was just one winner to show for the 1973/74 season, his father’s juvenile hurdler Longridge Spur at Kelso on October 6; none the next, then only one in 1975/76, albeit in a decent race, aboard Lady Herries’ 20-1 outsider Another Fred in the Scottish Borders’ Novices’ Chase at Kelso on April 3, 1976.
The 1976/77 season brought an early victory on Tony Doyle’s novice chase Donadelloe at Southwell on August 7 but only two more followed, and the numbers dwindled further over the subsequent seasons as John began to take an ever increasing role in the running of his father’s stable, spurning outside rides.
The 1976/77 season brought an early victory on Tony Doyle’s novice chase Donadelloe at Southwell on August 7 but only two more followed, and the numbers dwindled further over the subsequent seasons as John began to take an ever increasing role in the running of his father’s stable, spurning outside rides.
After having trained at Wetherby for 22 years, Tony Doyle retired in January 1980 and handed over to John, who continued to ride as well as train. He made a good start to his training career with three winners within a fortnight, the first in his own name being when riding Precious Petra to victory in a Haydock selling hurdle on February 29, 1980. His second trainer/rider success came at Catterick just five days later on Slaney Kid, and then Precious Petra won again at Sedgefield on March 11.
After having trained at Wetherby for 22 years, Tony Doyle retired in January 1980 and handed over to John, who continued to ride as well as train. He made a good start to his training career with three winners within a fortnight, the first in his own name being when riding Precious Petra to victory in a Haydock selling hurdle on February 29, 1980. His second trainer/rider success came at Catterick just five days later on Slaney Kid, and then Precious Petra won again at Sedgefield on March 11.
Son Of Des, in a Southwell selling hurdle on Thursday, January 15, 1981, was one of John’s last as a jockey. He continued riding and training for a few more years before giving up both aspects in 1987.
Son Of Des, in a Southwell selling hurdle on Thursday, January 15, 1981, was one of John’s last as a jockey. He continued riding and training for a few more years before giving up both aspects in 1987.
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