Des Briscoe 

Desmond Brian Briscoe was born on January 30, 1943. He served his apprenticeship with Harvey Leader and, having ridden no winners on the Flat as an apprentice, scored the first win of his career under National Hunt rules, aged 22, on Chu-Teh, trained by Ken Cundell, in the three-mile Leicester Handicap Hurdle at Leicester on February 15, 1965. 

He rode more than 50 winners between the mid-1960s and mid-1970s without ever reaching double figures for a season, his best score being nine in 1971/72.

He achieved his biggest success when still a 3lb claimer aboard Chenonceaux, also trained by  Ken Cundell, in the Oteley Hurdle at Sandown Park on February 11, 1967, beating Jeff King’s mount Sir Thopas by two and a half lengths.  

Also that season he rode former St Leger winner Aurelius in all his three starts, finishing third in Wincanton’s Kingwell Hurdle, seventh in Newbury’s Schweppes Gold Trophy, and then coming in second, beaten four lengths by Saucy Kit, in the Champion Hurdle, only to be disqualified after veering on the run-in and hampering the Queen Mother’s runner Makaldar on the run-in. Makaldar finished third but was promoted to second place, while Aurelius was demoted out of the frame. 

Des Briscoe died on July 2, 2025, aged 82.