Paddy Broderick

Patrick Broderick was born in West Meath on September 1, 1939, and the great hurdler Night Nurse gave him his greatest and worst moments as a jockey.

Recalling old days, Paddy said: "Night Nurse was the best by a long way. His biggest asset was that he was a brilliant jumper, and he'd pick up from outside the wings sometimes. 

"He was a great horse at a time when Bird's Nest, Dramatist and Monksfield were around, yet he beat them all. 

"He jumped so well that we gained lengths at every flight, and he was the best horse I rode in my 25 years in the game. Peter Easterby never gave me instructions, and we just sat in front pinging away. 

"It was no use giving orders for a horse like Night Nurse as he'd do what he wanted anyway and always won easily. When he was spot on he was a machine and the best Champion Hurdler that's ever been." 

Moving to England, he rode for Arthur Stephenson and rode Easby Abbey to four consecutive victories.

His best seasonal score was 50.

At Kempton, in the 1978 Christmas Hurdle, Night Nurse gave him a crashing fall. He was told that if he took one more knock on the head he'd 'be a cabbage'.

He never rode again.

His career was almost ended in 1965 when a fall at Uttoxeter left him unconscious for ten days.

He began suffering from headaches and double vision and it was quite remarkable that he was able to continue riding for a further 12 years.

Fred Winter once told Paddy that the ride he'd given Night Nurse in the Champion Hurdle was one of the best he'd seen. That meant an awful lot to Paddy.

15 years on, Winter and Paddy met up again, but in very different circumstances.

They were in Tenerife, taking a holiday organized by the Injured Jockey's Fund.

Winter had suffered a dreadful fall at his home and had been struck virtually dumb.

Paddy had ridden his first winner when aged just 14; Pipe Band at Navan on 19 June 1954. It was his first ever ride.

He once described his five-year apprenticeship with Cyril Bryce-Smith at Kells as ' half-a-crown a week, one suit in five years, and not a brain in my head'.

Paddy died in February 2020.

Biggest wins include:

1964:  Welsh Grand National - Rainbow Battle

1966:  Mackeson Gold Cup - Pawnbroker 

1975:  Fighting Fifth Hurdle - Night Nurse

1976:  Scottish Champion Hurdle - Night Nurse

1976:  Champion Hurdle - Night Nurse

1977:  Champion Hurdle - Night Nurse