Colin Cowley

Colin Cowley

Article by Alan Trout

Colin Cowley had nine wins under National Hunt rules in the mid-1980s. He was retained by Richard Francis, who trained at Malpas in Cheshire and supplied all of Colin’s winners. 

He had his first ride on Oscar Delta, finishing eighth of 20 runners in the Amateur Riders Association National Hunt Flat Race, a contest for amateur and conditional jockeys, at Wetherby on October 12, 1983. 

Colin had happier memories of the Yorkshire course just over two years later when, on November 2, 1985, Chipped Metal led two out and ran on well to beat Dover, the mount of Jonjo O’Neill, by a length and a half at the end of the Copmanthorpe Handicap Hurdle. 

Twelve days later he enjoyed his first win over fences when Dennis Auburn beat four rivals to land the Audlem Handicap Chase at Uttoxeter. By the end of the season Colin had added four more victories, including a double at Perth. 

When the four-year-old Le Soir led all the way to score at Cartmel on August 25, it looked as if the 1986/87 season would be even better for Colin, but he then had to wait 15 months for another success.

His last win came at Uttoxeter on February 13, 1988, when Golden Redeemer proved too good for the rest of the field in the Dog & Patridge Handicap Chase, scoring by two and a half lengths. Next time out they were well in arrears when brought down at Leicester two weeks later, after which Colin had no more chances on him and few opportunities overall. 

Colin Cowley’s winners were, in chronological order:

1. Chipped Metal, Wetherby, November 2, 1985

2. Dennis Auburn, Uttoxeter, November 14, 1985

3. Alice’s Boy, Perth, April 16, 1986

4. Dennis Auburn, Perth, April 16, 1986

5. Chipped Metal, Stratford-on-Avon, May 9, 1986

6. Le Soir, Uttoxeter, May 26, 1986

7. Le Soir, Cartmel, August 25, 1986

8. Alice’s Boy, Carlisle, November 16, 1987

9. Golden Redeemer, Uttoxeter, January 13, 1988