Frank Chapman

Frank Chapman

Article by Alan Trout

National Hunt jockey Frank David Chapman rode mine winners in the early 1950s, achieving a best score of six in the 1952/53 season. He seemed to have a talent for getting the best out of veteran chasers.

His first success was at Plumpton on January 24, 1951 when Tight Knight, trained by Ken Cundell, won the Ringmer Handicap Chase for novice riders by a short head from Rum Chicken, the mount of Tony Keen. That was Frank’s only win of the season.

His second win was a little easier when 12-year-old Fighting Line, also trained by Ken Cundell, won the Glanely Handicap Chase at Chepstow on October 6, 1951. Again, that was Frank’s sole success of the season.

It was mid-December before he got off the mark for the 1952/53 campaign, when Fighting Line, by now nearing 14 years old, won the Mickey Bouncer Handicap Chase at Wincanton, beating the 15-8 favourite Irish Lizard, ridden by Michael Scudamore, by a short head. They won again at Newbury the following month and followed up over the same course in March.

Another veteran was Freddy Fox, owned and trained at Compton by George Beeby. Freddy Fox had been a decent chaser earlier in his career, though just short of top-class, when owned by Lord Bicester. Now 14 years old, he still retained enough ability to provide Frank with victories in the Chandler Chase at Warwick on February and the Poplar Hawk Handicap Chase at Kempton in March.

Fighting Line was Frank’s last winner when taking the Challacombe Handicap Chase at Newton Abbot on September 6, 1953, beating Tea Captain, six years his junior, by four lengths.

Frank held a licence until the 1954/55 season, his final ride being when finishing a long last of four finishers on Peros in the Wimbledon Handicap Chase at Kempton November 24, 1954.

Frank Chapman’s winners were, in chronological order:

1. Tight Knight, Plumpton, January 24, 1951

2. Fighting Line, Chepstow, October 6, 1951

3. Fighting Line, Wincanton, December 18, 1952

4. Fighting Line, Newbury, January 21, 1953

5. Kilcullen Bridge, Kempton Park, January 24, 1953

6. Freddy Fox, Warwick, February 3, 1953

7. Fighting Line, Newbury, February 18, 1953

8. Freddy Fox, Kempton Park, March 11, 1953

9. Fighting Line, Newton Abbot, September 4, 1953