Graham Church

Graham Church

Article by Alan Trout

Graham Church had three winners under National Hunt rules in the early 1970s. He was associated with the stable of Richard Head in Upper Lambourn and was successful on his first ride when Mr Crinkles, owned and trained by his boss, quickened on the flat to land the Fluder Hill Opportunity Selling Handicap Hurdle at Newton Abbot on October 12, 1971 by four lengths. 

After finishing second at Wye on October 25, the pair struck again at Leicester on November 2, this time taking the Barsby Novices’ Hurdle by five lengths. Graham kept the ride on the seven-year-old for the next three starts, being placed twice.  

He then had a long wait for his third victory, which finally came at Fontwell Park on February 7, 1973. By then he was based with Stan Mellor and it was on one of his horses, King Cloud, that he scored, winning the Climping Opportunity Handicap Hurdle, coming with a strong run from the final flight to win by three-quarters of a length. 

He was placed five times in seven subsequent starts on the seven-year-old but had no further success. The last of those seven was also Graham’s final ride, when finishing second, beaten half a length by Len Griffiths on Firewatcher in the Meyrick Good Handicap Hurdle at Fontwell Park on Whit Monday, May 18, 1973.