John Bishop

John Bishop

Article by Alan Trout 

John Charles Bishop had five victories under National Hunt rules in a career that lasted for most of the 1970s. 

Attached to the Alscot Park Stables of Charles Vernon Miller near Stratford-on-Avon, John’s first ride was on the experienced Collingwood in the Edward Elgar Handicap Chase at Worcester on August 23, 1973. He had only two rivals, one of which ran out, and he finished a decent second, beaten ten lengths, by Ron Barry on Post-Op. 

Collingwood ran 16 times that season, winning twice, but John did not ride him on either occasion and had to wait until April 29, 1976 for his first win. It came at Uttoxeter when Cartwheel came with a strong late run to overhaul Philip Blacker on Coole Abbey and the land the Darley Novices’ Handicap Chase by three-quarters of a length. Owned and trained by permit holder Major Richard Dill, the ten-year-old had been second on his last two starts so was not winning out of turn. After finishing fourth at Worcester on May 8, the pair struck again when getting the better of Bob Champion’s mount Captain George to take the Milton Novices’ Handicap Chase at Huntingdon on Whit Monday.   

John twice finished second on Cartwheel the following season but failed to register a win, his third success eventually coming at Ludlow on March 2, 1978, when Mace The Ace, trained by Steve Holland, led for most of the race and held on well to land the Border Opportunity Selling Handicap Hurdle by four lengths. The five-year-old had been ridden by his trainer in previous starts but the new combination, after finishing a close second at Southwell on March 13, went one better at the same course 12 days in the Kiskerton Opportunity Selling Handicap Hurdle, this time leading all the way to win by two lengths.

Although John and Mace The Ace could only finish a well-beaten third on their next, and final, start of the season, John did manage one more victory when Destiny Hill, also trained by Steve Holland, took the lead at the final flight and won the Armitage Handicap Hurdle at Uttoxeter on May 30 by five lengths. 

That was nearly the end of John’s riding career, although he did partner Mace The Ace one more time for his final ride, when they finished a close-up third in the Oslo Trophy Hurdle at Stratford on September 30, 1978. 

John Bishop’s winners were, in chronological order:

1. Cartwheel, Uttoxeter, April 29, 1976 

2. Cartwheel, Huntingdon, May 31, 1976

3. Mace The Ace, Ludlow, March 2, 1978

4. Mace The Ace, Southwell, March 25, 1978

5. Destiny Hill, Uttoxeter, May 30, 1978