Ken Comerford

Ken Comerford

Article by Alan Trout

Having ridden four winners as an amateur, Kenneth Christopher Comerford turned professional and added another four.

His first success came at Plumpton on March 30, 1990, when Quai D’Orsay came through to lead at the final flight and land the Lewes Handicap Hurdle for amateur riders by four lengths. The five-year-old showed major improvement, having failed to complete on his three previous starts. They finished last on their only subsequent outing together at the same course 17 days later. 

Ken drew a blank the following season but fared better in 1991/92 when the six-year-old staying hurdler Brave Setanta won three times in the space of 32 days. Like Quai D’Orsay, Brave Setanta was trained by Finbarr O’Mahoney.

Ken eventually turned professional and rode as a conditional for John White, and it was on his selling hurdler Norstock that he had his first three victories in the paid ranks. White also supplied Ken’s last winner when Aahsaylad beat Latour and eleven others by a distance in the Riding Mill Novices’ Hurdle at Hexham on March 18, 1993. Brian Clifford took over and won on the seven-year-old next time out, whereas Ken had few further opportunities. 

Ken Comerford’s winners were, in chronological order:

1. Quai D’Orsay, Plumpton, March 30, 1990

2. Brave Setanta, Hereford, August 24, 1991

3. Brave Setanta, Worcester, September 13, 1991

4. Brave Setanta, Ludlow, September 25, 1991

5. Norstock, Chepstow, January 26, 1993

6. Norstock, Uttoxeter, January 29, 1993

7. Norstock, Towcester, February 16, 1993

8. Aahsaylad, Hexham, March 18, 1993