Mark Alston

Mark Alston

Article by Alan Trout

Mark Eric Alston was a conditional jockey for his father, successful dual-purpose trainer Erice Alston, based at Edges Farm Stables, Longton, near Preston. 

He had his first ride at Hexham on October 24, 1984, when Gradwood finished a close third, beaten a length and a head, in the Bantel Bargains Conditional Jockeys’ Selling Handicap Hurdle. Next time out the four-year-old was unlucky to be one of two horses carried out in a selling chase at Sedgefield.

Mark had his initial success exactly two years after his first ride, when Marcellina, trained by his father, recorded an easy victory in the Harraby Novices’ Hurdle (Division 1) at Carlisle. Despite hitting the last two flights, the four-year-old, making her debut over jumps, scored by 20 lengths. 

Carlisle was also the venue for Mark’s second victory, albeit more than three years after his first. This time he had three lengths to spare on Coquetta, another four-year-old trained by his father, at the end of the Ambleside Novices’ Hurdle on November 3, 1989. 

He did not have to wait so long for his third success which had a familiar ring to it, for at Carlisle on January 15, 1990 the gallant Marcellina held off the strong challenge of Candlebright to win the Brampton Handicap Hurdle by half a length.  

Mark had one more success that season when Doctor Syntax beat seven rivals in the Codlawn National Hunt Flat Race at Hexham on Whit Monday. The same horse provided him with his fifth, and final, win when taking the Cross Fell National Hunt Flat Race at Carlisle on October 1, 1990. It was only by a short head that the challenge of Joason Callaghan’s mount Say Little was thwarted. They had four more starts together but only managed one fourth place.

Mark Alston’s winners were, in chronological order:

1. Marcellina, Carlisle, October 24, 1986

2. Coquetta, Carlisle, November 3, 1989

3. Marcellina, Carlisle, January 15, 1990

4. Doctor Syntax, Hexham, Hexham, May 28, 1990

5. Doctor Syntax, Carlisle, October 1, 1990