Matthew Crosse

Matthew Crosse

Article by Alan Trout

Matthew Joseph Crosse rode under National Hunt rules for several seasons and won six races. 

His first victory was at Huntingdon on December 7, 1988, when Cross The Wind, trained by former jump jockey Chris Read, took the lead at the last flight and ran on to land the Montague Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle by a length and a half. 

He had his second success at Plumpton on February 28, 1989, when Heavenly Brother was far too good for six rivals, coming home 12 lengths clear in the Coomes Selling Handicap Hurdle. Heavenly Brother was trained by Fred Gray, and he provided Matthew with his final winner of the season when Zamzam took the lead after the last and held the challenge of Adjarayn to take the John Hare Maiden Hurdle at Plumpton on Easter Monday.  

There followed a lengthy two-year spell without a win before Hats Highs, also trained by Fred Gray, finished strongly to overhaul Richard Dunwoody on Blanton Reserve and land the Quantock Handicap Hurdle at Wincanton on April 12, 1991, winning by a length and a half. 

Another two-year winless spell followed, the drought again being broken on yet another Fred Gray-trained horse when Cappuccino Girl led two out and was two and a half lengths clear at the end of the New Cross Novices’ Hurdle at Plumpton on March 5, 1993.

Having supplied all of Matthew’s winners except the first, Fred Gray was responsible for the last one of his career when Lizzie’s Lass led all the way and beat the 9/4 on favourite Coeur Buttant by a distance in the Guy Harwood’s Owners Novices’ Claiming Hurdle at Fontwell Park on August 10, 1994. Matthew did not keep the ride, nor did he add to his total of six wins, despite having more than two dozen rides during the season. 

Matthew Crosse’s winners were, in chronological order:

1. Cross The Wind, Huntingdon, December 7, 1988

2. Heavenly Brother, Plumpton, February 28, 1989

3. Zamzam, Plumpton, April 27, 1989

4. Hats High, Wincanton, April 12, 1991

5. Cappuccino Girl, Plumpton, March 1, 1993

6. Lizzie’s Lass, Fontwell Park, August 10, 1994