Michael Cronin

Michael Cronin

Article by Alan Trout

Michael John Cronin rode under National Hunt rules for less than a year and had two wins within the space of five days.

A conditional with former jump jockey Paddy Butler, he had his first ride at Towcester on April 2, 1983, when The Totm fell at the seventh fence in the Pomfret Novices’ Chase at Towcester. He fared better at Fontwell Park on Whit Monday, May 30, when Mr Linnet finished second, beaten a length by Christine Young on Miss Sadler. 

The next season could not have started better, for in the second race of the new campaign, on Saturday, July 30, 25/1 outsider Rising Sovereign, trained by Paddy Butler, led from the start and easily landed the Alphington Selling Handicap Hurdle at Newton Abbot, giving Michael his first success.

Five days later the combination went to Devon & Exeter and followed up, the winning margin at the end of the Summer Selling Handicap Hurdle being ten lengths. 

The bid for hat-trick ended in a last-flight fall at Newton Abbot on August 30 when well beaten. Three subsequent starts for the pair were equally disappointing.

Michael had his final ride at Towcester on February 14, 1984, when Star Whistler finished seventh of 17 starters in the Conduit Stud Novices’ Hurdle, having led until the third last flight.