Article by Alan Trout
Although Patrick Coleman did not ride that many winners, 14 in all between 1929 and 1940, he did enjoy some success and had three rides over the Liverpool fences, completing the course twice.
It was at Market Rasen on Easter Monday, April 1, 1929 that he opened his account when the 12-year-old Arklow won his first race for nearly four years, taking the Town Chase by ten lengths. Like several others of Patrick’s winners, Arklow was owned and trained by George Beeby.
Patrick rode the occasional winner over the next four seasons, including three on the hurdler Souvenance. He also finished third on Sanstrome in the 1932 Scottish Grand National, the race being won by Gerry Hardy on Clydesdale.
He had his first taste of Liverpool’s fearsome fences on consecutive days in November 1932. He fell on Inverse in the Grand Sefton Chase, but the following day finished fifth on Apostacy in the Molyneux Chase. Later that month he was successful on Inverse in the Coleshill Chase at Birmingham. That was to be his last win for over seven years, although he held a licence until the 1936/37 season.
When he eventually did return it was with a double at Ludlow in February 1940. He then had a final success when Albatross won the Bury Novices’ Chase at Fontwell Park by four lengths on March 5, 1940. All three of Patrick’s comeback winners were owned and trained by Kim Muir, who was tragically killed on wartime service just a few weeks later.
Patrick safely negotiated Liverpool for a second time when finishing sixth on Gowran Ranger in the Becher Chase on April 6, 1940, the last meeting at Aintree for six years. He continued to hold a licence until National Hunt racing was shut down in 1942 for the duration of the war.
Patrick Coleman’s winners were, in chronological order:
1. Arklow, Market Rasen, April 1, 1929
2. Arklow, Market Rasen, September 28, 1929
3. Supercargo, Monmouth, April 10, 1930
4. Jehu, Wolverhampton, December 26, 1930
5. Souvenance, Quorn Hunt (Loughborough), April 20, 1931
6. Souvenance, Southwell, May 9, 1931
7. Lady Margaret II, Southwell, March 26, 1932
8. Lady Margaret II, Uttoxeter, April 11, 1932
9. Jehu, Quorn Hunt (Loughborough), April 18, 1932
10. Souvenance, Southwell, April 23, 1932
11. Inverse, Birmingham, November 28, 1932
12. Gowran Ranger, Ludlow, February 29, 1940
13. Tweed II, Ludlow, February 29, 1940
14. Albatross, Fontwell Park, March 5, 1940
