Paul Abernethy

Paul Abernethy

Article by Alan Trout

Having ridden one winner on the Flat in 1968, Paul Abernethy turned his attention to the National Hunt scene and had three more victories in the early 1970s. 

Apprenticed to trainer ‘Ricky’ Vallance at Bishops Canning, in Wiltshire, his sole success on the Flat came at Newbury on May 25, 1968, when the four-year-old Zerline, owned as well as trained by Vallance, took the lead at the furlong pole and landed the London Apprentice Handicap by six lengths. Paul had five more rides on Zerline but only managed one fourth place.

His first appearance over jumps was at Taunton on December 9, 1971, when Whirlpool was unplaced in the Three-Year-Old’s Hurdle (Division 1). By now associated with the stable of Les Kennard, it was on his Gavins Story that he had his first win over obstacles when the five-year-old won the St. Marychurch Handicap Hurdle at Newton Abbot on January 21, 1972 by four lengths. 

Following a good second place at Taunton later that month, Paul and Gavins Story had their second victory when quickening on the run-in to beat Eagle’s Dare, ridden by Terry Biddlecombe, and land the Ice House Hurdle at Chepstow on March 11, scoring by four lengths. Five days later they ran in the County Hurdle at Cheltenham but were unplaced. Two more placed efforts followed before the season ended.

Paul’s final win came at Kempton Park on January 27, 1973, when the four-year-old Exedown had a comfortable victory in a match for the Sunbury Selling Hurdle, winning by ten lengths. 

He ended his career working for Buckfastleigh trainer Billy Williams and had his last ride when Kelanne fell in the Aldermaston Novices’ Chase at Newbury on February 7, 1975. It is not known whether that fall was responsible for bringing a premature end to his time as a jockey.