Robert Chandler

Robert Chandler

Article by Alan Trout

Robert Chandler rode one winner as a 19-year-old apprentice on the Flat in 1966 and emulated that achievement over jumps five years later. He also finished fourth on a future Grand National winner. 

Born in in Gloucester in 1947, he was apprenticed to George Todd at Manton and had his first victory at Goodwood on September 12, 1966, when the seven-year-old I Claudius took the lead just inside the furlong pole and easily won the Rookwood Apprentices’ Handicap by five lengths. Geoff Baxter was runner-up on Royal Ridge, while other future successful jockeys in the race were Tony Murray and Graham Sexton. Robert did not keep the ride and had no further joy on the Flat.

He joined Captain Tim Forster’s stable and had his first attempt under National Hunt rules at Taunton on November 27, 1969, when finishing fourth on Well To Do in the Mendip Handicap Hurdle. Less than 18 months later that horse would win the Grand National under Graham Thorner.

Robert, meanwhile, had the occasional ride, finally getting off the mark at Warwick on August 28, 1971, when Tide Mark was an easy winner of the Hopeful Selling Hurdle, beating Abertay by 15 lengths. The five-year-old, owned and trained by Captain Forster, never ran again.

Just six weeks after Well To Do had won the Grand National, Robert had what proved to be his final ride at Huntingdon on Whit Monday, May 29, 1972, when the blinkered grey Dolge Orlick finished a remote fifth of seven finishers in the Buckden Selling Handicap Chase.