Walter Bland

Walter Bland

Article by Alan Trout

Walter John Bland rode two winners over jumps in the 1950s. His first success was at Wincanton on January 25, 1952, when Coastal Cutter won the Juvenile Hurdle, beating 18 rivals. Trained by Arthur Budgett, the four-year-old had run only once before over hurdles but showed that his Wincanton effort was no fluke by finishing second in a novices’ hurdle at Warwick next time out with Walter aboard. By the time Coastal Cutter won another race, in March 1953, he had moved yards and was trained by Neville Crump. 

Walter had to wait until January 22, 1955, for his second, and last, win, when Eastbury, trained by John Barratt, was a half-length winner of the Abingdon Handicap Hurdle at Newbury. Eastbury had won a race at Newton Abbot earlier in the season when ridden by Michael Scudamore, but Walter had partnered him since and had twice been placed. 

Walter Bland relinquished his licence after the 1955/56 season, whereas Eastbury went on winning races, the last of them as a 15-year-old in April 1960, when landing an Easter Monday selling hurdle at Wincanton.