Amateur rider Edward Gundry was born on February 15, 1869. A Pembrokeshire farmer, he rode a total of 55 winners over jumps in Britain.
The best horse he owned was Olive Branch, whom he purchased a few months after he’d finished second in the 1894 National Hunt Chase, held that year at Derby. Mr Gundry went on to ride Olive Branch to victory in 13 chases
However, he achieved his greatest success when winning the 1898 National Hunt Chase, run that year at Gatwick, on Real Shamrock. Real Shamrock was a four-year-old making his racecourse debut. Bred in Ireland by Henry Linde, his sire, Primrose League, had won the 1888 Baldoyle Derby. Linde died in 1897 and Real Shamrock was sold for just 38 guineas at the dispersal sale to Harry Beasley, who trained at the Curragh. Real Shamrock was the last four-year-old to win the National Hunt Chase. He proved a major disappointment after his debut success, being placed in only two of his twelve subsequent outings.
Mr Gundry finished second in the following year’s National Hunt Chase on Pawnbroker who, like Real Shamrock, was a four-year-old making his racecourse debut.
Edward Gundry died on November 28, 1926, aged 57.