Tom Greenall
Born on November 6, 1984, Thomas Edward Greenall is the eldest of four former race-riding brothers, the others being Oliver, Toby and Jake. With his father Peter Greenall (now Lord Daresbury) and uncle Johnny both having been champion amateur riders, Tom was always going to try to follow their lead.
Born on November 6, 1984, Thomas Edward Greenall is the eldest of four former race-riding brothers, the others being Oliver, Toby and Jake. With his father Peter Greenall (now Lord Daresbury) and uncle Johnny both having been champion amateur riders, Tom was always going to try to follow their lead.
The preparation started when aged 14 when Tom intended to spend his winter holidays riding out for Chris Grant. It was, however, a very frosty year and without an all-weather gallop, there were few opportunities to learn the trade. But a conversation with Mick Easterby offered a solution, so Tom re-routed to Sheriff Hutton to begin his racing education.
The preparation started when aged 14 when Tom intended to spend his winter holidays riding out for Chris Grant. It was, however, a very frosty year and without an all-weather gallop, there were few opportunities to learn the trade. But a conversation with Mick Easterby offered a solution, so Tom re-routed to Sheriff Hutton to begin his racing education.
Although he had grown up around horses, the transition to thoroughbreds took a while to adjust to and he admits himself that it was slow progress. However, three years later, his first ride came in the Middleton Hunt race at Whitwell-on-the-Hill. Substituting for Jacqueline Coward, who had suffered an injury, Double Rich was not only Tom’s first ride, but also his first win.
Although he had grown up around horses, the transition to thoroughbreds took a while to adjust to and he admits himself that it was slow progress. However, three years later, his first ride came in the Middleton Hunt race at Whitwell-on-the-Hill. Substituting for Jacqueline Coward, who had suffered an injury, Double Rich was not only Tom’s first ride, but also his first win.
However, Tom’s main interest was in the professional field and he saw his initial pointing mounts as the way to improve to a standard where he could ride competitively in National Hunt amateur races and against professionals once he had obtained his category B licence.
However, Tom’s main interest was in the professional field and he saw his initial pointing mounts as the way to improve to a standard where he could ride competitively in National Hunt amateur races and against professionals once he had obtained his category B licence.
But it was on the Flat that he recorded his first success under rules, when aged 17, in an amateur riders’ race at Pontefract on August 7, 2002, guiding the Mick Easterby-trained gelding Gudlage to a convincing victory.
But it was on the Flat that he recorded his first success under rules, when aged 17, in an amateur riders’ race at Pontefract on August 7, 2002, guiding the Mick Easterby-trained gelding Gudlage to a convincing victory.
Over jumps, he cites Middlethorpe, on whom he won twice over hurdles at Wetherby in 2004, as one of the best horses he rode under rules, along with Sikander A Azam on whom he won two point-to-points and two hunter chases.
Over jumps, he cites Middlethorpe, on whom he won twice over hurdles at Wetherby in 2004, as one of the best horses he rode under rules, along with Sikander A Azam on whom he won two point-to-points and two hunter chases.
Tom proved so successful in the saddle that he was crowned champion amateur National Hunt rider in 2004/05 and again in 2006/07. He finished second, one win behind Nick Scholfield, in 2007/08.
Tom proved so successful in the saddle that he was crowned champion amateur National Hunt rider in 2004/05 and again in 2006/07. He finished second, one win behind Nick Scholfield, in 2007/08.
He rode 150-1 outsider Glenelly Gale, owned by his father Lord Daresbury, in the 2005 Grand National. The pair raced prominently throughout and made most of the running on the first circuit before Tom pulled up his weary mount three from home.
He rode 150-1 outsider Glenelly Gale, owned by his father Lord Daresbury, in the 2005 Grand National. The pair raced prominently throughout and made most of the running on the first circuit before Tom pulled up his weary mount three from home.
Nor was that his sole experience of the Grand National fences, for he gained his most important success wearing his father’s light and dark blue colours on the 11-year-old Trust Fund, trained by Richard Barber, in the 2009 Aintree Fox Hunters’ Chase. They followed that by winning the Champion Hunters’ Chase at Cheltenham in May.
Nor was that his sole experience of the Grand National fences, for he gained his most important success wearing his father’s light and dark blue colours on the 11-year-old Trust Fund, trained by Richard Barber, in the 2009 Aintree Fox Hunters’ Chase. They followed that by winning the Champion Hunters’ Chase at Cheltenham in May.
By that time, he had a full-time job and was less able to commit to weekday rides. Thus, he finished riding under rules and restricted himself to point-to-points and launched a bid for the national leading point-to-point rider title, previously won by his brother Oliver.
By that time, he had a full-time job and was less able to commit to weekday rides. Thus, he finished riding under rules and restricted himself to point-to-points and launched a bid for the national leading point-to-point rider title, previously won by his brother Oliver.
Having achieved that aim, Tom decided to call time on his riding career in June 2013. He commented that his biggest regret was that the four brothers didn’t all ride in a race together.
Having achieved that aim, Tom decided to call time on his riding career in June 2013. He commented that his biggest regret was that the four brothers didn’t all ride in a race together.
In July 2020, Tom Greenall was appointed chief executive officer (CEO) of Bespoke Hotels, being tasked with steering the acquisition of Shearings Hotels and reopening after coronavirus.
In July 2020, Tom Greenall was appointed chief executive officer (CEO) of Bespoke Hotels, being tasked with steering the acquisition of Shearings Hotels and reopening after coronavirus.
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