Embedded Files
Chris Heywood
Chris Heywood
Article by Alan Trout
Article by Alan Trout
Christopher Paul Heywood rode a couple of winners in the 1980s, one over hurdles, one in a bumper.
Christopher Paul Heywood rode a couple of winners in the 1980s, one over hurdles, one in a bumper.
A conditional jockey with Peter Cundell, Chris made his race-riding debut at Newbury on March 23, 1985, when the five-year-old Sheer Steel finished third, beaten a total of ten and a half lengths, in the Lambourn Trainers N.H. Flat Race.
A conditional jockey with Peter Cundell, Chris made his race-riding debut at Newbury on March 23, 1985, when the five-year-old Sheer Steel finished third, beaten a total of ten and a half lengths, in the Lambourn Trainers N.H. Flat Race.
While Sheer Steel went on to win again next time out under Simon Cowley, Chris had to wait until the meeting at Wincanton on January 9, 1986 for his first success. The nine-year-old Sweetcal, trained by Peter Cundell, ran on well to land the S.P. Pattemore Conditional Jockeys’ Selling Handicap Hurdle by two lengths.
While Sheer Steel went on to win again next time out under Simon Cowley, Chris had to wait until the meeting at Wincanton on January 9, 1986 for his first success. The nine-year-old Sweetcal, trained by Peter Cundell, ran on well to land the S.P. Pattemore Conditional Jockeys’ Selling Handicap Hurdle by two lengths.
There was a long gap before his other victory, but it finally came at Chepstow on December 5, 1987, when Ryde Again just got the better of a battle with the favourite Rymster to land the Corinthian Supreme N.H. Flat Race by a head.
There was a long gap before his other victory, but it finally came at Chepstow on December 5, 1987, when Ryde Again just got the better of a battle with the favourite Rymster to land the Corinthian Supreme N.H. Flat Race by a head.
The four-year-old went on to win his next two starts, ridden by other jockeys, but Chris did have one more chance on him, finishing unplaced in the E.B.F. Novices’ Handicap Hurdle Final at Cheltenham on April 20, 1988. That appears to have been his last mount, but he did at least bow out with two winners to his credit and a final ride at the headquarters of jump racing.
The four-year-old went on to win his next two starts, ridden by other jockeys, but Chris did have one more chance on him, finishing unplaced in the E.B.F. Novices’ Handicap Hurdle Final at Cheltenham on April 20, 1988. That appears to have been his last mount, but he did at least bow out with two winners to his credit and a final ride at the headquarters of jump racing.
Ryde Again was one of those ‘nearly horses’, fractionally below top class but hammered with top weights in handicaps. He was placed in several valuable hurdle races including runner-up to Floyd in Ascot’s Long Walk Hurdle and third in Cheltenham’s Coral Hurdle Final.
Ryde Again was one of those ‘nearly horses’, fractionally below top class but hammered with top weights in handicaps. He was placed in several valuable hurdle races including runner-up to Floyd in Ascot’s Long Walk Hurdle and third in Cheltenham’s Coral Hurdle Final.
Transferred to Jenny Pitman and put over fences, Ryde Again rattled up three novice chase victories in the 1991/92 campaign, then in January 1993 finished second to Sabin Du Loir in Wincanton’s John Bull Chase before landing a valuable handicap chase at Cheltenham later that month. In February 1994, by then an 11-year-old, he finished second to stablemate and former Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Garrison Savannh at Wincanton.
Transferred to Jenny Pitman and put over fences, Ryde Again rattled up three novice chase victories in the 1991/92 campaign, then in January 1993 finished second to Sabin Du Loir in Wincanton’s John Bull Chase before landing a valuable handicap chase at Cheltenham later that month. In February 1994, by then an 11-year-old, he finished second to stablemate and former Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Garrison Savannh at Wincanton.
He ended his racing days running in hunter chases for trainer Caroline Saunders, finishing sixth in the 1995 Cheltenham Foxhunters. In March 1996 he won a Leicester hunter chase ridden by Ben Pollock, concluding his long career two months later by finishing third in the Rover Championship Hunters’ Chase Final at Cheltenham.
He ended his racing days running in hunter chases for trainer Caroline Saunders, finishing sixth in the 1995 Cheltenham Foxhunters. In March 1996 he won a Leicester hunter chase ridden by Ben Pollock, concluding his long career two months later by finishing third in the Rover Championship Hunters’ Chase Final at Cheltenham.
Sweetcal, Chris Heywood’s first winner
Ryde Again, Chris' second winner
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse