Noel Hunter

Article by Alan Trout

Noel Hunter made a good start to his career over jumps with three wins in his first six rides, then he added another three in the next couple of years. 

He began as a conditional jockey with former jockey Jimmy Fox and had his first ride at Sandown Park on February 3, 1984, when Fortune Cookie led all the way to land the Wavendon Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle by a length and a half. 

The 12-year-old returned to the course 14 days later and again led throughout, having four lengths to spare at the end of the Cardinal Handicap Hurdle. The next Sandown meeting on March 9 saw the hat-trick achieved using the same tactics, this time landing the Oak Open Handicap Hurdle by two and a half lengths. 

Fortune Cookie, presumably by then in the grip of the handicapper, only managed one third place from three starts in the remainder of the season, but Noel did have a fourth victory when Charlemount led after the last flight to take the Leamington Novices’ Handicap Hurdle at Warwick on May 19.

Almost a year passed before Noel won again, but he did so at Newton Abbot on May 10, 1985, when Mr Attorney recorded a comfortable 12-length victory in the M & W Cash & Carry Conditional Jockeys’ Novices’ Selling Hurdle. 

The 1985/86 campaign started well with success in the Yarsop Conditional Jockeys’ Novices’ Hurdle at Hereford on the last day of August, when Canoness survived a mistake at the final flight to beat Chemist Broker by three lengths. The four-year-old never ran again, while Noel failed to add to his total despite having 20 rides that season. 

Noel Hunter’s winners were, in chronological order:

1. Fortune Cookie, Sandown Park, February 3, 1984

2. Fortune Cookie, Sandown Park, February 17, 1984

3. Fortune Cookie, Sandown Park, March 9, 1984

4. Charlemount, Warwick, May 19, 1984

5. Mr Attorney, Newton Abbot, May 10, 1985

6. Canoness, Hereford, August 31, 1985