Ken Hartnett
National Hunt jockey Ken Hartnett had a fleeting but successful association with British racing as a 7lb claiming conditional in the early 1990s, riding for London-based trainer Andrew Reid.
National Hunt jockey Ken Hartnett had a fleeting but successful association with British racing as a 7lb claiming conditional in the early 1990s, riding for London-based trainer Andrew Reid.
Reid, a solicitor and judge by profession, trained at Mill Hill Stables. His yard comprised a mix of both Flat horses and jumpers, among them a chaser named David’s Duky.
Reid, a solicitor and judge by profession, trained at Mill Hill Stables. His yard comprised a mix of both Flat horses and jumpers, among them a chaser named David’s Duky.
If Ken Hartnett was a relative unknown, then so was David’s Duky. A winner over hurdles in Ireland, he’d begun the 1991/92 season by finishing last of four finishers in a Doncaster novices’ chase under Brendan Powell and then pulling up with Graham Bradley in a Wolverhampton claiming chase. Next time out, Ken rode him for the first time, when he was optimistically pitched into the Warwick National in January. Even though he was set to carry just 9st 7lb with Ken’s 7lb claim, David’s Duky was understandably dismissed as a 200-1 no-hoper. However, he belied those odds by finishing a creditable third behind Woodgate and Cool Ground, the latter destined to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup just two months later.
If Ken Hartnett was a relative unknown, then so was David’s Duky. A winner over hurdles in Ireland, he’d begun the 1991/92 season by finishing last of four finishers in a Doncaster novices’ chase under Brendan Powell and then pulling up with Graham Bradley in a Wolverhampton claiming chase. Next time out, Ken rode him for the first time, when he was optimistically pitched into the Warwick National in January. Even though he was set to carry just 9st 7lb with Ken’s 7lb claim, David’s Duky was understandably dismissed as a 200-1 no-hoper. However, he belied those odds by finishing a creditable third behind Woodgate and Cool Ground, the latter destined to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup just two months later.
Marathon trips were evidently what David’s Duky needed. Back at Warwick the following month, Ken rode him in the George Coney Challenge Cup, run over the same trip as the Warwick National, three miles four furlongs and 180 yards. Sent off at 25-1, and with Ken’s 7lb claim again reducing his weight to 9st 7lb, David’s Duky proved that his Warwick National effort had been no fluke by galloping clear to score by 12 lengths, despite hitting the last fence.
Marathon trips were evidently what David’s Duky needed. Back at Warwick the following month, Ken rode him in the George Coney Challenge Cup, run over the same trip as the Warwick National, three miles four furlongs and 180 yards. Sent off at 25-1, and with Ken’s 7lb claim again reducing his weight to 9st 7lb, David’s Duky proved that his Warwick National effort had been no fluke by galloping clear to score by 12 lengths, despite hitting the last fence.
Eleven days later, February 15, 1992, they lined up for the four-mile one-furlong Eider Chase at Newcastle (below). Again, with Ken’s 7lb claim, David’s Duky had a mere 9st 7lb to carry. Backed down to 16-1 this time, Ken sent him to the front three fences from home and, surviving another last fence blunder, they held on gamely to resist the challenge of Just So on the run-in and win by half a length. The horse’s improvement in form had been little sort of astounding.
Eleven days later, February 15, 1992, they lined up for the four-mile one-furlong Eider Chase at Newcastle (below). Again, with Ken’s 7lb claim, David’s Duky had a mere 9st 7lb to carry. Backed down to 16-1 this time, Ken sent him to the front three fences from home and, surviving another last fence blunder, they held on gamely to resist the challenge of Just So on the run-in and win by half a length. The horse’s improvement in form had been little sort of astounding.
Next stop was the Greenall’s Gold Cup at Haydock two weeks later. This time, against a far higher grade of competition which included Cool Ground, Kildimo, Twin Oaks and Party Politics, the outcome was not a successful one. David’s Duky was beginning to toil when blundering and unseating Ken at the thirteenth fence.
Next stop was the Greenall’s Gold Cup at Haydock two weeks later. This time, against a far higher grade of competition which included Cool Ground, Kildimo, Twin Oaks and Party Politics, the outcome was not a successful one. David’s Duky was beginning to toil when blundering and unseating Ken at the thirteenth fence.
A fortnight later, Ken rode David’s Duky in the four-mile Midlands National at Uttoxeter. A mistake at the sixteenth fence ended their chance and they were tailed off when pulling up five fences later. That was their last race together.
A fortnight later, Ken rode David’s Duky in the four-mile Midlands National at Uttoxeter. A mistake at the sixteenth fence ended their chance and they were tailed off when pulling up five fences later. That was their last race together.
David’s Duky was not seen on a racecourse again for over a year, being trained then by John White. By that time, Ken Hartnett had also taken his leave of British racing.
David’s Duky was not seen on a racecourse again for over a year, being trained then by John White. By that time, Ken Hartnett had also taken his leave of British racing.
As for Andrew Reid, he went on to saddle more than 175 winners under the two codes, with the likes of Eccentric winning nine times, including in Group 3 company at Windsor, between 2004 and 2005 before being sold to race abroad. Andrew eventually relinquished his licence in 2014.
As for Andrew Reid, he went on to saddle more than 175 winners under the two codes, with the likes of Eccentric winning nine times, including in Group 3 company at Windsor, between 2004 and 2005 before being sold to race abroad. Andrew eventually relinquished his licence in 2014.