Matt Hazell
Matt Hazell
Article by Alan Trout
Article by Alan Trout
Matthew Graham Hazell had perhaps as few as three rides in the 1989/90 National Hunt season but did manage to win on one of them.
Matthew Graham Hazell had perhaps as few as three rides in the 1989/90 National Hunt season but did manage to win on one of them.
He had made his debut at Wolverhampton on January 22, 1986, when pulling up three out on Keep Fighting, trained by former leading amateur rider Nick Gaselee, when well behind in the Boningale Conditional Jockeys’ Novices’ Hurdle.
He had made his debut at Wolverhampton on January 22, 1986, when pulling up three out on Keep Fighting, trained by former leading amateur rider Nick Gaselee, when well behind in the Boningale Conditional Jockeys’ Novices’ Hurdle.
The name of that horse, Keep Fighting, might have summed up Matt’s career, for he kept taking rides for the next four years without success. However, his chance finally came in the Pomfret Novices’ Chase on the Saturday of Towcester’s Easter meeting, April 14, 1990, arace that must have been a candidate for the worst of the year.
The name of that horse, Keep Fighting, might have summed up Matt’s career, for he kept taking rides for the next four years without success. However, his chance finally came in the Pomfret Novices’ Chase on the Saturday of Towcester’s Easter meeting, April 14, 1990, arace that must have been a candidate for the worst of the year.
There were only two runners, his mount being the 13-year-old veteran Prize Command, also trained by Nick Gaselee, for whom Matt rode as a conditional. Prize Command was the 6-4 on favourite despite having managed only one fourth place from six starts that season. His sole opponent, the six-year-old Tenecount, trained by Grand National-winning rider Dick Saunders and ridden by amateur Andrew Sansome, had fared no better in five starts, failing to finish in two of them.
There were only two runners, his mount being the 13-year-old veteran Prize Command, also trained by Nick Gaselee, for whom Matt rode as a conditional. Prize Command was the 6-4 on favourite despite having managed only one fourth place from six starts that season. His sole opponent, the six-year-old Tenecount, trained by Grand National-winning rider Dick Saunders and ridden by amateur Andrew Sansome, had fared no better in five starts, failing to finish in two of them.
Tenecount took the lead from the start and was soon clear but, after hitting fences seven and eight, he virtually refused at the ninth and was passed by Prize Command, who was left on his own when Tenecount again virtually refused at the eleventh fence and was pulled up.
Tenecount took the lead from the start and was soon clear but, after hitting fences seven and eight, he virtually refused at the ninth and was passed by Prize Command, who was left on his own when Tenecount again virtually refused at the eleventh fence and was pulled up.
Matt and Prize Command were thus left to come home in splendid isolation.
Matt and Prize Command were thus left to come home in splendid isolation.
It was the only occasion on which Matt rode Prize Command, who was retired after Brendan Powell pulled him up on his only start the following season.
It was the only occasion on which Matt rode Prize Command, who was retired after Brendan Powell pulled him up on his only start the following season.
