Neville Hill
Neville Thomas Hill was apprenticed to Willie Stephenson at Royston. He rode his first winner on Gaiety Lady, trained by Cliff Beechener, in the Autumn Apprentice Maiden Stakes at Leicester on November 8, 1955.
Neville Thomas Hill was apprenticed to Willie Stephenson at Royston. He rode his first winner on Gaiety Lady, trained by Cliff Beechener, in the Autumn Apprentice Maiden Stakes at Leicester on November 8, 1955.
He rode four winners from 55 mounts in 1956, all trained by Stephenson, the first of them being on No Road in a Pontefract maiden handicap. The others were gained in apprentice races, twice on Perhaps So at Alexandra Park and Beverley, the other at Leicester on Farmer’s Boy, who would progress to become a decent hurdler, winning the 1960 Imperial Cup in the hands of David Nicholson.
He rode four winners from 55 mounts in 1956, all trained by Stephenson, the first of them being on No Road in a Pontefract maiden handicap. The others were gained in apprentice races, twice on Perhaps So at Alexandra Park and Beverley, the other at Leicester on Farmer’s Boy, who would progress to become a decent hurdler, winning the 1960 Imperial Cup in the hands of David Nicholson.
Neville had put up 1lb overweight at 7st 7lb for that winning ride on Farmer’s Boy so it is possible that weight was already becoming an issue. Nonetheless, he rode another four winners from just 18 mounts in 1957. Indeed, he was leading jockey for half an hour when riding Perhaps So to land the Apprentices’ Handicap over the straight mile at Lincoln on March 25, the first race of the new season.
Neville had put up 1lb overweight at 7st 7lb for that winning ride on Farmer’s Boy so it is possible that weight was already becoming an issue. Nonetheless, he rode another four winners from just 18 mounts in 1957. Indeed, he was leading jockey for half an hour when riding Perhaps So to land the Apprentices’ Handicap over the straight mile at Lincoln on March 25, the first race of the new season.
Six months elapsed before Neville doubled his tally for the year by winning a Kempton apprentices’ handicap on the Stephenson-trained Scotch Leave. Later that month he rode a winner on each of the first two days of Yarmouth’s three-day September fixture: Master of Boyden in an apprentices’ nursery handicap and Scotch Leave in a six-furlong seller. Those were his last winners on the Flat.
Six months elapsed before Neville doubled his tally for the year by winning a Kempton apprentices’ handicap on the Stephenson-trained Scotch Leave. Later that month he rode a winner on each of the first two days of Yarmouth’s three-day September fixture: Master of Boyden in an apprentices’ nursery handicap and Scotch Leave in a six-furlong seller. Those were his last winners on the Flat.
His apprenticeship over, Neville stayed with Willie Stephenson, chiefly as a work rider. He took out a National Hunt jockey’s licence for the 1958/59 season and rode one winner from 20 mounts, that being on the odds-on favourite Lintlaw in a long-distance handicap hurdle at Nottingham on December 8, 1958. He renewed his licence the following season but rode no more winners.
His apprenticeship over, Neville stayed with Willie Stephenson, chiefly as a work rider. He took out a National Hunt jockey’s licence for the 1958/59 season and rode one winner from 20 mounts, that being on the odds-on favourite Lintlaw in a long-distance handicap hurdle at Nottingham on December 8, 1958. He renewed his licence the following season but rode no more winners.
His winners were, in chronological order.
His winners were, in chronological order.
1. Gaiety Lady, Leicester, November 8, 1955
1. Gaiety Lady, Leicester, November 8, 1955
2. No Road, Pontefract, April 15, 1956
2. No Road, Pontefract, April 15, 1956
3. Perhaps So, Alexandra Park, July 9, 1956
3. Perhaps So, Alexandra Park, July 9, 1956
4. Perhaps So, Beverley, August 15, 1956
4. Perhaps So, Beverley, August 15, 1956
5. Farmer’s Boy, Leicester, November 13, 1956
5. Farmer’s Boy, Leicester, November 13, 1956
6. Perhaps So, Lincoln, March 25, 1957
6. Perhaps So, Lincoln, March 25, 1957
7. Scotch Leave, Kempton Park, September 6, 1957
7. Scotch Leave, Kempton Park, September 6, 1957
8. Master of Boyden, Yarmouth, September 17, 1957
8. Master of Boyden, Yarmouth, September 17, 1957
9. Scotch Leave, Yarmouth, September 18, 1957
9. Scotch Leave, Yarmouth, September 18, 1957
10. Lintlaw, Nottingham, December 8, 1958.
10. Lintlaw, Nottingham, December 8, 1958.