Nicholas Hayes
Nicholas Hayes
Nicholas Hayes
Article by Alan Trout
Article by Alan Trout
Nicholas Hayes was an Irish jump jockey who rode occasionally in Britain, riding ten winners altogether, including six in 1921. He also rode in the 1921 Grand National.
Nicholas Hayes was an Irish jump jockey who rode occasionally in Britain, riding ten winners altogether, including six in 1921. He also rode in the 1921 Grand National.
His first mount in Britain was on a horse named Joe Devlin, who finished third in the Manor Chase at Gatwick on January 6, 1915, and it was the same horse on which he opened his British account 13 days later when they won the Chatham Chase at Folkestone by a short head, and then survived an objection by Jack Anthony, rider of the runner-up Chang, on the grounds of ‘bumping and boring after the final fence’.
His first mount in Britain was on a horse named Joe Devlin, who finished third in the Manor Chase at Gatwick on January 6, 1915, and it was the same horse on which he opened his British account 13 days later when they won the Chatham Chase at Folkestone by a short head, and then survived an objection by Jack Anthony, rider of the runner-up Chang, on the grounds of ‘bumping and boring after the final fence’.
Nicholas rode his second British winner on Charley May in the Selling Handicap Chase at Wye on March 16, but there was then a gap of five years before his next, largely on account of the drastically reduced scale of jump racing during the First World War.
Nicholas rode his second British winner on Charley May in the Selling Handicap Chase at Wye on March 16, but there was then a gap of five years before his next, largely on account of the drastically reduced scale of jump racing during the First World War.
He enjoyed his best year in 1921 with a score of six, three of which formed an Easter Monday treble at Cardiff, winning the Cottrill Novices’ Hurdle on Kilmoral, the Easter Handicap Chase on Fort Elizabeth, and the Glanely Novices’ Chase on Ram’s Head. All three winners were trained by former leading amateur rider Harry Ussher.
He enjoyed his best year in 1921 with a score of six, three of which formed an Easter Monday treble at Cardiff, winning the Cottrill Novices’ Hurdle on Kilmoral, the Easter Handicap Chase on Fort Elizabeth, and the Glanely Novices’ Chase on Ram’s Head. All three winners were trained by former leading amateur rider Harry Ussher.
Ten days before that Cardiff treble, Nicholas had partnered the nine-year-old Picture Saint in the Grand National, but it was a short-lived experience. Picture Saint, a 100-1 shot, was running in the race for the third time, and for the third time he fell, this time at the first fence.
Ten days before that Cardiff treble, Nicholas had partnered the nine-year-old Picture Saint in the Grand National, but it was a short-lived experience. Picture Saint, a 100-1 shot, was running in the race for the third time, and for the third time he fell, this time at the first fence.
Nicolas’s last British winner was at Warwick on January 26, 1926, when riding the odds-on favourite Bastille to victory in the Novices’ Chase. He had his final ride in England at Lingfield Park on February 10, 1928, when Aesop finished fourth in the Orpington Selling Handicap Chase.
Nicolas’s last British winner was at Warwick on January 26, 1926, when riding the odds-on favourite Bastille to victory in the Novices’ Chase. He had his final ride in England at Lingfield Park on February 10, 1928, when Aesop finished fourth in the Orpington Selling Handicap Chase.
Nicholas Hayes’ British wins were, in chronological order:
Nicholas Hayes’ British wins were, in chronological order:
1. Joe Devlin, Folkestone, January 19, 1915
1. Joe Devlin, Folkestone, January 19, 1915
2. Charley May, Wye, March 16, 1915
2. Charley May, Wye, March 16, 1915
3. Arravale, Newbury, December 30, 1920
3. Arravale, Newbury, December 30, 1920
4. Signum, Birmingham, February 15, 1921
4. Signum, Birmingham, February 15, 1921
5. Dooley Ooley, Hawthorn Hill, March 14, 1921
5. Dooley Ooley, Hawthorn Hill, March 14, 1921
6. Kilmoral, Cardiff, March 28, 1921
6. Kilmoral, Cardiff, March 28, 1921
7. Fort Elizabeth, Cardiff, March 28, 1921
7. Fort Elizabeth, Cardiff, March 28, 1921
8. Ram’s Head, Cardiff, March 28, 1921
8. Ram’s Head, Cardiff, March 28, 1921
9. Fort Elizabeth, Stratford-on-Avon, May 25, 1921
9. Fort Elizabeth, Stratford-on-Avon, May 25, 1921
10. Bastille, Warwick, January 26, 1926
10. Bastille, Warwick, January 26, 1926
At Cardiff, March 28, 1921, Nicholas Hayes landed a treble when winning on Kilmoral, Fort Elizabeth & Ram's Head.
At Cardiff, March 28, 1921, Nicholas Hayes landed a treble when winning on Kilmoral, Fort Elizabeth & Ram's Head.