Alan Juckes
Alan Juckes was born in 1971, the son of Abberley, Worcestershire trainer Rod Juckes and his wife Annette. The middle one of three brothers, Alan rode 26 winners over jumps before his career was ended by injury at the age of 21.
Alan Juckes was born in 1971, the son of Abberley, Worcestershire trainer Rod Juckes and his wife Annette. The middle one of three brothers, Alan rode 26 winners over jumps before his career was ended by injury at the age of 21.
His first success came on his father’s grey gelding Andrea’s Pride in a Uttoxeter selling hurdle on December 8, 1988. However, it was the following season, 1989/90, that proved his most successful, recording a total of 11 wins. That season saw the introduction of all-weather hurdle races, and Alan had two perfect partners in Storm Warrior and The Lighter Side, both trained by Brian Preece near Telford. Together they accounted for all bar one of Alan’s 11 winners that term, Storm Warrior winning four times at Southwell, The Lighter Side landing four at Southwell, one at Lingfield and one on grass at Bangor. His other win that season, also trained by Preece, was gained on Baluchi in a chase on Southwell’s turf course.
His first success came on his father’s grey gelding Andrea’s Pride in a Uttoxeter selling hurdle on December 8, 1988. However, it was the following season, 1989/90, that proved his most successful, recording a total of 11 wins. That season saw the introduction of all-weather hurdle races, and Alan had two perfect partners in Storm Warrior and The Lighter Side, both trained by Brian Preece near Telford. Together they accounted for all bar one of Alan’s 11 winners that term, Storm Warrior winning four times at Southwell, The Lighter Side landing four at Southwell, one at Lingfield and one on grass at Bangor. His other win that season, also trained by Preece, was gained on Baluchi in a chase on Southwell’s turf course.
Alan was in good form in the early weeks of the 1990/91 season, winning three times on his father’s selling hurdler Penllyne’s Pride and a Bangor handicap chase on Baluchi. On October 24 he won an Ascot novices’ hurdle on Sirrell Griffiths’ Three Lakes. (Griffiths had earlier that year brought off the biggest shock in the history of the Cheltenham Gold Cup by saddling 100/1 winner Norton’s Coin to beat Toby Tobias and Desert Orchid.)
Alan was in good form in the early weeks of the 1990/91 season, winning three times on his father’s selling hurdler Penllyne’s Pride and a Bangor handicap chase on Baluchi. On October 24 he won an Ascot novices’ hurdle on Sirrell Griffiths’ Three Lakes. (Griffiths had earlier that year brought off the biggest shock in the history of the Cheltenham Gold Cup by saddling 100/1 winner Norton’s Coin to beat Toby Tobias and Desert Orchid.)
Alan rode what was to prove his last winner on his father’s four-year-old hurdler Departure at Stratford on May 10, 1991. Five days later, he dislocated a shoulder in a hurdle race fall from Clwyd Lodge at Hereford. Dismissing it as a minor injury, he journeyed south and rode at Newton Abbot that evening, finishing eighth in a big field of selling hurdlers.
Alan rode what was to prove his last winner on his father’s four-year-old hurdler Departure at Stratford on May 10, 1991. Five days later, he dislocated a shoulder in a hurdle race fall from Clwyd Lodge at Hereford. Dismissing it as a minor injury, he journeyed south and rode at Newton Abbot that evening, finishing eighth in a big field of selling hurdlers.
It was only the following day that the injury became a problem. Despite Harley Street treatment and a brief comeback comprising a dozen or so rides, the shoulder failed to heal and the Jockey Club’s doctor rejected his application for a new licence.
It was only the following day that the injury became a problem. Despite Harley Street treatment and a brief comeback comprising a dozen or so rides, the shoulder failed to heal and the Jockey Club’s doctor rejected his application for a new licence.
Alan’s younger brother, Neil, had a short spell riding over jumps, achieving just one win, on Silvercross Lad in a Newton Abbot conditional jockeys’ novices’ hurdle on August 2, 1993.
Alan’s younger brother, Neil, had a short spell riding over jumps, achieving just one win, on Silvercross Lad in a Newton Abbot conditional jockeys’ novices’ hurdle on August 2, 1993.
Looking to the long-term future of training, Alan spent two months in New Zealand picking up ideas in various stables. Towards the end of 1998 he took over the licence at Worsley Racing Stables from his father, who had been troubled by prolonged ill-health. It was a spur of the moment decision. His father fancied one at Wolverhampton one night, and when it got beat, he said it was time Alan had a go himself.
Looking to the long-term future of training, Alan spent two months in New Zealand picking up ideas in various stables. Towards the end of 1998 he took over the licence at Worsley Racing Stables from his father, who had been troubled by prolonged ill-health. It was a spur of the moment decision. His father fancied one at Wolverhampton one night, and when it got beat, he said it was time Alan had a go himself.
The changeover was virtually seamless and Alan was able to bring in a couple of new owners, people he'd known in his riding days. His brother Neil, who had been his father’s assistant trainer, continued in that role and became a partner in the business and took over responsibility for the office work from his mother.
The changeover was virtually seamless and Alan was able to bring in a couple of new owners, people he'd known in his riding days. His brother Neil, who had been his father’s assistant trainer, continued in that role and became a partner in the business and took over responsibility for the office work from his mother.
The business was subsidised by his father’s 300-acre farm, which supplied not only the hay for the horses but also cheaply rented boxes and the land and maintenance equipment for the all-weather gallop and swimming pool.
The business was subsidised by his father’s 300-acre farm, which supplied not only the hay for the horses but also cheaply rented boxes and the land and maintenance equipment for the all-weather gallop and swimming pool.
Alan’s first winner as a trainer was Stretching, who short-headed a Martin Pipe-trained favourite at Taunton on February 18, 1999.
Alan’s first winner as a trainer was Stretching, who short-headed a Martin Pipe-trained favourite at Taunton on February 18, 1999.
He saddled 200-1 outsider Mantle’s Prince, part-owned by former England football star Emlyn Hughes, in 2003 Grand National. Partnered by Ollie McPhail, the horse belied his rank outsider status by running well until horse and rider parted company at Valentine’s on the second circuit.
He saddled 200-1 outsider Mantle’s Prince, part-owned by former England football star Emlyn Hughes, in 2003 Grand National. Partnered by Ollie McPhail, the horse belied his rank outsider status by running well until horse and rider parted company at Valentine’s on the second circuit.
Armed with limited material, Alan saddled his share of winners over the next few years, notably Zaffeu, who won win six all-weather races, including four out of five between January and the end of March 2008. Zaffeu’s final victory came at Southwell in February 2010.
Armed with limited material, Alan saddled his share of winners over the next few years, notably Zaffeu, who won win six all-weather races, including four out of five between January and the end of March 2008. Zaffeu’s final victory came at Southwell in February 2010.
Alan’s last winner was Novay Essjay in a Wolverhampton amateur riders’ handicap on April 9, 2011. He saddled his final runner at Bath on September 10, 2011, that being Romantic Girl, who finished 13th of the 14 runners.
Alan’s last winner was Novay Essjay in a Wolverhampton amateur riders’ handicap on April 9, 2011. He saddled his final runner at Bath on September 10, 2011, that being Romantic Girl, who finished 13th of the 14 runners.