Colin Jones

Colin Jones

Article by Alan Trout

All six of the winners ridden by Colin Ian Jones in the early 1970s were trained by Arthur Jones, who had scored such a notable victory when Merry Deal triumphed in the 1957 Champion Hurdle.

Colin made his debut when Sunset Hour was unplaced in a field of 24 for the Oxley Novices’ Hurdle (Division 1) at Wolverhampton on February 13, 1971. He rode his first winner on 16/1 chance Zuccami at Kelso on April 25, 1972, beating 24 others to land the Sunlaws Novices’ Hurdle (Division 1). It was only by a head that the eight-year-old, having his first run of the season, prevailed. Colin kept the ride for the next two starts which ended with one fourth place and a fall. 

At Carlisle on May 4, Colin finished second on 7/2 favourite Bud in the Eskdale Novices’ Hurdle (Division 2), beaten four lengths by Tommy Stack on the second favourite Bella Bambino. However, the stewards decreed that the winner had hampered the runner-up at the last flight and was duly disqualified, giving Colin his second winner. 

The third did not come until the closing days of the following season. At Uttoxeter on May 28, 1973 the nine-year-old Jackie Little just got the better of Timandamus to take the Kingston Opportunity Handicap Hurdle by a head. 

That was Colin’s only win from over two dozen rides that season but the 1973/74 campaign saw him achieve three victories. The first of these was at Southwell on August 11, when Jackie Little beat Cash And Run by four lengths in the Popular Handicap Hurdle. Back at the same course 17 days later the pairing had an even bigger margin of victory, beating three rivals to take the Whitemoor Handicap Hurdle by six lengths. 

Jackie Little ran a dozen more times that season, only managing one third place, but Colin had one more success when Drive On Joe came with a strong run to lead near the line in the Sunnyside Opportunity Selling Handicap Hurdle at Hexham on October 18. Two further rides on the 12-year-old yielded one third place. 

One of Colin’s last rides was at Uttoxeter on May 27, 1974, when Crimson Carpet was pulled up at halfway in the Kingstone Opportunity Handicap Hurdle. He then trained for a while, based at Oswestry, in Shropshire. 

Colin Jones’ wins were, in chronological order:

1. Zuccami, Kelso, April 25, 1972

2. Bud, Carlisle, May 4, 1972

3. Jackie Little, Uttoxeter, May 28, 1973

4. Jackie Little, Southwell, August 11, 1973

5. Jackie Little, Southwell, August 28, 1973

6. Drive On Joe, Hexham, October 11, 1973