Declan Jackson

Declan Jackson

Article by Alan Trout

Having ridden three winners as an amateur, including one at the Cheltenham Festival, Declan Anthony Jackson turned professional and added another four. 

He had his first success at Towcester on Easter Monday 1977 when Staccato, trained by David Morley, won the Duncote Maiden Hurdle (Division 1, Part 2), beating El Padre, the mount of Jeff King, by two lengths, with the Graham Thorner-ridden Railway City a neck further back in third. Not a bad way to start one’s career. 

However, it was not until the meeting at Warwick on December 29, 1978 that he scored again when Dutchman had a comfortable victory in the Bob Cratchit Novices’ Hurdle (Division 1). The four-year-old was trained by the redoubtable Captain Tim Forster and was having his first start over jumps. Stable jockey Graham Thorner then replaced him but Declan had one more success as an amateur, and it was an important one.

At Cheltenham on March 14, 1979, he won the Kim Muir Memorial Challenge Cup Handicap Chase on 14/1 chance Redundant Punter. The nine-year-old, trained by Captain Forster, had 12 lengths to spare over High Prospect, the mount of 7lb-claiming Peter Scudamore.

Having won one of the season’s biggest races for amateur jockeys, Declan tuned professional that summer and had his first victory in the paid ranks when Colonel Mustard scored by seven lengths in the Coventry Opportunity Handicap Chase at Worcester on September 26, but despite having some 30 rides that season he did not add to his total. 

However, he started the next season by winning the same Worcester race he had won the year before on Colonel Mustard. This time it was on the seven-year-old Saucy Coin, trained like Colonel Mustard by Captain Forster, recording an even easier victory by 25 lengths. 

He had one more success that season when Royal Potion held off the challenge of former Grand National third Rough And Tumble to take the Clanfield Opportunity Handicap Chase at Newbury on November 21. The pair were unable to follow up their success, and even their third-place finish behind Master Smudge in the valuable Golden Miller Chase at Cheltenham in April was somewhat hollow as there were only three finishers. 

Declan drew a blank in the 1981/82 season but had one final win at Fontwell Park on February 7, 1983 when Storm Prince, trained by Ian Dudgeon, beat 14 rivals to take the Selsey Novices’ Chase. One third place from two starts was the best they managed after their Fontwell victory. 

He had his last ride at Wincanton on Easter Monday, April 4, 1983, when finishing third on Gold Racer in the Amesbury Novices’ Chase, beaten a neck and eight lengths.

Declan Jackson’s wins were, in chronological order:

1. Staccato, Towcester, April 11, 1977

2. Dutchman, Warwick, December 29, 1978

3. Redundant Punter, Cheltenham, March 14, 1979

4. Colonel Mustard, Worcester, September 26, 1979

5. Saucy Coin, Worcester, September 13, 1980 

6. Royal Potion, Newbury, November 21, 1980

7. Storm Prince, Fontwell Park, February 7, 1983