Phil Kettle

Phil Kettle

Article by Alan Trout

Philip Kettle rode over jumps for a couple of season in the early 1970s and had one win.  His boss was former jump jockey Andrew Jarvis, and his first ride, Silanny, pulled up in the Holland Long Distance Novices’ Hurdle at Market Rasen on August 2, 1971.

Another former jump jockey, Frank Dever, was the trainer responsible for Phil’s only success when Golden Crescent took the lead approaching the final fence and ran on well to beat Satanta by five lengths and take Sheringham Maiden Chase at Fakenham on October 6, 1972. It was Phil’s first ride on the six-year-old who was making his debut over fences. At 6/1, Golden Crescent was the outsider of the four-horse field, his victory having been made easier when the 7/4 favourite Damarine was pulled up lame approaching the seventh fence.

After finishing third at Southwell three days later, the new partnership passed the post first in the Paulerspury Novices’ Chase at Towcester on October 14, only for Golden Crescent to be subsequently disqualified on technical grounds. Phil kept the ride and they had three more starts together, finishing last of three twice before falling four out when a close second at Sedgefield in December. 

Phil had about three dozen rides in that 1972/73 season but did not manage to add to his total. His final ride was when finishing tailed off on Seven Threes in the Falklands Islands Hurdle at Stratford on June 2, 1973.