Neil Leach
Neil Leach
Article by Alan Trout
Article by Alan Trout
Having ridden one winner on the Flat, Neil Richard Leach turned his attention to the National Hunt Flat scene and recorded a further 16 victories. .
Having ridden one winner on the Flat, Neil Richard Leach turned his attention to the National Hunt Flat scene and recorded a further 16 victories. .
Apprenticed to trainer David Chapman, his first win came at Catterick on March 26, 1986, when Jane’s Brave Boy led two furlongs out and finished two and a half lengths clear at the end of the Springtime Apprentice Handicap. Neil was aboard for five of the 12 races Jane’s Brave Boy had that season but was not placed in any of them.
Apprenticed to trainer David Chapman, his first win came at Catterick on March 26, 1986, when Jane’s Brave Boy led two furlongs out and finished two and a half lengths clear at the end of the Springtime Apprentice Handicap. Neil was aboard for five of the 12 races Jane’s Brave Boy had that season but was not placed in any of them.
He had a few rides the following season but from thereon his main focus was over jumps, with a first win coming at Carlisle on Easter Monday 1989 when Home To Roost recorded a comfortable victory in the BBC Radio Cumbria Handicap Hurdle, beating Senator Snugfit by 12 lengths.
He had a few rides the following season but from thereon his main focus was over jumps, with a first win coming at Carlisle on Easter Monday 1989 when Home To Roost recorded a comfortable victory in the BBC Radio Cumbria Handicap Hurdle, beating Senator Snugfit by 12 lengths.
Neil had only one more success in the next two years but the winners came a little more frequently when joining leading trainer Gordon W. Richards as a conditional jockey.
Neil had only one more success in the next two years but the winners came a little more frequently when joining leading trainer Gordon W. Richards as a conditional jockey.
It look as though he would be in for a good campaign when riding Palm House to victory at Bangor-on-Dee in the first race of the 1992/93 campaign, but he only managed four more wins by the end of it, although they did include a double at Ayr.
It look as though he would be in for a good campaign when riding Palm House to victory at Bangor-on-Dee in the first race of the 1992/93 campaign, but he only managed four more wins by the end of it, although they did include a double at Ayr.
His final success came at Hexham on May 25, 1986, when Robara, trained by John Leadbetter, won, as Chaseform put it, “a very moderate contest” when taking the Federation Brewery Novices’ Hurdle at Hexham on May 25, 1996. The four-year-old just got the better of a battle with Crashballoo to score by three-quarters of a length. Neil had been in the saddle for the gelding’s six previous starts that season, with one third place being their best performance. They fared no better in the 1996/97 season with four unplaced efforts.
His final success came at Hexham on May 25, 1986, when Robara, trained by John Leadbetter, won, as Chaseform put it, “a very moderate contest” when taking the Federation Brewery Novices’ Hurdle at Hexham on May 25, 1996. The four-year-old just got the better of a battle with Crashballoo to score by three-quarters of a length. Neil had been in the saddle for the gelding’s six previous starts that season, with one third place being their best performance. They fared no better in the 1996/97 season with four unplaced efforts.
As well as being Neil’s last winner, Robara was also his final ride, pulling up when well behind at Ayr on November 16, 1997.
As well as being Neil’s last winner, Robara was also his final ride, pulling up when well behind at Ayr on November 16, 1997.
Neil Leach’s winners were, in chronological order:
Neil Leach’s winners were, in chronological order:
1. Jane’s Brave Boy, Catterick Bridge, March 26, 1986
1. Jane’s Brave Boy, Catterick Bridge, March 26, 1986
2. Home To Roost, Carlisle, March 27, 1989
2. Home To Roost, Carlisle, March 27, 1989
3. Incense, Kelso, December 3, 1990
3. Incense, Kelso, December 3, 1990
4. Lord Rinus, Hexham, May 4, 1991
4. Lord Rinus, Hexham, May 4, 1991
5. Pinemartin, Kelso, October 19, 1991
5. Pinemartin, Kelso, October 19, 1991
6. Pinemartin, Catterick Bridge, November 25, 1991
6. Pinemartin, Catterick Bridge, November 25, 1991
7. River Pearl, Hexham, April 25, 1992
7. River Pearl, Hexham, April 25, 1992
8. Hagler, Hexham, April 27, 1992
8. Hagler, Hexham, April 27, 1992
9. Hagler, Sedgefield, May 5, 1992
9. Hagler, Sedgefield, May 5, 1992
10. Palm House, Bangor-on-Dee, July 31, 1992
10. Palm House, Bangor-on-Dee, July 31, 1992
11. Damanour, Bangor-on-Dee, August 15, 1992
11. Damanour, Bangor-on-Dee, August 15, 1992
12. Jock’s Burn, Hexham, October 2, 1992
12. Jock’s Burn, Hexham, October 2, 1992
13. Jock’s Burn, Ayr, October 10, 1992
13. Jock’s Burn, Ayr, October 10, 1992
14., River Pear, Ayr, October 10, 1992
14., River Pear, Ayr, October 10, 1992
15. Pinemartin, Ayr, October 9, 1993
15. Pinemartin, Ayr, October 9, 1993
16. Band Sergeant, Leicester, February 17, 1994
16. Band Sergeant, Leicester, February 17, 1994
17, Robara, Hexham, May 25, 1996
17, Robara, Hexham, May 25, 1996
