Allen McDonough
1804 -1888
1804 -1888
Irish amateur rider Allen McDonough – several sources give an alternative spelling of his name as Alan McDonogh– finished second in two Grand Nationals in the 1840s. However, according to the race’s foremost historian John Pinfold, he has legitimate claims to have won it and deserves to be recognized as such.
Irish amateur rider Allen McDonough – several sources give an alternative spelling of his name as Alan McDonogh– finished second in two Grand Nationals in the 1840s. However, according to the race’s foremost historian John Pinfold, he has legitimate claims to have won it and deserves to be recognized as such.
Allen (or Alan) McDonough (or McDonogh) was born at Wellmont, County Galway in 1804. He was only eight when his father died but by then had already made up his mind as to the path he should pursue in the future.
Allen (or Alan) McDonough (or McDonogh) was born at Wellmont, County Galway in 1804. He was only eight when his father died but by then had already made up his mind as to the path he should pursue in the future.
Weighing just eight stone, he won his first race, the Tipperary Hunt Cup, on his first ride over fences, aboard a horse named Hugo de Lacy, owned by a Mr Doolan. When he was sixteen he won a steeplechase at Loughrea on a mare called Gulnare, whom he also owned. Later on, he won the Ormond Cup four years running.
Weighing just eight stone, he won his first race, the Tipperary Hunt Cup, on his first ride over fences, aboard a horse named Hugo de Lacy, owned by a Mr Doolan. When he was sixteen he won a steeplechase at Loughrea on a mare called Gulnare, whom he also owned. Later on, he won the Ormond Cup four years running.
It has become accepted as fact that the first Liverpool Grand National was in 1839, when won by Lottery – a handy marketing name to use for promotional purposes in order to emphasize the race’s unpredictability. However, in his 1999 book ‘Gallant Sport’ John Pinfold has proven conclusively that that is not the case and that the first Grand National, or equivalent thereof, was actually in 1836 when won by The Duke, ridden by Captain Martin Becher.
It has become accepted as fact that the first Liverpool Grand National was in 1839, when won by Lottery – a handy marketing name to use for promotional purposes in order to emphasize the race’s unpredictability. However, in his 1999 book ‘Gallant Sport’ John Pinfold has proven conclusively that that is not the case and that the first Grand National, or equivalent thereof, was actually in 1836 when won by The Duke, ridden by Captain Martin Becher.
The Grand National honours board at Aintree, located in the County Stand, states for the 1837 and 1838 renewals: “The above two races were run over a course at Maghull.” John Pinfold notes that, in T.H. Bird’s book ‘A Hundred Grand Nationals’, published in 1939, the author attempts to get round the problem by suggesting that although these races started and finished at Aintree, they may have crossed into neighbouring Maghull.
The Grand National honours board at Aintree, located in the County Stand, states for the 1837 and 1838 renewals: “The above two races were run over a course at Maghull.” John Pinfold notes that, in T.H. Bird’s book ‘A Hundred Grand Nationals’, published in 1939, the author attempts to get round the problem by suggesting that although these races started and finished at Aintree, they may have crossed into neighbouring Maghull.
However, as John observes, having studied maps of that time, to do so would have been impractical, given that the only ways it could have been achieved involved “either by going round the back of the stands and following the main Liverpool to Ormskirk road to the bridge by the Old Roan, or by turning on to the Melling Road and crossing the canal at Anchor Bridge. In either case, they would then have to race across about a mile of marshy ground and cross the River Alt before reaching Maghull itself.”
However, as John observes, having studied maps of that time, to do so would have been impractical, given that the only ways it could have been achieved involved “either by going round the back of the stands and following the main Liverpool to Ormskirk road to the bridge by the Old Roan, or by turning on to the Melling Road and crossing the canal at Anchor Bridge. In either case, they would then have to race across about a mile of marshy ground and cross the River Alt before reaching Maghull itself.”
All available evidence, which includes John’s assiduous study of maps and race reports, therefore points conclusively to the 1836, 1837 and 1838 Liverpool Steeplechases having taken place solely at Aintree. Which is where Allen McDonough – or Alan McDonogh – enters the story.
All available evidence, which includes John’s assiduous study of maps and race reports, therefore points conclusively to the 1836, 1837 and 1838 Liverpool Steeplechases having taken place solely at Aintree. Which is where Allen McDonough – or Alan McDonogh – enters the story.
He had his first ride over the Aintree fences on The Disowned in the 1837 Grand National, the winner that year again being The Duke ridden on that occasion by Cheshire farmer Henry Potts. Having been prominent early, The Disowned faded in the closing stages.
He had his first ride over the Aintree fences on The Disowned in the 1837 Grand National, the winner that year again being The Duke ridden on that occasion by Cheshire farmer Henry Potts. Having been prominent early, The Disowned faded in the closing stages.
There is another inaccuracy with that Aintree honours board. While it correctly shows The Duke winning again in 1837, it lists the name of 1838 winner as Sir Henry, ridden by Tom Olliver. However, this is also wrong. According to John Pinfold, “all contemporary sources, are agreed that the winner was Sir William, ridden by his owner Alan McDonogh. Moreover, none of them lists any horse called Sir Henry as having run at the meeting; nor does Tom Olliver appear to have been riding there. The evidence seems conclusive, and it is high time the official record was amended and Sir William and Alan McDonogh given their proper due.”
There is another inaccuracy with that Aintree honours board. While it correctly shows The Duke winning again in 1837, it lists the name of 1838 winner as Sir Henry, ridden by Tom Olliver. However, this is also wrong. According to John Pinfold, “all contemporary sources, are agreed that the winner was Sir William, ridden by his owner Alan McDonogh. Moreover, none of them lists any horse called Sir Henry as having run at the meeting; nor does Tom Olliver appear to have been riding there. The evidence seems conclusive, and it is high time the official record was amended and Sir William and Alan McDonogh given their proper due.”
There were only three runners in that 1838 Grand National, in which Sir William and his owner-rider won “easily by about 40 yards” (according to the race report) from Scamp with The Duke a well-beaten last of three. Sir William was thus the first Irish horse and Allen the first Irish jockey to win the Grand National. To make the day complete, he won both heats of the following hurdle race on The Disowned.
There were only three runners in that 1838 Grand National, in which Sir William and his owner-rider won “easily by about 40 yards” (according to the race report) from Scamp with The Duke a well-beaten last of three. Sir William was thus the first Irish horse and Allen the first Irish jockey to win the Grand National. To make the day complete, he won both heats of the following hurdle race on The Disowned.
Alan finished fifth on The Nun, after remounting, in the 1839 Grand National. He then finished second two years running, firstly on Arthur in 1840, again after remounting, and then on Cigar in 1840, beaten a length by Charity.
Alan finished fifth on The Nun, after remounting, in the 1839 Grand National. He then finished second two years running, firstly on Arthur in 1840, again after remounting, and then on Cigar in 1840, beaten a length by Charity.
He fell on Nimrod in the 1844 Grand National and also Mameluke in 1846. He finished last of the six finishers on Mr Preston’s good mare Brunette in 1847, his final ride in the race.
He fell on Nimrod in the 1844 Grand National and also Mameluke in 1846. He finished last of the six finishers on Mr Preston’s good mare Brunette in 1847, his final ride in the race.
Away from Aintree, he won the 1841 Dunchurch Chase on Cigar. Another good horse he rode was Roderick Random, on whom he won the 1841 Warwick Chase and the 1842 Worcester Grand Annual, which that year was given the alternative title of the Royal Birthday Handicap Chase. He won the Worcester Grand Annual for a second time in 1846, this time on Brunette, on whom he on more than 20 races.
Away from Aintree, he won the 1841 Dunchurch Chase on Cigar. Another good horse he rode was Roderick Random, on whom he won the 1841 Warwick Chase and the 1842 Worcester Grand Annual, which that year was given the alternative title of the Royal Birthday Handicap Chase. He won the Worcester Grand Annual for a second time in 1846, this time on Brunette, on whom he on more than 20 races.
In his later years, Alan McDonough, who habitually wore a black scarf when riding, “liked to recount anecdotes of the old time, told in a rich Galway brogue”. He died at his residence in Park Gate Street, Dublin on May 12, 1888, aged 84. As John Pinfold records,” he was mourned as one of the most elegant horsemen ever to be seen in the saddle.”
In his later years, Alan McDonough, who habitually wore a black scarf when riding, “liked to recount anecdotes of the old time, told in a rich Galway brogue”. He died at his residence in Park Gate Street, Dublin on May 12, 1888, aged 84. As John Pinfold records,” he was mourned as one of the most elegant horsemen ever to be seen in the saddle.”
His brother, William, won the 1840 St Albans Chase on Vandyke. He rode in seven Grand Nationals between 1839 and 1847 but never succeeded in completing the course.
His brother, William, won the 1840 St Albans Chase on Vandyke. He rode in seven Grand Nationals between 1839 and 1847 but never succeeded in completing the course.