Glynn Mills

Glenn Mills

Article by Alan Trout

Glenn Mills had four winners over hurdles, starting with Nagari, who led at various stages and survived a mistake at the last to regain the lead on the run-in and land the Edenbridge Opportunity Handicap Hurdle at Lingfield Park on February 28, 1979. The ten-year-old was trained by Peter Cundell and owned hy his father Ken. It was third time Glenn had ridden Nagari that season, having finished third on both previous starts. 

More than a year elapsed before Glenn scored again, but at Warwick on May 17, 1980 he had a comfortable victory on Princess Naman, landing the Barford Opportunity Selling Hurdle by five lengths. (Coincidentally, an apprentice named G. Mills – presumably no relation – had won a Flat race at Thirsk just 75 minutes earlier.)  

The gap before a third win was even longer, reward for perseverance finally paying off when Crown Jules was ridden out to land the Crediton Opportunity Handicap Hurdle at Devon & Exeter on the last day of May 1982.

He did not have to wait so long for his fourth, and final, victory. It came at Worcester on October 9, 1982, when Welciana, trained like his other winners by Peter Cundell, led soon after halfway and held on to win the Excelsior Novices’ Selling Hurdle by two lengths. 

He had his last ride at Towcester on Easter Monday, April 4, 1983, when Big Apple was a faller in the Shutlanger Novices’ Chase. It is not known whether that spill was directly responsible for ending his race-riding career. 

Glenn Mills’ winners were, in chronological order:

1. Nagari, Lingfield Park, February 28, 1979

2. Princess Naman, Warwick, May 17, 1980

3. Crown Jules, Devon & Exeter, May 31, 1982

4. Welciana, Worcester, October 9, 1982