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Amateur rider Henry Wright Marples – also known as Hugh Marples – was a prominent point-to-point jockey who rode a dozen winners under National Hunt rules.
Amateur rider Henry Wright Marples – also known as Hugh Marples – was a prominent point-to-point jockey who rode a dozen winners under National Hunt rules.
The first of those came in a dead-heat on Shahrastani – no, not the Derby winner of that name, this one was trained by Eddie Magner – sharing the spoils with Michael Scudamore’s mount Taller in a Leicester selling hurdle on November 23, 1964. His next winner was Kirtleside at Catterick on January 16, 1965. Indeed, he went close to registering a quick-fire double that day, finishing second on Brooks Road in the next race on the card.
The first of those came in a dead-heat on Shahrastani – no, not the Derby winner of that name, this one was trained by Eddie Magner – sharing the spoils with Michael Scudamore’s mount Taller in a Leicester selling hurdle on November 23, 1964. His next winner was Kirtleside at Catterick on January 16, 1965. Indeed, he went close to registering a quick-fire double that day, finishing second on Brooks Road in the next race on the card.
In April 1966 he rode Major Guy Cunard’s good hunter chaser Puddle Jumper to victory in the Clive Hunters’ Challenge Cup at Cheltenham, the first of three winners he had that season.
In April 1966 he rode Major Guy Cunard’s good hunter chaser Puddle Jumper to victory in the Clive Hunters’ Challenge Cup at Cheltenham, the first of three winners he had that season.
One of his regular mounts was the three-mile chaser Dorenco, owned and trained by Frank Coton at Epperstone, near Nottingham. Hugh rode him many times but only won on him once, at Market Rasen in September 1966. The following month he won on Major Cunard’s grand 15-year-old servant Vindicated at Newcastle. The month after that, again at Newcastle, he scored on the Noel Kusbish-trained Georgetown, who later that season would go on to win Liverpool’s Topham Trophy.
One of his regular mounts was the three-mile chaser Dorenco, owned and trained by Frank Coton at Epperstone, near Nottingham. Hugh rode him many times but only won on him once, at Market Rasen in September 1966. The following month he won on Major Cunard’s grand 15-year-old servant Vindicated at Newcastle. The month after that, again at Newcastle, he scored on the Noel Kusbish-trained Georgetown, who later that season would go on to win Liverpool’s Topham Trophy.
Hugh won again on the remarkable Vindicated, who was by now 17, landing a Huntingdon selling chase on Whit Monday 1968. Second in that race was 15-year-old Bright Lancer, third was 13-year-old Sandy Sadler, fourth came 14-year-old Laird o’ Montrose, meaning the combined ages of the first four horses was 59 years!
Hugh won again on the remarkable Vindicated, who was by now 17, landing a Huntingdon selling chase on Whit Monday 1968. Second in that race was 15-year-old Bright Lancer, third was 13-year-old Sandy Sadler, fourth came 14-year-old Laird o’ Montrose, meaning the combined ages of the first four horses was 59 years!
Some two-and-a-half years elapsed before he rode another winner under NH rules, that being on Guy Cunard’s horse Bob Robert in a Catterick amateur riders’ novices’ hurdle in December 1970. Then came victory on Alf Watson’s Avonduet in an amateur riders’ novices’ chase at Market Rasen in January 1971. What proved to be his last success under rules was courtesy of yet another of Major Cunard’s horses, Bountiful Charles, in an amateur riders’ handicap hurdle at Doncaster on March 2, 1971.
Some two-and-a-half years elapsed before he rode another winner under NH rules, that being on Guy Cunard’s horse Bob Robert in a Catterick amateur riders’ novices’ hurdle in December 1970. Then came victory on Alf Watson’s Avonduet in an amateur riders’ novices’ chase at Market Rasen in January 1971. What proved to be his last success under rules was courtesy of yet another of Major Cunard’s horses, Bountiful Charles, in an amateur riders’ handicap hurdle at Doncaster on March 2, 1971.
He continued to ride in point-to-points and built up a good partnership with a horse named Sporting Luck, on whom he won several races, including the Derwent Open in 1975.
He continued to ride in point-to-points and built up a good partnership with a horse named Sporting Luck, on whom he won several races, including the Derwent Open in 1975.
Henry Marples’ winners were, in chronological order:
Henry Marples’ winners were, in chronological order:
1. Shahrastani, Leicester, November 23, 1964 (dead-heat)
1. Shahrastani, Leicester, November 23, 1964 (dead-heat)
2. Kirtleside, Catterick Bridge, 16, 1965
2. Kirtleside, Catterick Bridge, 16, 1965
3. Puddle Jumper, Cheltenham, April 16, 1966
3. Puddle Jumper, Cheltenham, April 16, 1966
4. Call Box, Hexham, May 28, 1966
4. Call Box, Hexham, May 28, 1966
5. Young Rohan, Uttoxeter, May 31, 1966
5. Young Rohan, Uttoxeter, May 31, 1966
6. Dorenco, Market Rasen, September 24, 1966
6. Dorenco, Market Rasen, September 24, 1966
7. Vindicated, Newcastle, October 12, 1966
7. Vindicated, Newcastle, October 12, 1966
8. Georgetown, Newcastle, November 12, 1966
8. Georgetown, Newcastle, November 12, 1966
9. Vindicated, Huntingdon, June 3, 1968
9. Vindicated, Huntingdon, June 3, 1968
10. Bob Robert, Catterick Bridge, December 21, 1970
10. Bob Robert, Catterick Bridge, December 21, 1970
11. Avonduet, Market Rasen, January 9, 1971
11. Avonduet, Market Rasen, January 9, 1971
12. Bountiful Charles, Doncaster, March 2, 1971
12. Bountiful Charles, Doncaster, March 2, 1971
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