John Morahan

John Morahan

Article by Alan Trout

Having ridden three winners in Ireland during the Second World War, John Morahan came to England in the winter of 1945 and, over the next five years, had another 38 victories, including two valuable hurdle races. 

His first success was probably at Dundalk on May 25, 1944, when Golspie beat future Grand National-winning jockey Leo McMorrow on Solvent Boy in the Greenore Handicap Hurdle.

His initial ride in England was an unplaced effort on Straight Eye in the Tockwith Novices’ Hurdle (Division 3) at Wetherby on November 3, 1945. His first win came at the same course on March 8, 1946, when the eight-year-old Shareholder, owned and trained by Jack Ormston, beat Bold Pleasantry by four lengths in the Bishopthorpe Handicap Hurdle after taking the lead at halfway. He doubled his score the next day when 2/1 favourite Glengrigor, trained by Sam Armstrong at Middleham, had an even easier victory in the Spofforth Novices’ Hurdle (Division 2), scoring by six lengths. 

Despite not getting off the mark for the 1946/47 season until January, he ended the campaign with a tally of ten wins. He fared even better in 1947/48 with 14, including two big race victories courtesy of Wintersmoon, trained by Ernie Street at Malton, in the Princess Elizabath Handicap Hurdle in November and the Princess Royal Handicap Hurdle in February. Both were at Doncaster and both were worth over £1,500 to the winner, valuable prizes indeed considering that most races at that time were worth less than £200. 

Despite those two big race wins, his tally of wins for the 1948/49 campaign fell from 14 to eight, then dwindled further to just four in 1949/50, his last coming at Wetherby on April 11, 1950, when Royal Trio overtook long-time leader Highland Magic two flights out and landed the Springs Handicap Hurdle by three lengths. There were no more wins in Britain or in Ireland after that.  

Doncaster may have been the scene of his greatest triumphs but his most successful course was Wetherby, where 13 of his 38 British wins were gained, including three doubles. He also recorded doubles at Doncaster and  Market Rasen. Although he had the occasional ride in steeplechases, he mainly restricted himself to riding in hurdle races. All his 38 wins were over hurdles

John Morahan’s British winners were, in chronological order:

1. Shareholder, Wetherby, March 8, 1946

2. Glengrigor, Wetherby, March 9, 1946

3. Diesel, Manchester, January 2, 1947

4. Colcannon, Birmingham, January 21, 1947

5. Philandros, Manchester, April 5, 1947

6. Shareholder, Perth, April 23, 1947

7. Praskeen, Wetherby, May 3, 1947

8. Victory, Wetherby, May 3, 1947

9. Colcannon, Hexham, May 10, 1947

10. Bokhari, Southwell, May 13, 1947

11. Colcannon, Wetherby, May 26, 1947

12. Annulet, Wetherby, May 28, 1947

13. Wintersmoon, Doncaster, November 14, 1947

14. Our Isle, Haydock Park, November 29, 1947

15. Victory, Nottingham, December 9, 1947

16. Asia Command, Birmingham, December 12, 1947

17. Rowney Romance, Southwell, December 15, 1947

18. Philandros, Haydock Park, January 7, 1948

19. Sonkin, Leicester, January 13, 1948

20. Wintersmoon, Doncaster, February 26, 1948

21. Victory, Doncaster, February 26, 1948

22. Shareholder, Wetherby, March 30, 1948

23. High Grass, Bogside, April 6, 1948

24. Praskeen, Wetherby, May 15, 1948

25. Praskeen, Wetherby, May 17, 1948

26. Scottish Welcome, Wetherby, May 17, 1948

27. Don Giovanni, Southwell, September 6, 1948

28. Oast, Market Rasen, September 25, 1948

29. Don Giovanni, Market Rasen, September 25, 1948

30. Gangster, Wetherby, October 9, 1948

31. Victory, Doncaster, November 26, 1948

32. Wintersmoon, Nottingham, January 31, 1949

33. Hat o’ The Wynd, Birmingham, February 21, 1949

34. Wings Ashore, Sedgefield, June 11, 1949

35. Sufrano, Catterick Bridge, November 5, 1949

36. Rowney Romance, Haydock park, December 1, 1949

37. Royal Trio, Wetherby, January 21, 1950 

38. Royal Trio, Wetherby, April 11, 1950