Neil Morrissey
Article by Chris Pitt
Article by Chris Pitt
Neil Patrick Morrissey held a jump jockey’s licence from 1955/56 to 1963/64. He was attached to Don Butchers’ Epsom stable and rode ten winners, nine of them for Butchers.
Neil Patrick Morrissey held a jump jockey’s licence from 1955/56 to 1963/64. He was attached to Don Butchers’ Epsom stable and rode ten winners, nine of them for Butchers.
His first winner was Fair Son in a four-year-old selling hurdle at Lingfield on January 14, 1956. His second came a fortnight later on Cluster in a novice riders’ handicap chase at Kempton. He won on Cluster again at Lingfield in March, and then an Easter Monday success at Plumpton gave him four winners in his first season with a licence.
His first winner was Fair Son in a four-year-old selling hurdle at Lingfield on January 14, 1956. His second came a fortnight later on Cluster in a novice riders’ handicap chase at Kempton. He won on Cluster again at Lingfield in March, and then an Easter Monday success at Plumpton gave him four winners in his first season with a licence.
He rode just two winners in 1956/57, the first coming at Kempton on February 22 on Nautical Print, the 5-4 favourite, trained by Captain James Norris at Brackley, Northamptonshire. This was the only one of Neil’s winners not trained by Don Butchers. Bozetoff, who also started favourite at 5-2, was his only other victory that term, landing a Lingfield two-mile handicap chase on March 21.
He rode just two winners in 1956/57, the first coming at Kempton on February 22 on Nautical Print, the 5-4 favourite, trained by Captain James Norris at Brackley, Northamptonshire. This was the only one of Neil’s winners not trained by Don Butchers. Bozetoff, who also started favourite at 5-2, was his only other victory that term, landing a Lingfield two-mile handicap chase on March 21.
He rode four more winners the next season, the last of them on Butchers’ selling hurdler Be Patient at Wye on Monday, March 31, 1958. That was his tenth winner and resulted in his claim being cut to 5lb.
He rode four more winners the next season, the last of them on Butchers’ selling hurdler Be Patient at Wye on Monday, March 31, 1958. That was his tenth winner and resulted in his claim being cut to 5lb.
It was almost as though losing his 7lb allowance sealed his fate for he continued to ride for another six seasons but never rode another winner, finally hanging up his boots in 1964.
It was almost as though losing his 7lb allowance sealed his fate for he continued to ride for another six seasons but never rode another winner, finally hanging up his boots in 1964.
Incidentally, he was not related to the brothers Mick, Pat and Jimmy Morrissey.
Incidentally, he was not related to the brothers Mick, Pat and Jimmy Morrissey.
Neil Morrissey’s ten winners were, in chronological order:
Neil Morrissey’s ten winners were, in chronological order:
1. Fair Son, Lingfield, January 14, 1956
1. Fair Son, Lingfield, January 14, 1956
2. Cluster, Kempton, January 28, 1956
2. Cluster, Kempton, January 28, 1956
3. Cluster, Lingfield, March 15, 1956
3. Cluster, Lingfield, March 15, 1956
4. Bright Society, Plumpton, April 2, 1956
4. Bright Society, Plumpton, April 2, 1956
5. Nautical Prince, Kempton, February 22, 1957
5. Nautical Prince, Kempton, February 22, 1957
6. Bozetoff, Lingfield, March 21, 1957
6. Bozetoff, Lingfield, March 21, 1957
7. Turkish Tally, Fontwell, November 4, 1957
7. Turkish Tally, Fontwell, November 4, 1957
8. Bozetoff, Lingfield, December 6, 1957
8. Bozetoff, Lingfield, December 6, 1957
9. Newbridge Lad, Lingfield, March 20, 1958
9. Newbridge Lad, Lingfield, March 20, 1958
10. Be Patient, Wye, March 31, 1958
10. Be Patient, Wye, March 31, 1958