Owen McNally
Owen McNally
Owen McNally
The eldest of four jump jockey brothers – the others being Eddie, Gerry and Brendan – Owen McNally was born in County Monaghan on 6 June 1930, but spent most of his childhood in County Meath. He began his life in racing aged 15 as an apprentice with Darby Rogers at the Curragh, later joining his son Mick Rogers, who had just started training and was destined to send out Santa Claus to win the 1964 Epsom and Irish Derbies.
The eldest of four jump jockey brothers – the others being Eddie, Gerry and Brendan – Owen McNally was born in County Monaghan on 6 June 1930, but spent most of his childhood in County Meath. He began his life in racing aged 15 as an apprentice with Darby Rogers at the Curragh, later joining his son Mick Rogers, who had just started training and was destined to send out Santa Claus to win the 1964 Epsom and Irish Derbies.
At the end of his apprenticeship Owen spent eighteen months with Bobby Beasley’s father, Harry, who then ran a yard for Charlie Rogers at the opposite end of the Curragh. From there he spent a short time with Cecil Brabazon, father of Cottage Rake’s jockey Aubrey.
At the end of his apprenticeship Owen spent eighteen months with Bobby Beasley’s father, Harry, who then ran a yard for Charlie Rogers at the opposite end of the Curragh. From there he spent a short time with Cecil Brabazon, father of Cottage Rake’s jockey Aubrey.
He journeyed to England in 1954 in response to a Sporting Life advert for a schooling jockey with Gerald Balding at Weyhill, riding his first winner in November of that year on Spring Heather in a two-runner handicap chase at Fontwell. Despite riding a treble for Balding at the 1956 West Norfolk Hunt (now Fakenham) Easter Monday fixture, there were to be only two winners in each of the next two seasons.
He journeyed to England in 1954 in response to a Sporting Life advert for a schooling jockey with Gerald Balding at Weyhill, riding his first winner in November of that year on Spring Heather in a two-runner handicap chase at Fontwell. Despite riding a treble for Balding at the 1956 West Norfolk Hunt (now Fakenham) Easter Monday fixture, there were to be only two winners in each of the next two seasons.
On Gerald Balding’s sudden death in 1957, his son Toby took over the licence. He provided Owen with his first important winner, Malting Barley in the 1961 Mildmay of Flete Chase at Cheltenham.
On Gerald Balding’s sudden death in 1957, his son Toby took over the licence. He provided Owen with his first important winner, Malting Barley in the 1961 Mildmay of Flete Chase at Cheltenham.
In 1963 he came in for his first Grand National ride on outsider Magic Tricks. He didn’t get far, as Owen recalls: “He went tanking into the first as if it was a sprint. He was galloping over himself, going far too fast. When he got to the fence he didn’t know what to do, jumped straight into it and down we went, gone. Amazingly, I never got touched. I couldn’t believe it.”
In 1963 he came in for his first Grand National ride on outsider Magic Tricks. He didn’t get far, as Owen recalls: “He went tanking into the first as if it was a sprint. He was galloping over himself, going far too fast. When he got to the fence he didn’t know what to do, jumped straight into it and down we went, gone. Amazingly, I never got touched. I couldn’t believe it.”
Two years later he began his association with Highland Wedding, who had spent his first three seasons running in military point-to-points for his veterinary surgeon owner-rider Peter Calver, winning half a dozen minor Army Saddle Club events at Larkhill and Badbury Rings. Calver had bought him for only £90 as a four-year-old. On his sole appearance under Rules he had been runner-up in the 1964 Royal Artillery Gold Cup, despite being anchored by his rider’s 16lb overweight. That eye-catching performance was sufficient to impress Toby Balding who quickly snapped him up.
Two years later he began his association with Highland Wedding, who had spent his first three seasons running in military point-to-points for his veterinary surgeon owner-rider Peter Calver, winning half a dozen minor Army Saddle Club events at Larkhill and Badbury Rings. Calver had bought him for only £90 as a four-year-old. On his sole appearance under Rules he had been runner-up in the 1964 Royal Artillery Gold Cup, despite being anchored by his rider’s 16lb overweight. That eye-catching performance was sufficient to impress Toby Balding who quickly snapped him up.
Owen rode Highland Wedding to victory in a Newbury novice chase in January 1965, but it was when he took on the handicappers the following season that Highland Wedding really came into his own. At the start of 1966 he won three in a row, including Newcastle’s Eider Chase and Ascot’s Whitbread Trial, before finishing second to Kapeno in the Coventry Chase at Kempton. It had been a near-perfect preparation for that year’s Grand National.
Owen rode Highland Wedding to victory in a Newbury novice chase in January 1965, but it was when he took on the handicappers the following season that Highland Wedding really came into his own. At the start of 1966 he won three in a row, including Newcastle’s Eider Chase and Ascot’s Whitbread Trial, before finishing second to Kapeno in the Coventry Chase at Kempton. It had been a near-perfect preparation for that year’s Grand National.
With the minimum 10 stone to shoulder, he was a well backed third favourite at 15-2, only Freddie and What a Myth being preferred in the market. However, despite being handy four from home, he weakened to finish eighth behind the 50-1 winner Anglo.
With the minimum 10 stone to shoulder, he was a well backed third favourite at 15-2, only Freddie and What a Myth being preferred in the market. However, despite being handy four from home, he weakened to finish eighth behind the 50-1 winner Anglo.
Highland Wedding started the next campaign by winning the Badger Brewery Chase at Wincanton. He landed his second Eider Chase impressively but subsequently developed heat in a leg and didn’t make the 1967 Grand National line-up.
Highland Wedding started the next campaign by winning the Badger Brewery Chase at Wincanton. He landed his second Eider Chase impressively but subsequently developed heat in a leg and didn’t make the 1967 Grand National line-up.
In a belated start to the following season, he finished seventh in both the Mildmay Memorial and Great Yorkshire Chases. Hopes of a third Eider victory were dashed when the meeting was abandoned through snow, hence he was directed to the Whitbread Trial at Ascot, where he fell five out when leading.
In a belated start to the following season, he finished seventh in both the Mildmay Memorial and Great Yorkshire Chases. Hopes of a third Eider victory were dashed when the meeting was abandoned through snow, hence he was directed to the Whitbread Trial at Ascot, where he fell five out when leading.
Despite the apparent tailing off in form, Owen was adamant that the horse was still as good as ever. With an extra stone to carry in the 1968 Grand National, the betting public were not so sure and made the 11-year-old a 20-1 shot, shortening to 18-1 just as the field came under orders. But again, it wasn’t to be.
Despite the apparent tailing off in form, Owen was adamant that the horse was still as good as ever. With an extra stone to carry in the 1968 Grand National, the betting public were not so sure and made the 11-year-old a 20-1 shot, shortening to 18-1 just as the field came under orders. But again, it wasn’t to be.
“He was a thick set horse, very powerful and heavy headed,” recalls Owen. “He was a bit moody and he was reluctant to start that day. I had a job to get him lined up and he was slowly away. He hit Becher’s hard and I was always struggling.
“He was a thick set horse, very powerful and heavy headed,” recalls Owen. “He was a bit moody and he was reluctant to start that day. I had a job to get him lined up and he was slowly away. He hit Becher’s hard and I was always struggling.
“I was back up there in the thick of it after a circuit and at one point I’d moved up to sixth and thought I might win but the effort took its toll. Once I’d got over Becher’s and the Canal Turn second time I could feel the petrol running out. I kept hoping the leaders might come back to us but they didn’t.”
“I was back up there in the thick of it after a circuit and at one point I’d moved up to sixth and thought I might win but the effort took its toll. Once I’d got over Becher’s and the Canal Turn second time I could feel the petrol running out. I kept hoping the leaders might come back to us but they didn’t.”
Red Alligator galloped on strongly to win by 20 lengths from Moidore’s Token and Different Class, with Highland Wedding a distant seventh.
Red Alligator galloped on strongly to win by 20 lengths from Moidore’s Token and Different Class, with Highland Wedding a distant seventh.
At Newbury on 29 November 1968, Owen was unseated from a novice chaser called Glide Scope, who brought down the mare Indamelia. “It wasn’t the fall that did the damage,” he recounts. “The mare landed on my elbow and broke my arm in five places. I’ve still got two screws in it. The surgeon told me that, in his opinion, if I had another fall I wouldn’t get the arm back together again. I was 38, so I took his advice and called it a day.”
At Newbury on 29 November 1968, Owen was unseated from a novice chaser called Glide Scope, who brought down the mare Indamelia. “It wasn’t the fall that did the damage,” he recounts. “The mare landed on my elbow and broke my arm in five places. I’ve still got two screws in it. The surgeon told me that, in his opinion, if I had another fall I wouldn’t get the arm back together again. I was 38, so I took his advice and called it a day.”
Hence he was merely a spectator in 1969, watching on television as Eddie Harty and Highland Wedding stormed to Grand National glory.
Hence he was merely a spectator in 1969, watching on television as Eddie Harty and Highland Wedding stormed to Grand National glory.
When he retired, in partnership with Toby Balding and one of his owners, he bought a four-van horsebox business in nearby Mottersfont. Owen and his wife ran the business for over 18 years before selling up.
When he retired, in partnership with Toby Balding and one of his owners, he bought a four-van horsebox business in nearby Mottersfont. Owen and his wife ran the business for over 18 years before selling up.
Although Highland Wedding might have appeared the obvious answer when asked to nominate the best horse he rode during his career, Owen instead opted for another of Balding’s chasers, Caduval. Owen rode him in the 1965 Cheltenham Gold Cup where, not surprisingly, he proved no match for Arkle and Mill House, finishing last of the four runners.
Although Highland Wedding might have appeared the obvious answer when asked to nominate the best horse he rode during his career, Owen instead opted for another of Balding’s chasers, Caduval. Owen rode him in the 1965 Cheltenham Gold Cup where, not surprisingly, he proved no match for Arkle and Mill House, finishing last of the four runners.
Major wins
Major wins
1957: Crick Hurdle – Mariner’s Dance
1957: Crick Hurdle – Mariner’s Dance
1961: Mildmay of Flete Chase – Malting Barley
1961: Mildmay of Flete Chase – Malting Barley
1964: Clive Graham Hurdle – Mishgar
1964: Clive Graham Hurdle – Mishgar
1964: Badger Brewery Chase – Sign Post
1964: Badger Brewery Chase – Sign Post
1966: Eider Chase – Highland Wedding
1966: Eider Chase – Highland Wedding
1966: Whitbread Trial Chase – Highland Wedding
1966: Whitbread Trial Chase – Highland Wedding
1967: Eider Chase – Highland Wedding
1967: Eider Chase – Highland Wedding
1967: Badger Brewery Chase – Dozo
1967: Badger Brewery Chase – Dozo