Pat Morgan
Article by Chris Pitt
Article by Chris Pitt
National Hunt jockey Pat Morgan was the rider of Wyndburgh during the early part of that horse’s career. He won four races on him, even though the partnership lasted little more than six months. Indeed, he had long since hung up his boots and saddle by the time Wyndburgh finished second in the Grand National for a third time.
National Hunt jockey Pat Morgan was the rider of Wyndburgh during the early part of that horse’s career. He won four races on him, even though the partnership lasted little more than six months. Indeed, he had long since hung up his boots and saddle by the time Wyndburgh finished second in the Grand National for a third time.
Born in Ireland on February 12, 1936, Pat Morgan arrived in England in 1951 and initially joined Northampton trainer Cliff Beechener before journeying north in August of that year and joining Bonnytoun, Scotland trainer J.A. Craig Brown as the stable’s amateur rider. He rode his first winner on Pride of Skilligalee in a Catterick Bridge novices’ hurdle on November 17, 1951.
Born in Ireland on February 12, 1936, Pat Morgan arrived in England in 1951 and initially joined Northampton trainer Cliff Beechener before journeying north in August of that year and joining Bonnytoun, Scotland trainer J.A. Craig Brown as the stable’s amateur rider. He rode his first winner on Pride of Skilligalee in a Catterick Bridge novices’ hurdle on November 17, 1951.
He went on to ride nine winners as an amateur before turning professional during the 1954/55 campaign. He rode his first winner in the paid ranks on Trueblend in a Sedgefield novices’ chase on May 14, 1955, his tenth win altogether, meaning his claim was reduced from 7lb to 5lb. He had one more winner that season, Craig Brown’s hurdler Little Stranger at Cartmel’s Whitsun meeting.
He went on to ride nine winners as an amateur before turning professional during the 1954/55 campaign. He rode his first winner in the paid ranks on Trueblend in a Sedgefield novices’ chase on May 14, 1955, his tenth win altogether, meaning his claim was reduced from 7lb to 5lb. He had one more winner that season, Craig Brown’s hurdler Little Stranger at Cartmel’s Whitsun meeting.
He rode seven winners during the 1955/56 season, beginning with two apiece on Craig Brown’s hurdlers Jungle Flight and Castle Rock. He then landed an Ayr novices’ hurdle on a horse named Idlewood, trained at Hawick by local farmer Major Percy Wilkinson for his wife. Major Wilkinson also trained Wyndburgh, owned by his daughter Rhona (who later married trainer Ken Oliver). Pat was given the ride on the six-year-old in the Barrow Chase at Cartmel on May 21, 1956. It was a weak race and Wyndburgh won it by a distance.
He rode seven winners during the 1955/56 season, beginning with two apiece on Craig Brown’s hurdlers Jungle Flight and Castle Rock. He then landed an Ayr novices’ hurdle on a horse named Idlewood, trained at Hawick by local farmer Major Percy Wilkinson for his wife. Major Wilkinson also trained Wyndburgh, owned by his daughter Rhona (who later married trainer Ken Oliver). Pat was given the ride on the six-year-old in the Barrow Chase at Cartmel on May 21, 1956. It was a weak race and Wyndburgh won it by a distance.
Pat won three more races on Wyndburgh during the first half of the 1956/57 campaign: the Perthshire Challenge Cup on September 27, the Denby Handicap Chase at Catterick on November 10, and Doncaster’s Grove Handicap Chase on November 23. However, he then twice finished fourth on Wyndburgh and was replaced by leading northern jockey Mick Batchelor, who immediately won the Tote Investors Cup at Newcastle on him and then finished runner-up to Sundew in the 1957 Grand National.
Pat won three more races on Wyndburgh during the first half of the 1956/57 campaign: the Perthshire Challenge Cup on September 27, the Denby Handicap Chase at Catterick on November 10, and Doncaster’s Grove Handicap Chase on November 23. However, he then twice finished fourth on Wyndburgh and was replaced by leading northern jockey Mick Batchelor, who immediately won the Tote Investors Cup at Newcastle on him and then finished runner-up to Sundew in the 1957 Grand National.
Pat amassed a score of 12 winners for that 1956/57 season but managed only one the next – the 31st and last of his career – on Craig Brown’s Cottingley Bridge in the Blair Novices’ Hurdle at Ayr on October 14, 1957.
Pat amassed a score of 12 winners for that 1956/57 season but managed only one the next – the 31st and last of his career – on Craig Brown’s Cottingley Bridge in the Blair Novices’ Hurdle at Ayr on October 14, 1957.