Peter Morris
Article by Chris Pitt
Article by Chris Pitt
There’s a well-known photograph of an incident in the 1972 Grand National, taken at the first open ditch on the second circuit, fence nineteen. It shows Peter Morris leading Nephin Beg out of the ditch and Buck Jones marooned on top of the fence, his mount nowhere to be seen. It was the end of their respective Grand National dreams.
There’s a well-known photograph of an incident in the 1972 Grand National, taken at the first open ditch on the second circuit, fence nineteen. It shows Peter Morris leading Nephin Beg out of the ditch and Buck Jones marooned on top of the fence, his mount nowhere to be seen. It was the end of their respective Grand National dreams.
Peter Humphrey Morris started his career as an amateur and rode his first winner on Battle Royal II in the Somerset Hunters’ Perpetual Challenge Cup Chase at Taunton on March 16, 1968.
Peter Humphrey Morris started his career as an amateur and rode his first winner on Battle Royal II in the Somerset Hunters’ Perpetual Challenge Cup Chase at Taunton on March 16, 1968.
Battle Royal II’s owner-trainer, Lord Mostyn, who was based at Mostyn Hall in Flintshire, had ridden the horse to victory in a hunter chase at Chepstow nine days earlier. From then on, however, Peter became Battle Royal II’s regular partner, following up with success in the Bryn-y-Pys Hunters’ Chase at Bangor-on-Dee in April.
Battle Royal II’s owner-trainer, Lord Mostyn, who was based at Mostyn Hall in Flintshire, had ridden the horse to victory in a hunter chase at Chepstow nine days earlier. From then on, however, Peter became Battle Royal II’s regular partner, following up with success in the Bryn-y-Pys Hunters’ Chase at Bangor-on-Dee in April.
Battle Royal II won three more hunter chases in 1969, at Wincanton, Southwell and Hereford, and started 11/8 hot favourite for the Foxhunters’ at Cheltenham’s National Hunt Meeting, March 20, 1969 (left), only to finish runner-up to northern raider Queen’s Guide. He then won four more in 1970, beginning with Ascot’s Forrard Away Hunters’ Chase, and culminating in quick a hat-trick of victories within a fortnight at Taunton, Hereford and Wincanton.
Battle Royal II won three more hunter chases in 1969, at Wincanton, Southwell and Hereford, and started 11/8 hot favourite for the Foxhunters’ at Cheltenham’s National Hunt Meeting, March 20, 1969 (left), only to finish runner-up to northern raider Queen’s Guide. He then won four more in 1970, beginning with Ascot’s Forrard Away Hunters’ Chase, and culminating in quick a hat-trick of victories within a fortnight at Taunton, Hereford and Wincanton.
Battle Royal II was on the injured list and failed to reappear in 1971 but Lord Mostyn had a ready-made replacement in Indian Yeldah, who rattled off his own hat-trick of hunter chase victories at Wolverhampton, Doncaster and Bangor-on-Dee. Lord Mostyn also had a useful novice chaser named Nephin Beg, on whom Peter won at Ludlow in April and Warwick in May. Peter finished the 1971 hunter chase season with a winning spare ride for Market Drayton trainer Roy Whiston on Rip’s Lyric in Cartmel’s Bass Charrington Vintners North Lonsdale Novices’ Hunter Chase.
Battle Royal II was on the injured list and failed to reappear in 1971 but Lord Mostyn had a ready-made replacement in Indian Yeldah, who rattled off his own hat-trick of hunter chase victories at Wolverhampton, Doncaster and Bangor-on-Dee. Lord Mostyn also had a useful novice chaser named Nephin Beg, on whom Peter won at Ludlow in April and Warwick in May. Peter finished the 1971 hunter chase season with a winning spare ride for Market Drayton trainer Roy Whiston on Rip’s Lyric in Cartmel’s Bass Charrington Vintners North Lonsdale Novices’ Hunter Chase.
Peter joined the professional ranks for the 1971/72 campaign and was immediately off the mark when Nephin Beg won at Market Rasen on the second day of the new season. The combination was also successful at Cheltenham in October. Indian Yeldah, by then competing in handicaps rather than hunter chases, provided Peter with a high profile victory when making all to win the Crudwell Cup at Warwick in November. Lord Mostyn’s novice hurdler Newburn then won three races in little over a month, while an Easter Monday Uttoxeter winner on Mick James’ selling hurdler Sailor Drake gave Peter his eighth victory of the season.
Peter joined the professional ranks for the 1971/72 campaign and was immediately off the mark when Nephin Beg won at Market Rasen on the second day of the new season. The combination was also successful at Cheltenham in October. Indian Yeldah, by then competing in handicaps rather than hunter chases, provided Peter with a high profile victory when making all to win the Crudwell Cup at Warwick in November. Lord Mostyn’s novice hurdler Newburn then won three races in little over a month, while an Easter Monday Uttoxeter winner on Mick James’ selling hurdler Sailor Drake gave Peter his eighth victory of the season.
Five days later, on Saturday, April 8, Peter and Nephin Beg lined up for the 1972 Grand National. Although a 100/1 outsider, Nephin Beg was up there in eighth jumping the Canal Turn first time round. But he then began to steadily lose his position, was back in seventeenth place over the water, and well behind when being badly baulked at the nineteenth fence, the big open ditch, and ending up in the ditch itself. That marked the end of Peter’s Grand National adventure. He never rode in the race again.
Five days later, on Saturday, April 8, Peter and Nephin Beg lined up for the 1972 Grand National. Although a 100/1 outsider, Nephin Beg was up there in eighth jumping the Canal Turn first time round. But he then began to steadily lose his position, was back in seventeenth place over the water, and well behind when being badly baulked at the nineteenth fence, the big open ditch, and ending up in the ditch itself. That marked the end of Peter’s Grand National adventure. He never rode in the race again.
The 1972/73 season was his best in terms of winners, achieving a score of ten. Nephin Beg, none the worse for his Aintree exertions, won at Bangor in September and Hereford in November, Mick James’ pair Sailor Drake and Poor Cold Fred obliged at Uttoxeter and Hereford respectively, Indian Yeldah returned to winning form at Nottingham in March, Lord Mostyn’s Hasty Ben won three chases, and Nephin Beg rounded off a successful campaign with a Whit Monday victory in Cartmel’s Bass Charrington Lancashire Cup Chase.
The 1972/73 season was his best in terms of winners, achieving a score of ten. Nephin Beg, none the worse for his Aintree exertions, won at Bangor in September and Hereford in November, Mick James’ pair Sailor Drake and Poor Cold Fred obliged at Uttoxeter and Hereford respectively, Indian Yeldah returned to winning form at Nottingham in March, Lord Mostyn’s Hasty Ben won three chases, and Nephin Beg rounded off a successful campaign with a Whit Monday victory in Cartmel’s Bass Charrington Lancashire Cup Chase.
The 1973/74 season started well enough with four wins on the board by early October, including two from Nephin Beg within five days at Ludlow and Hereford. But five months elapsed before the next winner, Master Blarney at Teesside Park and far worse was to follow when Nephin Beg collapsed and died rounding the home turn at Ludlow on May 22 when lying in second place. It must have been a devastating blow for Peter and the horse’s connections, for the twelve-year-old had served them so well over the years.
The 1973/74 season started well enough with four wins on the board by early October, including two from Nephin Beg within five days at Ludlow and Hereford. But five months elapsed before the next winner, Master Blarney at Teesside Park and far worse was to follow when Nephin Beg collapsed and died rounding the home turn at Ludlow on May 22 when lying in second place. It must have been a devastating blow for Peter and the horse’s connections, for the twelve-year-old had served them so well over the years.
Peter’s riding career went into steady decline afterwards, with only two winners in each of the next two seasons, the last of them being on selling hurdler Mister Blarney at Uttoxeter on Whit Monday, May 31, 1976. That was also his final ride in public so he did at least have the satisfaction of retiring on a winning note.
Peter’s riding career went into steady decline afterwards, with only two winners in each of the next two seasons, the last of them being on selling hurdler Mister Blarney at Uttoxeter on Whit Monday, May 31, 1976. That was also his final ride in public so he did at least have the satisfaction of retiring on a winning note.
Peter Morris rode a total of 42 winners. These were in chronological order:
Peter Morris rode a total of 42 winners. These were in chronological order:
1. Battle Royal II, Taunton, March 16, 1968
1. Battle Royal II, Taunton, March 16, 1968
2. Battle Royal II, Bangor-on-Dee, April 6, 1968
2. Battle Royal II, Bangor-on-Dee, April 6, 1968
3. Battle Royal II, Wincanton, February 27, 1969
3. Battle Royal II, Wincanton, February 27, 1969
4. Battle Royal II, Southwell, April 3, 1969
4. Battle Royal II, Southwell, April 3, 1969
5. Battle Royal II, Hereford, May 8, 1969
5. Battle Royal II, Hereford, May 8, 1969
6. Battle Royal II, Ascot, February 19, 1970
6. Battle Royal II, Ascot, February 19, 1970
7. Battle Royal II, Taunton, March 26, 1970
7. Battle Royal II, Taunton, March 26, 1970
8. Battle Royal II, Hereford, March 30, 1970
8. Battle Royal II, Hereford, March 30, 1970
9. Battle Royal II, Wincanton, April 9, 1970
9. Battle Royal II, Wincanton, April 9, 1970
10. Indian Yeldah, Wolverhampton, February 13, 1971
10. Indian Yeldah, Wolverhampton, February 13, 1971
11. Indian Yeldah, Doncaster, March 2, 1971
11. Indian Yeldah, Doncaster, March 2, 1971
12. Indian Yeldah, Bangor-on-Dee, March 27, 1971
12. Indian Yeldah, Bangor-on-Dee, March 27, 1971
13. Nephin Beg, Ludlow, April 21, 1971
13. Nephin Beg, Ludlow, April 21, 1971
14. Nephin Beg, Warwick, May 5, 1971
14. Nephin Beg, Warwick, May 5, 1971
15. Rip’s Lyric, Cartmel, May 29, 1971
15. Rip’s Lyric, Cartmel, May 29, 1971
16. Nephin Beg, Market Rasen, August 2, 1971
16. Nephin Beg, Market Rasen, August 2, 1971
17. Nephin Beg, Cheltenham, October 13, 1971
17. Nephin Beg, Cheltenham, October 13, 1971
18. Nice Shoe, Sedgefield, November 3, 1971
18. Nice Shoe, Sedgefield, November 3, 1971
19. Indian Yeldah, Warwick, November 20, 1971
19. Indian Yeldah, Warwick, November 20, 1971
20. Newburn, Haydock, February 9, 1972
20. Newburn, Haydock, February 9, 1972
21. Newburn, Haydock, March 3, 1972
21. Newburn, Haydock, March 3, 1972
22. Newburn, Teesside Park, March 10, 1972
22. Newburn, Teesside Park, March 10, 1972
23. Sailor Drake, Uttoxeter, April 3, 1972
23. Sailor Drake, Uttoxeter, April 3, 1972
24. Nephin Beg, Bangor-on-Dee, September 16, 1972
24. Nephin Beg, Bangor-on-Dee, September 16, 1972
25. Sailor Drake, Uttoxeter, October 7, 1972
25. Sailor Drake, Uttoxeter, October 7, 1972
26. Nephin Beg, Hereford, November 7, 1972
26. Nephin Beg, Hereford, November 7, 1972
27. Poor Cold Fred, Leicester, November 20, 1972
27. Poor Cold Fred, Leicester, November 20, 1972
28. Hasty Ben, Warwick, January 13, 1973
28. Hasty Ben, Warwick, January 13, 1973
29. Indian Yeldah, Nottingham, March 20, 1973
29. Indian Yeldah, Nottingham, March 20, 1973
30. Hasty Ben, Ludlow, April 18, 1973
30. Hasty Ben, Ludlow, April 18, 1973
31. Hasty Ben, Bangor-on-Dee, April 28, 1973
31. Hasty Ben, Bangor-on-Dee, April 28, 1973
32. Eyton Rising, Uttoxeter, May 17, 1973
32. Eyton Rising, Uttoxeter, May 17, 1973
33. Nephin Beg, Cartmel, May 28, 1973
33. Nephin Beg, Cartmel, May 28, 1973
34. The Met, Worcester, August 23, 1973
34. The Met, Worcester, August 23, 1973
35. Rhondda Lad, Bangor-on-Dee, September 8, 1973
35. Rhondda Lad, Bangor-on-Dee, September 8, 1973
36. Nephin Beg, Ludlow, October 4, 1973
36. Nephin Beg, Ludlow, October 4, 1973
37. Nephin Beg, Hereford, October 9, 1973
37. Nephin Beg, Hereford, October 9, 1973
38. Master Blarney, Teesside Park, March 8, 1974
38. Master Blarney, Teesside Park, March 8, 1974
39. Propinquity, Uttoxeter, December 21, 1974
39. Propinquity, Uttoxeter, December 21, 1974
40. Eastern American, Sedgefield, January 20, 1975
40. Eastern American, Sedgefield, January 20, 1975
41. Mr Savin, Ludlow, April 14, 1976
41. Mr Savin, Ludlow, April 14, 1976
42. Master Blarney, Uttoxeter, May 31, 1976
42. Master Blarney, Uttoxeter, May 31, 1976