Phil Mangan
Article by Chris Pitt
Article by Chris Pitt
Irish born Phil Mangan was a successful northern-based National Hunt jockey who rode around 70 winners during the 1970s, including the Eider Chase and the Durham National.
Irish born Phil Mangan was a successful northern-based National Hunt jockey who rode around 70 winners during the 1970s, including the Eider Chase and the Durham National.
Christened Phellm Mangan but always known as Phil, he arrived in England in 1970 as a 7lb claimer and joined Bill Atkinson’s stable at Coledale Farm, Newtown, near Carlisle. He rode his first British winner on handicap hurdler Avon Bay, trained by Cumbrian permit holder David Macdonald, at Carlisle on October 3, 1970. He went on to ride eleven winners that season, including five on the useful hurdler Low Pastures, owned and trained by John Alder.
Christened Phellm Mangan but always known as Phil, he arrived in England in 1970 as a 7lb claimer and joined Bill Atkinson’s stable at Coledale Farm, Newtown, near Carlisle. He rode his first British winner on handicap hurdler Avon Bay, trained by Cumbrian permit holder David Macdonald, at Carlisle on October 3, 1970. He went on to ride eleven winners that season, including five on the useful hurdler Low Pastures, owned and trained by John Alder.
He rode eight winners during the 1971/72 campaign, beginning with Avon Bay at Carlisle in October. On November 27, he won the Ladbroke Billy Bow Handicap Hurdle at
He rode eight winners during the 1971/72 campaign, beginning with Avon Bay at Carlisle in October. On November 27, he won the Ladbroke Billy Bow Handicap Hurdle at
Newcastle on Low Pastures. Later that season, on March 11, 1972, he won Sedgefield’s Durham National of Reg Lamb’s chaser High Lettre. He won again on High Lettre at Perth the following month. He also won back to back novice hurdles at Kelso and Ayr in March on a horse named Just About for another Cumbrian permit holder, William Murray.
Newcastle on Low Pastures. Later that season, on March 11, 1972, he won Sedgefield’s Durham National of Reg Lamb’s chaser High Lettre. He won again on High Lettre at Perth the following month. He also won back to back novice hurdles at Kelso and Ayr in March on a horse named Just About for another Cumbrian permit holder, William Murray.
Phil’s 1972/73 season yielded half a dozen winners, including William Murray’s novice hurdler Any Second at Newcastle at the end of December, and three bank holiday victories on Reg Lamb’s novice chaser Tanlic, two of them being on the Saturday and Monday of Carlisle’s Easter meeting, the third at Hexham on Whit Monday.
Phil’s 1972/73 season yielded half a dozen winners, including William Murray’s novice hurdler Any Second at Newcastle at the end of December, and three bank holiday victories on Reg Lamb’s novice chaser Tanlic, two of them being on the Saturday and Monday of Carlisle’s Easter meeting, the third at Hexham on Whit Monday.
He achieved his biggest success on the mare Scarlet Letch, owned and trained by
He achieved his biggest success on the mare Scarlet Letch, owned and trained by
former top amateur rider Bobby Brewis, in Newcastle’s Eider Chase on February 16, 1974. It had rained hard all morning and the ground was very soft, ideal conditions for Scarlet Letch, who raced prominently from the start. She poached a clear lead with a mile to run and responded to her rider’s urgings to bravely resist San-Feliu’s strong but unavailing challenge on the run-in.
former top amateur rider Bobby Brewis, in Newcastle’s Eider Chase on February 16, 1974. It had rained hard all morning and the ground was very soft, ideal conditions for Scarlet Letch, who raced prominently from the start. She poached a clear lead with a mile to run and responded to her rider’s urgings to bravely resist San-Feliu’s strong but unavailing challenge on the run-in.
She was one of eight winners for Phil that term, another being on William Murray’s Any
She was one of eight winners for Phil that term, another being on William Murray’s Any
Second at Hexham on Whit Monday. He rode Scarlet Letch to a second victory when landing the Tobacco Trial Handicap Chase at Haydock Park on January 18, 1975, after which the mare was retired to take up stud duties. Phil’s other six winners that season included another on Any Second at Hexham’s Whitsun fixture.
Second at Hexham on Whit Monday. He rode Scarlet Letch to a second victory when landing the Tobacco Trial Handicap Chase at Haydock Park on January 18, 1975, after which the mare was retired to take up stud duties. Phil’s other six winners that season included another on Any Second at Hexham’s Whitsun fixture.
Numerically, his best season was 1975/76, during which he rode 12 winners, including four on Any Second. He won three more races on Any Second the following season and also won on him for a final time at Perth on May 16, 1979.
Numerically, his best season was 1975/76, during which he rode 12 winners, including four on Any Second. He won three more races on Any Second the following season and also won on him for a final time at Perth on May 16, 1979.
His last winner was on selling hurdler Flying Bleu for Carlisle owner-trainer Rayson Nixon, at Catterick on November 24, 1979.
His last winner was on selling hurdler Flying Bleu for Carlisle owner-trainer Rayson Nixon, at Catterick on November 24, 1979.
Phil retired the following year and became landlord of The String of Horses at Goose Green, near Carlisle, where a photograph of him winning the Eider on Scarlet Letch hung proudly in the public bar.
Phil retired the following year and became landlord of The String of Horses at Goose Green, near Carlisle, where a photograph of him winning the Eider on Scarlet Letch hung proudly in the public bar.
He died on March 4, 2018, aged 72.
He died on March 4, 2018, aged 72.