Roger Marley
Article by Chris Pitt
Article by Chris Pitt
Roger Marley was a successful north-country jump jockey of the late 1980s and early 90s. The best horse he rode was Nohalmdun, on whom he won two novice chases and a decent handicap at Cheltenham, as well as riding him at two Cheltenham festivals.
Roger Marley was a successful north-country jump jockey of the late 1980s and early 90s. The best horse he rode was Nohalmdun, on whom he won two novice chases and a decent handicap at Cheltenham, as well as riding him at two Cheltenham festivals.
Roger John Marley was born on December 9, 1967, the son of Don Marley, who farmed extensively on the outskirts of Scarborough and encouraged his children to ride from an early age. Roger was educated in Scarborough but ‘O’ levels did not hold much of a fascination and he had begun working in racing stables well before he left school. He spent a fortnight with Michael Dickinson and the following summer he worked for Mick Lambert at Kennythorpe.
Roger John Marley was born on December 9, 1967, the son of Don Marley, who farmed extensively on the outskirts of Scarborough and encouraged his children to ride from an early age. Roger was educated in Scarborough but ‘O’ levels did not hold much of a fascination and he had begun working in racing stables well before he left school. He spent a fortnight with Michael Dickinson and the following summer he worked for Mick Lambert at Kennythorpe.
He joined Lambert’s stable as an amateur rider on leaving school but soon turned conditional. He rode his first winner on Drum Rullagh, owned by his brother, in a conditional jockeys’ handicap chase at Ayr on January 24, 1986.
He joined Lambert’s stable as an amateur rider on leaving school but soon turned conditional. He rode his first winner on Drum Rullagh, owned by his brother, in a conditional jockeys’ handicap chase at Ayr on January 24, 1986.
Roger enjoyed his best season in 1987/88 with 20 winners, beginning with a pair of 2½m handicap hurdles on Howard Johnson’s Secret Finale at Perth in August and Sedgefield in September. Five of his wins came courtesy of Maurice Avison’s hurdler Dom Edino, who scored for the first time at Catterick on November 21 and followed up at Kelso nine days later – the second leg of a double for trainer and jockey that day, as they’d earlier won the selling chase with Military Crown. Military Crown then won two more selling chases in quick succession for them, at Catterick on January 22 and Edinburgh three days later. Dom Edino was back to winning ways at Doncaster in late January, Market Rasen in March and, last but not least, landed a decent sponsored novices’ handicap hurdle on Haydock’s May Day Bank Holiday card. Roger won two handicap hurdles on Peter Easterby’s Norton Warrior and also rode winners for Alan Brown, John Blundell and Peter Monteith.
Roger enjoyed his best season in 1987/88 with 20 winners, beginning with a pair of 2½m handicap hurdles on Howard Johnson’s Secret Finale at Perth in August and Sedgefield in September. Five of his wins came courtesy of Maurice Avison’s hurdler Dom Edino, who scored for the first time at Catterick on November 21 and followed up at Kelso nine days later – the second leg of a double for trainer and jockey that day, as they’d earlier won the selling chase with Military Crown. Military Crown then won two more selling chases in quick succession for them, at Catterick on January 22 and Edinburgh three days later. Dom Edino was back to winning ways at Doncaster in late January, Market Rasen in March and, last but not least, landed a decent sponsored novices’ handicap hurdle on Haydock’s May Day Bank Holiday card. Roger won two handicap hurdles on Peter Easterby’s Norton Warrior and also rode winners for Alan Brown, John Blundell and Peter Monteith.
The following season he won two novice chases on Peter Easterby’s Nohalmdun, at Market Rasen on November 26, and the £9,516 Freebooter Novices’ Chase at Doncaster on December 10, 1988. Later that same season he finished fifth on him in the 1989 Arkle Challenge Trophy at Cheltenham, the race being won by Waterloo Boy.
The following season he won two novice chases on Peter Easterby’s Nohalmdun, at Market Rasen on November 26, and the £9,516 Freebooter Novices’ Chase at Doncaster on December 10, 1988. Later that same season he finished fifth on him in the 1989 Arkle Challenge Trophy at Cheltenham, the race being won by Waterloo Boy.
Roger rode Nohalmdun four times the next season, winning the George Stevens Handicap Chase at Cheltenham on December 9, 1989; finishing second, beaten half a length, in the Castleford Chase at Wetherby on December 27; then eighth in Ascot’s Victor Chandler Chase and seventh in the 1990 Cheltenham Grand Annual.
Roger rode Nohalmdun four times the next season, winning the George Stevens Handicap Chase at Cheltenham on December 9, 1989; finishing second, beaten half a length, in the Castleford Chase at Wetherby on December 27; then eighth in Ascot’s Victor Chandler Chase and seventh in the 1990 Cheltenham Grand Annual.
He rode 17 winners in 1990/91. They included four on Mick Easterby’s Royal Estimate, notably when scoring twice within 48 hours at Doncaster, winning a novice hurdle on Saturday, January 23 and following up in the Princess Royal Handicap Hurdle on the Monday. He notched a double at Sedgefield on March 5 aboard hurdler Secret Finale and novice chaser Macarthur.
He rode 17 winners in 1990/91. They included four on Mick Easterby’s Royal Estimate, notably when scoring twice within 48 hours at Doncaster, winning a novice hurdle on Saturday, January 23 and following up in the Princess Royal Handicap Hurdle on the Monday. He notched a double at Sedgefield on March 5 aboard hurdler Secret Finale and novice chaser Macarthur.
However, his scores then dwindled, registering just one solitary success from 58 rides in 1992/93. His next three seasons realised scores of five from 85, three from 76, and four from 64.
However, his scores then dwindled, registering just one solitary success from 58 rides in 1992/93. His next three seasons realised scores of five from 85, three from 76, and four from 64.
He rode his last two winners in the early part of the 1996/97 season, both of them coming within 24 hours, courtesy of trainer Pam Sly. First, Griffins Bar won the Market Rasen Chamber of Trade and Commerce Handicap Chase on November 7, 1996, then Bassenhally won a novice hurdle at Uttoxeter the following day.
He rode his last two winners in the early part of the 1996/97 season, both of them coming within 24 hours, courtesy of trainer Pam Sly. First, Griffins Bar won the Market Rasen Chamber of Trade and Commerce Handicap Chase on November 7, 1996, then Bassenhally won a novice hurdle at Uttoxeter the following day.
Bassenhally was also Roger’s final ride, unseating him at the fifth fence in a handicap chase at Lingfield on January 22, 1997. He announced his retirement soon afterwards. Remarkably, he never broke a bone during his entire career. In that respect, he must have been unique for a jump jockey.
Bassenhally was also Roger’s final ride, unseating him at the fifth fence in a handicap chase at Lingfield on January 22, 1997. He announced his retirement soon afterwards. Remarkably, he never broke a bone during his entire career. In that respect, he must have been unique for a jump jockey.