Embedded Files
1952 - 1994
1952 - 1994
Article by Chris Pitt
Article by Chris Pitt
Roy Mangan was a popular National Hunt jockey whose career spanned the 1970s and saw him ride more than 50 winners. He was associated with David ‘The Duke’ Nicholson’s stables for much of that time and acquired a reputation for being not only a fine horseman but also a great practical joker.
Roy Mangan was a popular National Hunt jockey whose career spanned the 1970s and saw him ride more than 50 winners. He was associated with David ‘The Duke’ Nicholson’s stables for much of that time and acquired a reputation for being not only a fine horseman but also a great practical joker.
There are stories galore about his macabre sense of humour and outrageous pranks, particularly, it seems, when it came to cars, including putting a chicken in Nigel Twiston-Davies’ car, filling a stable lad’s car with old leaves, and spreading cow manure on the screens of several cars at a wedding reception. It was not done maliciously, merely out of high spirits. As Nicholson remarked in his autobiography, ‘You could never be sure what he would do next”. John Francome recalls that Roy kept a policeman’s helmet in his car and would often put it on during journeys and wave passing cars to pull in, and then drive away chortling.
There are stories galore about his macabre sense of humour and outrageous pranks, particularly, it seems, when it came to cars, including putting a chicken in Nigel Twiston-Davies’ car, filling a stable lad’s car with old leaves, and spreading cow manure on the screens of several cars at a wedding reception. It was not done maliciously, merely out of high spirits. As Nicholson remarked in his autobiography, ‘You could never be sure what he would do next”. John Francome recalls that Roy kept a policeman’s helmet in his car and would often put it on during journeys and wave passing cars to pull in, and then drive away chortling.
Born on August 3, 1952, Roy served his apprenticeship with Joe Hartigan at Middleham, although his first winner – handicap chaser Prince Arum at Fakenham on Whit Monday, May 29, 1972 – was for permit holder Frank Richards, who trained at Glebe Farm Cottage, Lower Shuckburgh, near Daventry, Northamptonshire.
Born on August 3, 1952, Roy served his apprenticeship with Joe Hartigan at Middleham, although his first winner – handicap chaser Prince Arum at Fakenham on Whit Monday, May 29, 1972 – was for permit holder Frank Richards, who trained at Glebe Farm Cottage, Lower Shuckburgh, near Daventry, Northamptonshire.
Three of Roy’s four winners the following season were for Pat Kearney, whose stables were at Withington, near Cheltenham, beginning with selling hurdler Balotti at Leicester on New Year’s Day 1973. Handicap hurdler Roman Tiffin, at Taunton on February 8, was his next, and he enjoyed the luxury of a walkover on Scottish Secrets at Haydock in March. Another Withington trainer keen to use Roy’s services was Jimmy Brennan, who provided him with an Ascot winner courtesy of stable star Alice’s Boy in a novice riders’ handicap chase on February 15.
Three of Roy’s four winners the following season were for Pat Kearney, whose stables were at Withington, near Cheltenham, beginning with selling hurdler Balotti at Leicester on New Year’s Day 1973. Handicap hurdler Roman Tiffin, at Taunton on February 8, was his next, and he enjoyed the luxury of a walkover on Scottish Secrets at Haydock in March. Another Withington trainer keen to use Roy’s services was Jimmy Brennan, who provided him with an Ascot winner courtesy of stable star Alice’s Boy in a novice riders’ handicap chase on February 15.
Roy became the regular partner of Alice’s Boy, who won again at Ascot in January 1974, as did Belotti at Nottingham. He also won twice within five days on Bridgwater trainer John Thorne’s novice hurdler Go-Over at Bangor and Stratford in April.
Roy became the regular partner of Alice’s Boy, who won again at Ascot in January 1974, as did Belotti at Nottingham. He also won twice within five days on Bridgwater trainer John Thorne’s novice hurdler Go-Over at Bangor and Stratford in April.
In June 1974 Roy had the thrill of riding Alice’s Boy in the 4m 110yds Grand Steeplechase de Paris at Auteuil. It was an ambitious tilt and the horse finished well beaten, although he at least got round, which was more than could be said for fellow English raider Boom Docker (Richard Evans) or Irish-trained Inkslinger (Tommy Carberry), both of which were pulled up. Unfortunately, Alice’s Boy’s form then tailed right off and he was never so much as placed in any of his subsequent ten races during the 1974/75 season. That was synonymous with what turned into a disappointing campaign for Roy, his only winners being on Go-Over in a Taunton novices’ chase in October and Roman Tiffin at Nottingham in January.
In June 1974 Roy had the thrill of riding Alice’s Boy in the 4m 110yds Grand Steeplechase de Paris at Auteuil. It was an ambitious tilt and the horse finished well beaten, although he at least got round, which was more than could be said for fellow English raider Boom Docker (Richard Evans) or Irish-trained Inkslinger (Tommy Carberry), both of which were pulled up. Unfortunately, Alice’s Boy’s form then tailed right off and he was never so much as placed in any of his subsequent ten races during the 1974/75 season. That was synonymous with what turned into a disappointing campaign for Roy, his only winners being on Go-Over in a Taunton novices’ chase in October and Roman Tiffin at Nottingham in January.
From then on, however, his luck changed for the better when becoming a part of David Nicholson’s training operation at Condicote, near Stow-on-the-Wold at the beginning of the 1975/76 campaign. He’s gone there initially just to ride out and to mend the tack, a skill he’d picked up during his time with Joe Hartigan, but it soon became clear that he was a fine horseman, too.
From then on, however, his luck changed for the better when becoming a part of David Nicholson’s training operation at Condicote, near Stow-on-the-Wold at the beginning of the 1975/76 campaign. He’s gone there initially just to ride out and to mend the tack, a skill he’d picked up during his time with Joe Hartigan, but it soon became clear that he was a fine horseman, too.
Roy got off to a good start with his new boss by winning on novice chaser Level Start at Southwell on August 9, 1976 and it got better still when he won a 2m 4f handicap chase on No Defence at Worcester on September 18. He won again on No Defence at Wincanton on October 3, was disqualified and placed second for bumping after passing the post first at Kempton on October 20, and nine days after that became the beneficiary of the second walkover of his career on No Defence at Ludlow.
Roy got off to a good start with his new boss by winning on novice chaser Level Start at Southwell on August 9, 1976 and it got better still when he won a 2m 4f handicap chase on No Defence at Worcester on September 18. He won again on No Defence at Wincanton on October 3, was disqualified and placed second for bumping after passing the post first at Kempton on October 20, and nine days after that became the beneficiary of the second walkover of his career on No Defence at Ludlow.
Roy was reunited with No Defence to win at Cheltenham in December, following up at Wolverhampton’s Christmas fixture, adding another at Doncaster in January and then winning again at Warwick in February. His other victories in a ten-winner haul that season came on John Edwards’ handicap hurdler Good Prospect, firstly at Newbury on January 2 and then in the Clive Graham Trophy at Chepstow on February 21.
Roy was reunited with No Defence to win at Cheltenham in December, following up at Wolverhampton’s Christmas fixture, adding another at Doncaster in January and then winning again at Warwick in February. His other victories in a ten-winner haul that season came on John Edwards’ handicap hurdler Good Prospect, firstly at Newbury on January 2 and then in the Clive Graham Trophy at Chepstow on February 21.
The 1976/77 season was Roy’s best, notching a total of 21 winners, including two on No Defence, at Stratford in September and Sandown in October. Ten of them came during a prolific spell in April and May 1977, consisting of Nicholson’s dual-scoring novice chasers Game Gentleman and Stanway Lad, one each on Christmas Comet and Free Motion, two more on handicap chaser Buckshell, once on novice hurdler Regal Command, plus a ‘spare’ on the Johnny Haine-trained Indian Tea at Warwick.
The 1976/77 season was Roy’s best, notching a total of 21 winners, including two on No Defence, at Stratford in September and Sandown in October. Ten of them came during a prolific spell in April and May 1977, consisting of Nicholson’s dual-scoring novice chasers Game Gentleman and Stanway Lad, one each on Christmas Comet and Free Motion, two more on handicap chaser Buckshell, once on novice hurdler Regal Command, plus a ‘spare’ on the Johnny Haine-trained Indian Tea at Warwick.
The next season, 1977/78, was not quite as successful as the one before, although he won more races on Game Gentleman and Free Motion, while No Defence was gifted yet another walkover at Sandown. He also rode Nicholson’s novice chaser Prebihas to three consecutive victories, winning at Carlisle and Nottingham in November and then landing the Henry VIII Novices’ Chase at Sandown in December, the biggest success of Roy’s career. Sadly, Prebihas collapsed and died after finishing second in a chase at Ascot four months later.
The next season, 1977/78, was not quite as successful as the one before, although he won more races on Game Gentleman and Free Motion, while No Defence was gifted yet another walkover at Sandown. He also rode Nicholson’s novice chaser Prebihas to three consecutive victories, winning at Carlisle and Nottingham in November and then landing the Henry VIII Novices’ Chase at Sandown in December, the biggest success of Roy’s career. Sadly, Prebihas collapsed and died after finishing second in a chase at Ascot four months later.
Roy also rode Game Gentleman in the 1978 Scottish Grand National at Ayr, finishing seventh. Meanwhile, his connection with former top jockey turned trainer Johnny Haine bore fruit on the Saturday of Towcester’s Easter meeting, winning both feature races, the Schilizzi Challenge Bowl Chase on Mekhala and the Schilizzi 1906 Commemorative Challenge Cup on Regal Choice.
Roy also rode Game Gentleman in the 1978 Scottish Grand National at Ayr, finishing seventh. Meanwhile, his connection with former top jockey turned trainer Johnny Haine bore fruit on the Saturday of Towcester’s Easter meeting, winning both feature races, the Schilizzi Challenge Bowl Chase on Mekhala and the Schilizzi 1906 Commemorative Challenge Cup on Regal Choice.
The 1978/79 campaign yielded just three winners, including one on Game Gentleman in the appropriately-named Last Chance
The 1978/79 campaign yielded just three winners, including one on Game Gentleman in the appropriately-named Last Chance
Chase at Warwick at the end of May. The following season brought two, the first being on David Gandolfo’s Kirkstone Pass at Stratford in November, the second – what would prove to be the final winner of Roy’s career – on Johnny Haine’s Slippery Dick at Uttoxeter on Thursday, December 13, 1979.
Chase at Warwick at the end of May. The following season brought two, the first being on David Gandolfo’s Kirkstone Pass at Stratford in November, the second – what would prove to be the final winner of Roy’s career – on Johnny Haine’s Slippery Dick at Uttoxeter on Thursday, December 13, 1979.
Increasing weight, injuries and a constant battle with asthma caused the irrepressible Roy to finally hang up his riding boots, besides which he was finding it necessary to devote ever more time to the flourishing tack and saddlery business, which he set up in conjunction with his wife Julia, Nicholson’s former secretary, in Stow-on-the-Wold.
Increasing weight, injuries and a constant battle with asthma caused the irrepressible Roy to finally hang up his riding boots, besides which he was finding it necessary to devote ever more time to the flourishing tack and saddlery business, which he set up in conjunction with his wife Julia, Nicholson’s former secretary, in Stow-on-the-Wold.
Roy’s friends and colleagues were devastated when he died suddenly from an asthma attack on Saturday, June 4, 1994. At his funeral, the church was packed to overflowing with standing room only. “It was,” said David Nicholson, “one of the saddest days of my life.”
Roy’s friends and colleagues were devastated when he died suddenly from an asthma attack on Saturday, June 4, 1994. At his funeral, the church was packed to overflowing with standing room only. “It was,” said David Nicholson, “one of the saddest days of my life.”
Roy left a widow, Julia, who is now a well-respected almoner for the Injured Jockeys Fund, and two daughters, Melissa and Isabelle. Former jockey Allen Webb stepped in to help Julia fulfil her desire to keep the business going – it is now called Mangan and Webb – and with the help of the IJF it duly became a trust which also helps train ex-jockeys in the art of saddlery.
Roy left a widow, Julia, who is now a well-respected almoner for the Injured Jockeys Fund, and two daughters, Melissa and Isabelle. Former jockey Allen Webb stepped in to help Julia fulfil her desire to keep the business going – it is now called Mangan and Webb – and with the help of the IJF it duly became a trust which also helps train ex-jockeys in the art of saddlery.
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