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Article by Chris Pitt
Article by Chris Pitt
Brian Anthony Reilly was born in Dunboyne, near Dublin, on September 21, 1957. He began his racing career as an apprentice on the Flat with Ian Balding, who supplied his first winner, Piercing Note, in The Levy Board Apprentices’ Maiden Stakes at Newbury on July 19, 1975.
Brian Anthony Reilly was born in Dunboyne, near Dublin, on September 21, 1957. He began his racing career as an apprentice on the Flat with Ian Balding, who supplied his first winner, Piercing Note, in The Levy Board Apprentices’ Maiden Stakes at Newbury on July 19, 1975.
He rode a total of seven winners on the Flat before rising weight forced him to switch codes and join Toby Balding, brother of Ian, to commence riding over jumps. He had his first success in that sphere on Somersel in a Nottingham selling handicap hurdle on November 22, 1977.
He rode a total of seven winners on the Flat before rising weight forced him to switch codes and join Toby Balding, brother of Ian, to commence riding over jumps. He had his first success in that sphere on Somersel in a Nottingham selling handicap hurdle on November 22, 1977.
Somersel was also Brian’s fifth and final winner of that season when winning the Meyrick Good Handicap Hurdle at Fontwell on Whit Monday, May 29, 1978.
Somersel was also Brian’s fifth and final winner of that season when winning the Meyrick Good Handicap Hurdle at Fontwell on Whit Monday, May 29, 1978.
His score rose rapidly to 22 the following season, although it was brought to an abrupt and painful premature end when he smashed his left thigh in a car accident in March 1979. He was out of action for 13 months, returning on Toby Balding’s Leseluc, who finished sixth at Ludlow on April 16, 1980. He managed to ride three winners in the space of eight days in May before the campaign was over, beginning with Balding’s novice hurdlers Chetinkaya at Newton Abbot, then Rag Time Band at Ludlow and Chetinkaya again at Warwick.
His score rose rapidly to 22 the following season, although it was brought to an abrupt and painful premature end when he smashed his left thigh in a car accident in March 1979. He was out of action for 13 months, returning on Toby Balding’s Leseluc, who finished sixth at Ludlow on April 16, 1980. He managed to ride three winners in the space of eight days in May before the campaign was over, beginning with Balding’s novice hurdlers Chetinkaya at Newton Abbot, then Rag Time Band at Ludlow and Chetinkaya again at Warwick.
Normal service was resumed for the 1980/81 season, during which he rode 23 winners, highlighted by the success of Toby Balding’s chaser Scroggy in the Charisma Records Gold Cup at Kempton on October 18, 1980.
Normal service was resumed for the 1980/81 season, during which he rode 23 winners, highlighted by the success of Toby Balding’s chaser Scroggy in the Charisma Records Gold Cup at Kempton on October 18, 1980.
The following season included victory on the Duke of Atholl’s novice chaser Far Bridge at Wolverhampton in March 1982, beginning an association that would culminate in glory at the top level.
The following season included victory on the Duke of Atholl’s novice chaser Far Bridge at Wolverhampton in March 1982, beginning an association that would culminate in glory at the top level.
Brian got off the mark for 1982/83 by winning Newton Abbot’s Wombat Challenge Cup Handicap Hurdle on Toby Balding’s Leodegrange on the first day of September. However, his eagerly awaited campaign with Far Bridge was over by the end of November, having jumped badly left in the closing stages of Newbury’s Oxfordshire Chase and being beaten 25 lengths by Fred Winter’s Half Free, after which Far Bridge was found to be carrying and injury and was rubbed off for the season.
Brian got off the mark for 1982/83 by winning Newton Abbot’s Wombat Challenge Cup Handicap Hurdle on Toby Balding’s Leodegrange on the first day of September. However, his eagerly awaited campaign with Far Bridge was over by the end of November, having jumped badly left in the closing stages of Newbury’s Oxfordshire Chase and being beaten 25 lengths by Fred Winter’s Half Free, after which Far Bridge was found to be carrying and injury and was rubbed off for the season.
After being sidelined for just over a year, Far Bridge made a winning reappearance at Sandown on December 2, 1983, despite his tendency to jump left. He won twice more from six starts but his season again ended early.
After being sidelined for just over a year, Far Bridge made a winning reappearance at Sandown on December 2, 1983, despite his tendency to jump left. He won twice more from six starts but his season again ended early.
Returning to the fray in November 3, 1984, Brian rode Far Bridge to a short-head victory Sandown’s Holsten Export Lager Chase, overhauling Little Bay who, not for the first time, tried all he knew to throw the race away by pulling himself up on the run-in. The same thing happened when the pair met over course and distance in the Tingle Creek Chase four weeks later, an action replay if ever there was one, with not even the guile of champion jockey John Francome being sufficient to prevent Little Bay downing tools on the run-in, enabling Far Bridge to get back up by a neck to give Brian the biggest victory of his career.
Returning to the fray in November 3, 1984, Brian rode Far Bridge to a short-head victory Sandown’s Holsten Export Lager Chase, overhauling Little Bay who, not for the first time, tried all he knew to throw the race away by pulling himself up on the run-in. The same thing happened when the pair met over course and distance in the Tingle Creek Chase four weeks later, an action replay if ever there was one, with not even the guile of champion jockey John Francome being sufficient to prevent Little Bay downing tools on the run-in, enabling Far Bridge to get back up by a neck to give Brian the biggest victory of his career.
Far Bridge made it far as Cheltenham that season, where, again ridden by Brian, he finished runner-up to Badsworth Boy in the 1985 Queen Mother Champion Chase.
Far Bridge made it far as Cheltenham that season, where, again ridden by Brian, he finished runner-up to Badsworth Boy in the 1985 Queen Mother Champion Chase.
Brian retired from the saddle the following year and subsequently became a racecourse starter while also riding out for Richard Hannon. He was a popular figure among fellow officials and had gained the utmost respect from jockeys as being a very good and fair starter.
Brian retired from the saddle the following year and subsequently became a racecourse starter while also riding out for Richard Hannon. He was a popular figure among fellow officials and had gained the utmost respect from jockeys as being a very good and fair starter.
Unfortunately, in September 2007 Brian was dismissed from his job as a starter following a conviction for drink-driving, having been breathalysed by police on his way to Newbury’s Lockinge meeting in May that year. Under the British Horseracing Authority's conditions of employment, testing over the alcohol limit while in charge of a vehicle on a raceday represented a sacking offence for any official.
Unfortunately, in September 2007 Brian was dismissed from his job as a starter following a conviction for drink-driving, having been breathalysed by police on his way to Newbury’s Lockinge meeting in May that year. Under the British Horseracing Authority's conditions of employment, testing over the alcohol limit while in charge of a vehicle on a raceday represented a sacking offence for any official.
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