David Rickells

David Rickells

Article by Alan Trout

David Rickells was associated with the Wellingore, Lincolnshire stable of former jump jockey Basil Richmond during the 1970s and rode six winners.

He had his first ride in public at Wye on April 8, 1974, when Markus was a never dangerous third in the Waltham Selling Handicap Hurdle. He had his first winner when the nine-year-old Taybar, owned and trained by Basil Richmond, landed the Kinnoull Opportunity Selling Handicap Hurdle at Perth on September 25, 1974. 

It was exactly a year later, in the same race at the same course and for the same owner/trainer, that he next visited the winner’s enclosure. His mount this time was the 10-year-old I Like It, catching October Fair near the line to win by half a length. 

He rode three more winners that season, the first of them at Fakenham on February 20 aboard Highway Robbery, running on strongly to land the Sheringham Selling Handicap Hurdle by a length and a half. Then at Market Rasen on March 6 there was a much more comfortable victory on Gusty Somers in the Lodge Novices’ Hurdle, the winning margin being ten lengths. 

Following his Fakenham victory, Highway Robbery had been well beaten at Catterick and then slipped up and unseated David at Uttoxeter, but at Fakenham on Easter Monday the pair finished second to Arctic Blizzard in the Raynham Selling Hurdle but were awarded the race on a disqualification. 

David had his sixth and final win at Market Rasen on December 27, 1976, when the three-year-old Supreme Vista held the challenge of Alan Brown on Stormy Affair to land the Accurate Junior Novices’ Hurdle by a neck. Sadly, David did not keep the ride and Andy Turnell was in the saddle two weeks later when Supreme Vista won the Golden Miller Pattern Hurdle at Leicester, providing Basil Richmond with the biggest winner of his training career. 

David had his last ride at Market Rasen on Boxing Day 1977, when Harry’s Fizzale finished third in the Risby Selling Handicap Hurdle but was promoted to second when the winner, Jolly Melody, was disqualified for carrying the wrong wight. 

David Rickells’ wins were, in chronological order:

1. Taybar, Perth, September 25, 1974

2. I Like It, Perth, September 25, 1975

3. Highway Robbery, Fakenham, February 20, 1976

4. Gusty Somers, Market Rasen, March 6, 1976

5. Highway Robbery, Fakenham, April 19, 1976

6. Supreme Vista, Market Rasen, December 27, 1976