Serge Rochet

French jump jockey Serge Raoul Rochet rode three winners in England in the 1930s, including two important races, Liverpool’s Champion Chase and Hurst Park’s Triumph Hurdle.

His first English ride was at Gatwick on March 3, 1934, when partnering French challenger Noiseau in the National Trial Chase. The pair finished third behind Jack Fawcus on Southern Hero. Their target in 21 days’ time was not the Grand National itself but the Champion Chase over those same Liverpool fences. Serge and Noiseau duly romped home, beating Gerry Wilson’s mount Kakushin by three lengths. 

Lewes-based George Poole had been in temporary charge of the French raider and he continued to oversee the horse’s training the following season. Alas, things did not go so well when reunited with Serge, for although they finished fourth in the National Trial Chase, Noiseau was a faller in the Champion Chase when bidding for a repeat victory. 

The 1938/39 campaign was far more successful. At Kempton Park on December 3, 1938, Serge teamed up with the five-year-old Vitement, trained by Arthur Manby, to land the Staines Handicap Hurdle by six lengths. 

On March 11, 1939, Serge rode the French-trained Grey Talk in the inaugural running of the Triumph Hurdle for four-year-olds at Hurst Park. Grey Talk had been the champion three-year-old hurdler in France in 1938 and was having his first start in England. Relishing the sticky conditions after heavy rain, he took up the running three flights from home and beat Carton, partnered by Fred Rickaby, by eight lengths. 

Grey Talk never ran in Britain again, whereas Serge had a final ride on another French challenger, Cormery, unplaced in the Liverpool Hurdle on March 23, 1939.