Chris Seward
Chris Seward was a successful conditional jockey in his native Ireland before coming to Britain, where he rode primarily for Glamorgan trainer Derek Haydn Jones.
Chris Seward was a successful conditional jockey in his native Ireland before coming to Britain, where he rode primarily for Glamorgan trainer Derek Haydn Jones.
He first came to prominence in Ireland during the spring and summer of 1975. After winning the Stewards’ Handicap Chase on Kylogue at Mallow on March 31, Chris then rode Our Albert to win the Easter Handicap Chase at Fairyhouse’s Irish Grand National meeting and followed up on him in the Drogheda Handicap Chase at Punchestown on April 29.
He first came to prominence in Ireland during the spring and summer of 1975. After winning the Stewards’ Handicap Chase on Kylogue at Mallow on March 31, Chris then rode Our Albert to win the Easter Handicap Chase at Fairyhouse’s Irish Grand National meeting and followed up on him in the Drogheda Handicap Chase at Punchestown on April 29.
He then won again on Kylogue at Mallow in May, the pair following up in the Jimmy Fox Memorial Handicap Chase at Roscommon in June. Later that month, Chris won the Meath Hurdle at Bellewstown on the Padge Berry-trained Auburn, then in July he won a handicap hurdle on Tom Bergin’s Hainey’s Machine at the Galway Festival. He rode two winners at Waterford & Tramore’s August meeting: Kylogue in the Festival Handicap Chase and Red Piper in the Sir James Hope-Nelson Cup Novice Chase.
He then won again on Kylogue at Mallow in May, the pair following up in the Jimmy Fox Memorial Handicap Chase at Roscommon in June. Later that month, Chris won the Meath Hurdle at Bellewstown on the Padge Berry-trained Auburn, then in July he won a handicap hurdle on Tom Bergin’s Hainey’s Machine at the Galway Festival. He rode two winners at Waterford & Tramore’s August meeting: Kylogue in the Festival Handicap Chase and Red Piper in the Sir James Hope-Nelson Cup Novice Chase.
Reunited with Kylogue, Chris won the Ulster Bank Hurdle at Wexford on August 25 and the Paget Cup Chase at Tralee on September 3. The same month saw Chris win the John McKenna Hurdle at the Listowel Festival on Padge Berry’s Scar Bridge. At Fairyhouse’s 1976 Easter fixture he won the Denis Baggallay Opportunity Handicap Chase on Auburn. Three days later he guided Mick O’Toole’s Seven Monkeys to victory in a Thurles maiden hurdle.
Reunited with Kylogue, Chris won the Ulster Bank Hurdle at Wexford on August 25 and the Paget Cup Chase at Tralee on September 3. The same month saw Chris win the John McKenna Hurdle at the Listowel Festival on Padge Berry’s Scar Bridge. At Fairyhouse’s 1976 Easter fixture he won the Denis Baggallay Opportunity Handicap Chase on Auburn. Three days later he guided Mick O’Toole’s Seven Monkeys to victory in a Thurles maiden hurdle.
Chris’s first ride in Britain was a winning one, aboard the Irish-trained Bay God in the Torranyard (4yo) Hurdle at Ayr on Scottish Grand National day, April 16, 1977. But it was not until 1999 that he came to Britain to ride full time, based initially with Mick Naughton in the north of England. He rode two winners that season (1978/79), namely Naughton’s selling hurdler Irish Image at Catterick on April 19 and handicap chaser Chosen Slave at Sedgefield on May 25.
Chris’s first ride in Britain was a winning one, aboard the Irish-trained Bay God in the Torranyard (4yo) Hurdle at Ayr on Scottish Grand National day, April 16, 1977. But it was not until 1999 that he came to Britain to ride full time, based initially with Mick Naughton in the north of England. He rode two winners that season (1978/79), namely Naughton’s selling hurdler Irish Image at Catterick on April 19 and handicap chaser Chosen Slave at Sedgefield on May 25.
Sadly, Chris did not achieve the same level of success that he’d enjoyed in Ireland. He rode no winners at all in the 1979/80 season and just one the next, that being on Derek Haydn Jones’ Patricks Fair in the Henley Hall Gold Challenge Cup Handicap Hurdle at Ludlow on April 16, 1981. The following season (1981/82) he won novice hurdles on the Haydn Jones pair Time Gents at Devon & Exeter in August and Tanglo at Worcester in February.
Sadly, Chris did not achieve the same level of success that he’d enjoyed in Ireland. He rode no winners at all in the 1979/80 season and just one the next, that being on Derek Haydn Jones’ Patricks Fair in the Henley Hall Gold Challenge Cup Handicap Hurdle at Ludlow on April 16, 1981. The following season (1981/82) he won novice hurdles on the Haydn Jones pair Time Gents at Devon & Exeter in August and Tanglo at Worcester in February.
Chris had better luck in the 1982/83 campaign, riding a total of eight winners. They included Patricks Fair in the Bob Wigney Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham on November 13, 1982; a Stratford double on February 26, 1983 (right) comprising Patricks Fair in the valuable Ladbroke Handicap Hurdle and selling hurdler Sir Doro; and Bally Task in the Harry Isaacs Novices’ Handicap Hurdle at Hereford on March 8. He also finished third on Patricks Fair in the Holiday Inn Handicap Hurdle at Liverpool’s 1983 Grand National meeting.
Chris had better luck in the 1982/83 campaign, riding a total of eight winners. They included Patricks Fair in the Bob Wigney Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham on November 13, 1982; a Stratford double on February 26, 1983 (right) comprising Patricks Fair in the valuable Ladbroke Handicap Hurdle and selling hurdler Sir Doro; and Bally Task in the Harry Isaacs Novices’ Handicap Hurdle at Hereford on March 8. He also finished third on Patricks Fair in the Holiday Inn Handicap Hurdle at Liverpool’s 1983 Grand National meeting.
He rode just two winners the following season, both for Derek Haydn Jones, namely novice hurdler Kamag at Worcester on October 7 and Patrick’s Fair (now spelt in the form book with an apostrophe) in the Sea Pigeon Handicap Hurdle (left) at Doncaster on December 16, 1983. Those were Chris’s last two winners.
He rode just two winners the following season, both for Derek Haydn Jones, namely novice hurdler Kamag at Worcester on October 7 and Patrick’s Fair (now spelt in the form book with an apostrophe) in the Sea Pigeon Handicap Hurdle (left) at Doncaster on December 16, 1983. Those were Chris’s last two winners.
After hanging up his boots he continued his association with Derek Haydn Jones as head groom and became a vital cog in his training operation. However, in July 2006 he came close to losing his life in a saddling box at Nottingham. He was attempting, along with jockey Robert Havlin’s help, to fit blinkers to Haydn Jones’ Silver Bells when the filly threw her head back, hurling Chris against a wall. The blow to his head induced a heart attack. Luckily, Robert Havlin’s fiancée attended first aid courses and he’d picked up one or two things while she practiced on him. Robert was able to put Chris in the recovery position while holding the horse with his other hand and was also able to alert the paramedics who were situated nearby with the ambulance.
After hanging up his boots he continued his association with Derek Haydn Jones as head groom and became a vital cog in his training operation. However, in July 2006 he came close to losing his life in a saddling box at Nottingham. He was attempting, along with jockey Robert Havlin’s help, to fit blinkers to Haydn Jones’ Silver Bells when the filly threw her head back, hurling Chris against a wall. The blow to his head induced a heart attack. Luckily, Robert Havlin’s fiancée attended first aid courses and he’d picked up one or two things while she practiced on him. Robert was able to put Chris in the recovery position while holding the horse with his other hand and was also able to alert the paramedics who were situated nearby with the ambulance.
Chris spent almost five days unconscious in intensive care at the Queen’s Medical Centre in Nottingham following the incident and there was thought to be a risk of brain damage as his heart had stopped five times. However, he eventually recovered and was able to thank Robert Havlin and the medical team for saving his life.
Chris spent almost five days unconscious in intensive care at the Queen’s Medical Centre in Nottingham following the incident and there was thought to be a risk of brain damage as his heart had stopped five times. However, he eventually recovered and was able to thank Robert Havlin and the medical team for saving his life.