Jimmy Scott-Aiton
The name of amateur rider Jimmy Scott-Aiton will always be associated with the popular, almost white Scottish hunter chaser The Callant, winner of the Cheltenham Foxhunters in 1956 and 1957.
The name of amateur rider Jimmy Scott-Aiton will always be associated with the popular, almost white Scottish hunter chaser The Callant, winner of the Cheltenham Foxhunters in 1956 and 1957.
A quiet and confident rider, Jimmy rode his first winner under National Hunt rules on Merely a Mascot in the John McKie Hunters’ Challenge Cup Chase at Carlisle on Easter Monday 1953.
A quiet and confident rider, Jimmy rode his first winner under National Hunt rules on Merely a Mascot in the John McKie Hunters’ Challenge Cup Chase at Carlisle on Easter Monday 1953.
The Callant was foaled in 1948 on the farm of Charlie Scott at Mossburnford, Jedburgh. His dam, Windywalls, was a thoroughbred mare who only escaped being put down as a wartime measure through being given to Mr Scott as a present when she was three years old.
The Callant was foaled in 1948 on the farm of Charlie Scott at Mossburnford, Jedburgh. His dam, Windywalls, was a thoroughbred mare who only escaped being put down as a wartime measure through being given to Mr Scott as a present when she was three years old.
Mr Scott hunted The Callant regularly with the Jedforest. It is said that all his friends had a day’s hunting on him, and that one season he carried a grandfather, a grandmother, a father, mother and a young girl, as well as his owner. Mr Scott qualified him for point-to-points, of which he won six, all with Jimmy Scott-Aiton on board.
Mr Scott hunted The Callant regularly with the Jedforest. It is said that all his friends had a day’s hunting on him, and that one season he carried a grandfather, a grandmother, a father, mother and a young girl, as well as his owner. Mr Scott qualified him for point-to-points, of which he won six, all with Jimmy Scott-Aiton on board.
The Callant spent his early life on his owner’s farm until being put into training with Stewart Wight at Grantshouse. Partnered by Jimmy, he made a winning hunter chase debut when landing the locally prestigious Heart of All England Hunt Cup at Hexham on April 30, 1955. They followed that by winning at Kelso just four days later and won again at Hexham over the Whitsun Bank Holiday.
The Callant spent his early life on his owner’s farm until being put into training with Stewart Wight at Grantshouse. Partnered by Jimmy, he made a winning hunter chase debut when landing the locally prestigious Heart of All England Hunt Cup at Hexham on April 30, 1955. They followed that by winning at Kelso just four days later and won again at Hexham over the Whitsun Bank Holiday.
In 1956, Jimmy and The Callant kicked off with a win at Kelso and then scored on the biggest stage of all in the 1956 Foxhunters’ Challenge Cup at Cheltenham’s National Hunt meeting. A bad blunder at the last fence resulted in a three-length defeat next time out at Ayr but they returned to winning ways in the John Peel Cup at Manchester over Easter. Two weeks later they won the Rothbury Cup at that annual Northumberland fixture, although they had to struggle to beat De Combat by half a length.
In 1956, Jimmy and The Callant kicked off with a win at Kelso and then scored on the biggest stage of all in the 1956 Foxhunters’ Challenge Cup at Cheltenham’s National Hunt meeting. A bad blunder at the last fence resulted in a three-length defeat next time out at Ayr but they returned to winning ways in the John Peel Cup at Manchester over Easter. Two weeks later they won the Rothbury Cup at that annual Northumberland fixture, although they had to struggle to beat De Combat by half a length.
There then followed an extraordinary incident in the two-runner Perth Hunt Balnakeilly Challenge Cup Hunters’ Chase. The Callant was in front when falling at the last fence and, in the process, bringing down his sole rival Mr Gay. The latter’s rider, Arthur (W.A.) Stephenson, was the quicker of the pair to remount and went on to win by a distance.
There then followed an extraordinary incident in the two-runner Perth Hunt Balnakeilly Challenge Cup Hunters’ Chase. The Callant was in front when falling at the last fence and, in the process, bringing down his sole rival Mr Gay. The latter’s rider, Arthur (W.A.) Stephenson, was the quicker of the pair to remount and went on to win by a distance.
Danny Moralee was on board when The Callant won Kelso’s United Border Hunt Chase next time out, but Jimmy was back in the saddle to guide him to an effortless victory in the Adam Scott Memorial Cup at Hexham on his final start of the season. By that time, The Callant had only lost twice in his last 14 point-to-points and hunter chases over the previous two years.
Danny Moralee was on board when The Callant won Kelso’s United Border Hunt Chase next time out, but Jimmy was back in the saddle to guide him to an effortless victory in the Adam Scott Memorial Cup at Hexham on his final start of the season. By that time, The Callant had only lost twice in his last 14 point-to-points and hunter chases over the previous two years.
However, Jimmy and The Callant made a disastrous start to their 1957 campaign, falling at the very first fence at Doncaster. Jimmy jumped back on him and completed the course in their own time, last of four finishers. They soon put that behind them, winning the same Kelso hunter chase they’d won the previous year, then winning the Cheltenham Foxhunters for a second time, beating Colledge Master by three lengths. Eight days later, The Callant and Jimmy started prohibitive 6/1 on favourites for a minor contest at Manchester, yet they struggled to beat 20/1 outsider Jumna by a head.
However, Jimmy and The Callant made a disastrous start to their 1957 campaign, falling at the very first fence at Doncaster. Jimmy jumped back on him and completed the course in their own time, last of four finishers. They soon put that behind them, winning the same Kelso hunter chase they’d won the previous year, then winning the Cheltenham Foxhunters for a second time, beating Colledge Master by three lengths. Eight days later, The Callant and Jimmy started prohibitive 6/1 on favourites for a minor contest at Manchester, yet they struggled to beat 20/1 outsider Jumna by a head.
Jumna reopposed The Callant next time out in the Rothbury Cup, for which the latter was the 3/1 on favourite and looked to have a relatively simple task. The Callant set off in front, leading his two rivals, Jumna and Pericoloso, into the back straight where he made a series of fine leaps, a master showing his pupils how it should be done. But he hit the eleventh fence hard and slithered to the ground. Encouraged by the shouts of those who had backed him, Jimmy quickly remounted and set off in pursuit. They gallantly got within striking distance of the other pair but finished six lengths behind Jumna and two behind Pericoloso.
Jumna reopposed The Callant next time out in the Rothbury Cup, for which the latter was the 3/1 on favourite and looked to have a relatively simple task. The Callant set off in front, leading his two rivals, Jumna and Pericoloso, into the back straight where he made a series of fine leaps, a master showing his pupils how it should be done. But he hit the eleventh fence hard and slithered to the ground. Encouraged by the shouts of those who had backed him, Jimmy quickly remounted and set off in pursuit. They gallantly got within striking distance of the other pair but finished six lengths behind Jumna and two behind Pericoloso.
The Callant’s trainer, Stewart Wight, then elected to run him in the inaugural running of the Whitbread Gold Cup, a £5,000 steeplechase at Sandown Park. Unfortunately, The Callant blundered at the eight fence and Jimmy went out the side door.
The Callant’s trainer, Stewart Wight, then elected to run him in the inaugural running of the Whitbread Gold Cup, a £5,000 steeplechase at Sandown Park. Unfortunately, The Callant blundered at the eight fence and Jimmy went out the side door.
The Callant was campaigned in handicap company for the 1957/58 season and was professionally ridden. He won four minor chases and ran well to finish fourth in the first running of the Hennessy Gold Cup, for which he’d started favourite.
The Callant was campaigned in handicap company for the 1957/58 season and was professionally ridden. He won four minor chases and ran well to finish fourth in the first running of the Hennessy Gold Cup, for which he’d started favourite.
The following season, The Callant finished last of five finishers in the King George VI Chase and fell in the 1959 Eider Chase. He was off the course for over a year, returning to finish second in a Kelso hunter chase under Graham Macmillan in March 1960. He never ran again.
The following season, The Callant finished last of five finishers in the King George VI Chase and fell in the 1959 Eider Chase. He was off the course for over a year, returning to finish second in a Kelso hunter chase under Graham Macmillan in March 1960. He never ran again.
Although his exertions into top handicap company were not successful, it is possible that he would have more races if he hadn’t made periodical returns to the hunting field. During his peak, The Callant’s owner was content to describe him as the “best hunter in the world”. When he wasn’t hunting or racing, he carried Mr Scott around the farm, and grazed with the cattle in the winter.
Although his exertions into top handicap company were not successful, it is possible that he would have more races if he hadn’t made periodical returns to the hunting field. During his peak, The Callant’s owner was content to describe him as the “best hunter in the world”. When he wasn’t hunting or racing, he carried Mr Scott around the farm, and grazed with the cattle in the winter.
As for Jimmy Scott-Aiton, he continued to have the occasional ride in hunter chases and rode three more winners, the first of those being on Bright Beach in the John McKie Hunters’ Chase at Carlisle on Easter Monday 1965. In 1966 and 1967 he won back to back runnings of the Buccleuch Hunters’ Chase on Charlie Scott’s Jednook.
As for Jimmy Scott-Aiton, he continued to have the occasional ride in hunter chases and rode three more winners, the first of those being on Bright Beach in the John McKie Hunters’ Chase at Carlisle on Easter Monday 1965. In 1966 and 1967 he won back to back runnings of the Buccleuch Hunters’ Chase on Charlie Scott’s Jednook.
He later became a steward at the Scottish racecourses. He died, aged 66, on March 19, 1990.
He later became a steward at the Scottish racecourses. He died, aged 66, on March 19, 1990.
Jimmy Scott-Aiton’s winners under National Hunt rules were, in chronological order:
Jimmy Scott-Aiton’s winners under National Hunt rules were, in chronological order:
1 Merely a Mascot, Carlisle, April 6, 1953
1 Merely a Mascot, Carlisle, April 6, 1953
2. The Callant, Hexham, April 30, 1955
2. The Callant, Hexham, April 30, 1955
3. The Callant, Kelso, May 4, 1955
3. The Callant, Kelso, May 4, 1955
4. The Callant, Hexham, May 28, 1955
4. The Callant, Hexham, May 28, 1955
5. The Callant, Kelso, March 3, 1956
5. The Callant, Kelso, March 3, 1956
6. The Callant, Cheltenham, March 8, 1956
6. The Callant, Cheltenham, March 8, 1956
7. The Callant, Manchester, March 31, 1956
7. The Callant, Manchester, March 31, 1956
8. The Callant, Rothbury, April 14, 1956
8. The Callant, Rothbury, April 14, 1956
9. The Callant, Hexham, May 19, 1956
9. The Callant, Hexham, May 19, 1956
10. The Callant, Kelso, March 2, 1957
10. The Callant, Kelso, March 2, 1957
11. The Callant, Cheltenham, March 14, 1957
11. The Callant, Cheltenham, March 14, 1957
12. The Callant, Manchester, March 22, 1957
12. The Callant, Manchester, March 22, 1957
13. Bright Beach, Carlisle, April 19, 1965
13. Bright Beach, Carlisle, April 19, 1965
14. Jednook, Kelso, May 4, 1966
14. Jednook, Kelso, May 4, 1966
15. Jednook, Kelso, May 2, 1967
15. Jednook, Kelso, May 2, 1967
The Callant and Jimmy Scott-Aiton lead at the open ditch in the members' race at the Buccleuch and Jedforest point-to-point in 1955. Following them is Ken Oliver on Duncormick, a well-known winner in the show-ring.
The Callant and Jimmy Scott-Aiton lead at the open ditch in the members' race at the Buccleuch and Jedforest point-to-point in 1955. Following them is Ken Oliver on Duncormick, a well-known winner in the show-ring.
The Callant and Jimmy Scott-Aiton jump the last fence
The Callant and Jimmy Scott-Aiton jump the last fence
to win the 1957 Cheltenham Foxhunters' Chase.
to win the 1957 Cheltenham Foxhunters' Chase.
