Neil Stocks

Neil Stocks

Article by Alan Trout

Neil Andrew Stocks rode as a conditional jockey for Middleham trainer George Moore who provided him with all three of his winners in the first half of the 1990s. 

He had his first success at Sedgefield on January 27, 1993, when Tallywagger took the lead at the last flight and held by half a length the challenge of Shelton Abbey, partnered by future Cheltenham Gold Cup-winning jockey Andrew Thornton, then still an amateur, to land the Acropola Handicap Hurdle, the longest hurdle race in the calendar. The winner’s time for the three miles three furlongs and 110 yards marathon contest was 7 minutes 21.1 seconds.

After the pair had finished third twice they struck again at Newcastle on March 22 when landing the Melton Handicap Hurdle by four lengths after leading most of the way. They were well beaten next time out and Neal had to wait until the following season for his third, and final, victory.

This was back at Sedgefield when Stags Fell overcame a slip on the final bend to win the Britvic Soft Drinks Conditional Jockeys’ Selling Hurdle on September 3, 1993, scoring by ten lengths. He was then placed twice on the eight-year-old before other jockeys took over in the saddle. Neil rode for at least one more season but failed to add to his tally of three wins.

Neil Stocks’ winners were, in chronological order:

1. Tallywagger, Sedgefield, January 27, 1993

2. Tallywagger, Newcastle, March 22, 1993

3. Stags Fell, Sedgefield, September 3, 1993