Robin Sandys-Clarke
Amateur rider Robin Sandys-Clarke achieved his biggest success when winning Newcastle’s Eider Chase in 1990 on Jelupe, whom he also owned and trained under permit.
Amateur rider Robin Sandys-Clarke achieved his biggest success when winning Newcastle’s Eider Chase in 1990 on Jelupe, whom he also owned and trained under permit.
Robin Peter Sandys-Clarke was born in 1943, the son of Willard Sandys-Clarke who served as a Lieutenant in the 1st Battalion Loyal Regiment North Lancashire and was killed that same year while fighting in Tunisia. He was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for gallantry in the face of enemy fire.
Robin Peter Sandys-Clarke was born in 1943, the son of Willard Sandys-Clarke who served as a Lieutenant in the 1st Battalion Loyal Regiment North Lancashire and was killed that same year while fighting in Tunisia. He was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for gallantry in the face of enemy fire.
A chartered surveyor by profession, Robin began riding under National Hunt rules in the mid-1960s.
A chartered surveyor by profession, Robin began riding under National Hunt rules in the mid-1960s.
Some of of his earliest mounts were courtesy of owner-trainer George Wallace’s ten-year-old Le Perche, whom he rode three times over hurdles during the early months of 1965 before refusing over fences at Huntingdon on Easter Monday. He also picked up a spare ride that day for Earl Jones on maiden hurdler Frigomo, but finished unplaced.
Some of of his earliest mounts were courtesy of owner-trainer George Wallace’s ten-year-old Le Perche, whom he rode three times over hurdles during the early months of 1965 before refusing over fences at Huntingdon on Easter Monday. He also picked up a spare ride that day for Earl Jones on maiden hurdler Frigomo, but finished unplaced.
It was George Wallace who provided Robin with his first winner under National Hunt rules, on Esquire in the Holt Handicap Chase at Fakenham on Whit Monday, May 29, 1967.
It was George Wallace who provided Robin with his first winner under National Hunt rules, on Esquire in the Holt Handicap Chase at Fakenham on Whit Monday, May 29, 1967.
However, the horse that would bring him the greatest success was the Jelupe, bred by his wife Caroline and owned, trained and ridden throughout his career by Robin. They won a number of point-to-points and then made a winning debut under rules, winning a Catterick novices’ hunters’ chase on March 8, 1989. They followed up that success with victory in a similar contest at Newcastle twelve days later, and wound up the season on June 2 with victory in the Autocar Transporter Champion Novices’ Hunters’ Chase – better known as the John Corbet Cup – at Stratford.
However, the horse that would bring him the greatest success was the Jelupe, bred by his wife Caroline and owned, trained and ridden throughout his career by Robin. They won a number of point-to-points and then made a winning debut under rules, winning a Catterick novices’ hunters’ chase on March 8, 1989. They followed up that success with victory in a similar contest at Newcastle twelve days later, and wound up the season on June 2 with victory in the Autocar Transporter Champion Novices’ Hunters’ Chase – better known as the John Corbet Cup – at Stratford.
Robin campaigned Jelupe in handicap company the following season, winning at Sedgefield on Boxing Day, at Kelso on February 2, and then landing Newcastle’s 4m 1f Eider Chase on February 17, 1990, beating The Langholm Dyer by seven lengths, with favourite Midnight Madness a further ten lengths away in third. Robin and Jelupe teamed up twice more that season, finishing unplaced in the Kim Muir Memorial Challenge Cup at Cheltenham and last of just eight finishers out of 28 starters in the Scottish National.
Robin campaigned Jelupe in handicap company the following season, winning at Sedgefield on Boxing Day, at Kelso on February 2, and then landing Newcastle’s 4m 1f Eider Chase on February 17, 1990, beating The Langholm Dyer by seven lengths, with favourite Midnight Madness a further ten lengths away in third. Robin and Jelupe teamed up twice more that season, finishing unplaced in the Kim Muir Memorial Challenge Cup at Cheltenham and last of just eight finishers out of 28 starters in the Scottish National.
Jelupe ran four times the next season, ridden as always by Robin. They won the Pintail Handicap Chase over three and three-quarter miles at Newcastle on January 12, 1991 and finished fourth in the Durham National at Sedgefield the following month. Sadly, Jelupe proved hard to train afterwards and never won again.
Jelupe ran four times the next season, ridden as always by Robin. They won the Pintail Handicap Chase over three and three-quarter miles at Newcastle on January 12, 1991 and finished fourth in the Durham National at Sedgefield the following month. Sadly, Jelupe proved hard to train afterwards and never won again.
After retiring from the saddle, Robin served as a steward at Catterick and, in November 1998, was appointed chief executive of Carlisle racecourse. He was also training for a Jockey Club clerk of the course’s licence at the time. However, he resigned his position at Carlisle after just eight months.
After retiring from the saddle, Robin served as a steward at Catterick and, in November 1998, was appointed chief executive of Carlisle racecourse. He was also training for a Jockey Club clerk of the course’s licence at the time. However, he resigned his position at Carlisle after just eight months.
In 1999 he invested in four pregnant female alpacas and, with his wife Caroline, formed the business WhyNot Alpacas, based at Sedbergh, in Cumbria. By 2005 they had built up a successful breeding herd of 50 alpacas and continued to compete with great success at local county shows.
In 1999 he invested in four pregnant female alpacas and, with his wife Caroline, formed the business WhyNot Alpacas, based at Sedbergh, in Cumbria. By 2005 they had built up a successful breeding herd of 50 alpacas and continued to compete with great success at local county shows.