Robin Styles
Article by Chris Pitt
Article by Chris Pitt
It takes some doing to ride a winner at Epsom’s roller-coaster of a course on your very first ride in public, but that’s what Robin Styles achieved on August 5, 1963, despite having been thrown at the start when his mount charged the tapes. No wonder he received a great reception when he entered the winner’s enclosure.
It takes some doing to ride a winner at Epsom’s roller-coaster of a course on your very first ride in public, but that’s what Robin Styles achieved on August 5, 1963, despite having been thrown at the start when his mount charged the tapes. No wonder he received a great reception when he entered the winner’s enclosure.
That was back in the days when August Bank Holiday Monday was at the start of the month, rather than the end, and Epsom’s traditional bank holiday card included the Steve Donoghue Apprentice Handicap, popularly known as the ‘Apprentices’ Derby’.
That was back in the days when August Bank Holiday Monday was at the start of the month, rather than the end, and Epsom’s traditional bank holiday card included the Steve Donoghue Apprentice Handicap, popularly known as the ‘Apprentices’ Derby’.
Robin Christopher Styles was apprenticed to Walter Nightingall at Epsom. Wisely, before he rode in public, Nightingall sent young Robin to the Drift Bridge Riding and Hunting Stables at Epsom Downs, run by the Sporting Life Weekly Guide’s editor Arthur Rickman, for instructions on how to ride.
Robin Christopher Styles was apprenticed to Walter Nightingall at Epsom. Wisely, before he rode in public, Nightingall sent young Robin to the Drift Bridge Riding and Hunting Stables at Epsom Downs, run by the Sporting Life Weekly Guide’s editor Arthur Rickman, for instructions on how to ride.
Robin’s mount was the five-year-old Sable Skinflint, who was having his first start for Nightingall. There were only five
Robin’s mount was the five-year-old Sable Skinflint, who was having his first start for Nightingall. There were only five
runners for that year’s Steve Donoghue Apprentice Handicap, the 8/11 favourite being the 11-year-old Caught Out, a standing dish and previous winner of the race. Sable Skinflint carried just 6st 13lb because, although the race was for apprentices, Robin was entitled to claim a 7lb allowance as he had not yet ridden a winner.
runners for that year’s Steve Donoghue Apprentice Handicap, the 8/11 favourite being the 11-year-old Caught Out, a standing dish and previous winner of the race. Sable Skinflint carried just 6st 13lb because, although the race was for apprentices, Robin was entitled to claim a 7lb allowance as he had not yet ridden a winner.
The Sporting Life’s Tom Nickalls reported in the next day’s edition: “The remarkable thing about the race was the reception, almost an ovation, accorded to the winner. I have certainly heard one recent Derby winner come in to less applause.
The Sporting Life’s Tom Nickalls reported in the next day’s edition: “The remarkable thing about the race was the reception, almost an ovation, accorded to the winner. I have certainly heard one recent Derby winner come in to less applause.
“Maybe this was because a great many people knew that R. Styles, rider of Sable Skinflint, who made all the running and won easily, was having his very first ride in public. Or perhaps again they clapped and cheered him because Sable Skinflint dashed through the tapes before the start and unseated young Styles, who did as he had been taught and hung on to the reins.
“Maybe this was because a great many people knew that R. Styles, rider of Sable Skinflint, who made all the running and won easily, was having his very first ride in public. Or perhaps again they clapped and cheered him because Sable Skinflint dashed through the tapes before the start and unseated young Styles, who did as he had been taught and hung on to the reins.
“Whatever the reason, the reception was thoroughly well deserved, for Styles kept his mount going well when the odds-on Caught Out came after him in the straight. Sable Skinflint put his head down and raced right away, as though he had only just started.”
“Whatever the reason, the reception was thoroughly well deserved, for Styles kept his mount going well when the odds-on Caught Out came after him in the straight. Sable Skinflint put his head down and raced right away, as though he had only just started.”
Having made all and won by six lengths, Sable Skinflint and Robin were sent off as 4/1 co-favourites when teaming up again at Newbury eleven days later for the New Boys Apprentice Handicap. Taking the lead after two furlongs, Sable Skinflint again won comfortably, this time by three lengths. Two rides, two wins, a perfect start to his career.
Having made all and won by six lengths, Sable Skinflint and Robin were sent off as 4/1 co-favourites when teaming up again at Newbury eleven days later for the New Boys Apprentice Handicap. Taking the lead after two furlongs, Sable Skinflint again won comfortably, this time by three lengths. Two rides, two wins, a perfect start to his career.
Robin’s third winner, also trained by Walter Nightingall, was the three-year-old
Robin’s third winner, also trained by Walter Nightingall, was the three-year-old
Kingsroy in a Folkestone apprentices’ handicap on September 9, 1963. Kingsroy, owned by Angus Kennedy, who had a penchant for naming his horses with the suffix ‘roy’, took the lead inside the final furlong and won by three-quarters of a length. Four days later, Robin rode Sable Skinflint against professional jockeys at Newbury, leading until two furlongs out but fading to finish sixth of the 14 runners.
Kingsroy in a Folkestone apprentices’ handicap on September 9, 1963. Kingsroy, owned by Angus Kennedy, who had a penchant for naming his horses with the suffix ‘roy’, took the lead inside the final furlong and won by three-quarters of a length. Four days later, Robin rode Sable Skinflint against professional jockeys at Newbury, leading until two furlongs out but fading to finish sixth of the 14 runners.
For Robin Styles, that first season should have been a catalyst for greater things, a stepping stone on the route to furthering his career as a jockey. But it wasn’t. In fact, almost four years would elapse before he had another winner.
For Robin Styles, that first season should have been a catalyst for greater things, a stepping stone on the route to furthering his career as a jockey. But it wasn’t. In fact, almost four years would elapse before he had another winner.
He rode Sable Skinflint just once in 1964, back at Epsom, finishing midfield in a 17-runner apprentices’ handicap on the opening day of the Spring meeting.
He rode Sable Skinflint just once in 1964, back at Epsom, finishing midfield in a 17-runner apprentices’ handicap on the opening day of the Spring meeting.
In 1967, possibly due to lack of opportunities, Robin’s indentures were transferred to Ingatestone, Essex trainer Peter Poston. Poston, who owned all of the horses in his yard and travelled them far and wide, taking full advantage of the generous travel allowances then in place, was well-known for giving his apprentices plenty of opportunities – which also saved him money that would otherwise be spent employing a fully-fledged jockey.
In 1967, possibly due to lack of opportunities, Robin’s indentures were transferred to Ingatestone, Essex trainer Peter Poston. Poston, who owned all of the horses in his yard and travelled them far and wide, taking full advantage of the generous travel allowances then in place, was well-known for giving his apprentices plenty of opportunities – which also saved him money that would otherwise be spent employing a fully-fledged jockey.
Poston supplied Robin with his sole success of the season – and the last of his career – on two-year-old filly Patsy-One, who sprang a 25/1 shock at Catterick on April 7, 1967.
Poston supplied Robin with his sole success of the season – and the last of his career – on two-year-old filly Patsy-One, who sprang a 25/1 shock at Catterick on April 7, 1967.
The arrangement only lasted that one year. Robin did not have a licence after 1967 and his name disappeared from the racing pages forever, to be remembered only for his association with Sable Skinflint, and that remarkable first ride triumph in Epsom’s Steve Donoghue Apprentice Handicap,
The arrangement only lasted that one year. Robin did not have a licence after 1967 and his name disappeared from the racing pages forever, to be remembered only for his association with Sable Skinflint, and that remarkable first ride triumph in Epsom’s Steve Donoghue Apprentice Handicap,