Tom Sheridan

Tom Sheridan

Article by Alan Trout

Thomas Sheridan rode under National Hunt rules for most of the 1920s and had 18 wins. Prior to arriving in Britain he had also ridden winners in Ireland and had taken part in the Irish Grand National four times, finishing second on Tainted Goods in 1920.  

He finished second on his first start in England when the strangely named O.C. Honeymoon was beaten 12 lengths by Sunlight III in the Matlock Selling Handicap Chase at Derby on January 17, 1921. His initial win came at Woore on April 6, 1922, when Early Bun narrowly won the Dorrington Handicap Hurdle, beating Shallogans, the mount of Charlie Bell, by a neck.

Tom doubled his score just four days later when Manister Bridge won the Stewards’ Handicap Hurdle at Colwall Park by a length and a half. They followed up in the Greenmeadow Handicap Hurdle at Cardiff on April 18, giving Tom his third win in 12 days. 

He rode seven winners in 1923, including three on the hurdler Mary Selby. However, having ridden a winner in January 1924, he did not have another for two years, although he did take out a licence to train during that time and reduced his riding commitments. 

It was on one of the horses he trained that he had his last win, when Benella took the Leasowes Hurdle at Bridgnorth on April 24, 1928, beating Ted Leader on Somercotes by 15 lengths. 

One of his final rides was his only start over the Liverpool fences, when partnering Clean Sweep in the Stanley Chase on March 21, 1929, but the six-year-old failed to complete the course, as did all bar three of the 15 starters. It was also on Clean Sweep that Tom had his last ride when a faller in the Birlingham Selling Handicap Chase at Pershore on May 6, 1929. 

Tom Sheridan’s British winners were, in chronological order.

1. Early Bun, Woore, April 6, 1922

2. Manister Bridge, Colwall Park, April 10, 1922

3. Manister Bridge, Cardiff, April 18, 1922

4. Nitric, Haydock Park, February 10, 1923

5. The Coiner, Southwell, March 31, 1923

6. Mary Selby, Pershore, September 24, 1923

7. Manister Park, Pershore, September 25, 1923

8. Mary Selby, Monmouth, October 18, 1923

9. Mary Selby, Haydock Park, December 8, 1923

10. Bold Chap, Derny, December 17, 1923

11. Bold Chap, Nottingham, January 29, 1924

12. Bilsthorpe, Haydock Park, January 9, 1926

13. Carrie Long, Hereford, April 5, 1926

14. Poor Tom, Derby, January 18, 1927

15. Poor Tom, Warwick, February 8, 1927

16. Ganesha, Market Rasen, April 9, 1928

17. Boomerang, Market Rasen, April 9, 1928

18. Benella, Bridgnorth, April 24, 1928