David Turnbull
David Turnbull
David Turnbull
National Hunt jockey David Turnbull was born on January 1, 1949. He served his apprenticeship with Noel Robinson at Haggerston Stables, Beal, near Berwick-on-Tweed, and rode his first winner on Kiss Of Life in Division 1 of the Slaphouse Novices’ Hurdle at Ayr on March 10, 1969.
National Hunt jockey David Turnbull was born on January 1, 1949. He served his apprenticeship with Noel Robinson at Haggerston Stables, Beal, near Berwick-on-Tweed, and rode his first winner on Kiss Of Life in Division 1 of the Slaphouse Novices’ Hurdle at Ayr on March 10, 1969.
Progress was slow. It was over three years before he rode another winner, the drought finally being ended by novice hurdler Honest Fred, trained by Barney Cross, at Hexham on Saturday, May 27, 1972.
Progress was slow. It was over three years before he rode another winner, the drought finally being ended by novice hurdler Honest Fred, trained by Barney Cross, at Hexham on Saturday, May 27, 1972.
David rode one winner the following season and two in each of the next two. By the end of the 1975/76 campaign, in which he drew a blank, he had ridden just seven winners in eight seasons with a licence.
David rode one winner the following season and two in each of the next two. By the end of the 1975/76 campaign, in which he drew a blank, he had ridden just seven winners in eight seasons with a licence.
A breakthrough came when he joined Hawick trainer Ken Oliver and got the chance to ride better horses. The 1976/77 campaign saw him partner four winners, all of them in chases, from 90 mounts.
A breakthrough came when he joined Hawick trainer Ken Oliver and got the chance to ride better horses. The 1976/77 campaign saw him partner four winners, all of them in chases, from 90 mounts.
The first of that quartet of wins was gained on 10-1 chance Temple Rise for Ken Oliver in the Melleray’s Belle Challenge Cup Handicap Chase at Ayr on October 11, 1976.
The first of that quartet of wins was gained on 10-1 chance Temple Rise for Ken Oliver in the Melleray’s Belle Challenge Cup Handicap Chase at Ayr on October 11, 1976.
Next came Newfoundland, owned and trained by permit holder Mrs Helen Hamilton, in a Kelso novice chase on October 16. On March 5, 1977 David rode Newfoundland to victory in the King’s Own Scottish Borderers Cup Handicap Chase, also at Kelso, beating Colin Hawkins on Dunrobin by a length.
Next came Newfoundland, owned and trained by permit holder Mrs Helen Hamilton, in a Kelso novice chase on October 16. On March 5, 1977 David rode Newfoundland to victory in the King’s Own Scottish Borderers Cup Handicap Chase, also at Kelso, beating Colin Hawkins on Dunrobin by a length.
David’s fourth and final success of the campaign was on novice chaser Rambling Jack, trained by Ken Oliver, at Hexham on March 26.
David’s fourth and final success of the campaign was on novice chaser Rambling Jack, trained by Ken Oliver, at Hexham on March 26.
He rode two winners from 70 mounts in the 1978/79 campaign, the first of which was achieved on Fighting Fit – the best horse he rode during his career – in the Grasmere Novices’ Chase at Carlisle on September 30, 1978. He finished second on him next time out in an Embassy Novices’ Chase qualifier at Ayr, then Ridley Lamb took over, winning three in succession. Fighting Fit ended up winning the 1979 Scottish National in the hands of Colin Hawkins.
He rode two winners from 70 mounts in the 1978/79 campaign, the first of which was achieved on Fighting Fit – the best horse he rode during his career – in the Grasmere Novices’ Chase at Carlisle on September 30, 1978. He finished second on him next time out in an Embassy Novices’ Chase qualifier at Ayr, then Ridley Lamb took over, winning three in succession. Fighting Fit ended up winning the 1979 Scottish National in the hands of Colin Hawkins.
David’s other winner that season was Mounthooly, trained, like Fighting Fit, by Ken Oliver, in a three-mile one-furlong handicap chase at Catterick on March 28, 1979.
David’s other winner that season was Mounthooly, trained, like Fighting Fit, by Ken Oliver, in a three-mile one-furlong handicap chase at Catterick on March 28, 1979.
Two more victories were gained from 49 rides in the 1979/80 season, both of them on Ken Oliver’s novice hurdler Marnik, at Ayr in December and Kelso in January.
Two more victories were gained from 49 rides in the 1979/80 season, both of them on Ken Oliver’s novice hurdler Marnik, at Ayr in December and Kelso in January.
There was to be just one more success, that coming on Old Head for Alnwick-based owner-trainer John Dodds in the Southwaite Handicap Chase at Carlisle on Easter Monday, April 12, 1982.
There was to be just one more success, that coming on Old Head for Alnwick-based owner-trainer John Dodds in the Southwaite Handicap Chase at Carlisle on Easter Monday, April 12, 1982.
David held a licence the following season but only had a handful of rides and no winners.
David held a licence the following season but only had a handful of rides and no winners.