Alan Wright

Alan Wright

Article by Alan Trout

Having won three races on the Flat, Alan Michael Wright became a jump jockey and added a further 11.

He started as an apprentice with Mick Haynes at Epsom, who provided him with all his three wins on the Flat. The first was at Brighton on May 31, 1979, when Oui Monsieur, well back in the early stages, came through to lead two furlongs out and land the Glynde Apprentice Handicap by two and a half lengths. His second success was at Folkestone on August 6, when Spartan Call came from some way off the pace to take the Swiss Apprentice Handicap by a head. The same horse gave him his final win on the level when catching Sovreto inside the final furlong to land the Saffron Apprentice Handicap at Leicester on May 27, 1980, scoring by a length.

Not many jockeys have their first win on the Flat, their first ride over jumps and their first win over jumps on the same horse, but Alan managed it thanks to Oui Monsieur. The six-year-old finished third in the Trundle Handicap Hurdle at Plumpton on September 10, 1980 to start Alan’s career under National Hunt rules, then 12 days later at the same course the pair came with a strong run approaching the last flight and came away to take the Steyning Opportunity Handicap Hurdle by ten lengths. 

Just four days later, Alan rode his second winner over jumps on Nookie Bear at Fakenham. There were two more wins in the next few weeks but then a gap of nearly two years before a further success. Although he managed at least two wins in each of the next three seasons, there was no real breakthrough. 

Alan had his last win at Fakenham on December 21, 1984, when Leith Hill, trained by Philip Mitchell, was always in control of the Belvoir Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Chase, beating Cole Porter by ten lengths. Although he rode for at least two more seasons, he did not have any further success. 

Alan Wright’s winners were, in chronological order:

1. Oui Monsieur, Brighton, May 31, 1979

2. Spartan Call, Folkestone, August 6, 1979

3. Spartan Call, Leicester, May 27, 1980

4. Oui Monsieur, Plumpton, September 22, 1980

5. Nookie Bear, Fakenham, September 26, 1980

6. Oui Monsieur, Plumpton, October 13, 1980

7. Slim Boy, Newbury, November 5, 1980

8. Cold Justice, Plumpton, October 13, 1982

9. Cold Justice, Stratford-on-Avon, October 23, 1982

10. Royalty Miss, Lingfield Park, November 1, 1982

11. Allado, Plumpton, October 25, 1983

12. Sandhaven, Plumpton, April 21, 1984

13. Eurolink Boy, Olumpton, November 12, 1984

14, Leith Hill Flyer, December 21, 1984