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Ashley Wathen
Ashley Wathen
Article by Alan Trout
Article by Alan Trout
Ashley Mark Wathen had plenty of mounts during a career that started with three wins as an amateur before turning professional and adding five more.
Ashley Mark Wathen had plenty of mounts during a career that started with three wins as an amateur before turning professional and adding five more.
He registered his first win at Chepstow on April 19, 1976, when Yule Log won the Cliff Selling Hurdle by three lengths. Just under a year later on the same course the pair had another victory when landing the Parkway Handicap Hurdle by a length from Gently Does It.
He registered his first win at Chepstow on April 19, 1976, when Yule Log won the Cliff Selling Hurdle by three lengths. Just under a year later on the same course the pair had another victory when landing the Parkway Handicap Hurdle by a length from Gently Does It.
At Uttoxeter on Easter Monday 1977, Ashley had his third and last win as an amateur when the nine-year-old Dry Ice, trained like Yule Log by David Wintle, scored by a neck in the Checkley Selling Handicap Hurdle.
At Uttoxeter on Easter Monday 1977, Ashley had his third and last win as an amateur when the nine-year-old Dry Ice, trained like Yule Log by David Wintle, scored by a neck in the Checkley Selling Handicap Hurdle.
He later turned professional and had his first ride in the paid ranks on the opening day of the 1979/80 jumps season at Newton Abbot on August 4, finishing unplaced on Keen Lass in the Widecombe-in-the-Moor Juvenile Novices’ Selling Hurdle.
He later turned professional and had his first ride in the paid ranks on the opening day of the 1979/80 jumps season at Newton Abbot on August 4, finishing unplaced on Keen Lass in the Widecombe-in-the-Moor Juvenile Novices’ Selling Hurdle.
He opened his professional account at Stratford on March 6, 1980 when the six-year-old Florindo, trained by David Wintle, had a comfortable victory in the Studley Selling Handicap Hurdle, scoring by 12 lengths.
He opened his professional account at Stratford on March 6, 1980 when the six-year-old Florindo, trained by David Wintle, had a comfortable victory in the Studley Selling Handicap Hurdle, scoring by 12 lengths.
He rode his next winner at Newton Abbot on Boxing Day 1980 aboard the five-year-old Quantock Abbot, running on strongly to land the Christmas Handicap Hurdle by a length and a half. Newton Abbot was also the venue for Ashley’s sixth win when the eight-year-old mare Aunt Thea took the lead at the last flight and ran on well to beat Slide Over Baby by two and a half lengths in the Parracombe Selling Handicap Hurdle on September 11, 1981.
He rode his next winner at Newton Abbot on Boxing Day 1980 aboard the five-year-old Quantock Abbot, running on strongly to land the Christmas Handicap Hurdle by a length and a half. Newton Abbot was also the venue for Ashley’s sixth win when the eight-year-old mare Aunt Thea took the lead at the last flight and ran on well to beat Slide Over Baby by two and a half lengths in the Parracombe Selling Handicap Hurdle on September 11, 1981.
Ashley had one more win that season. Trained by Mrs Betty Kennard, the eight-year-old Stoke Rivers took the lead after the last and held Ocean Patrol by half a length at the end of the Wedmore Handicap Chase at Taunton on April 30, 1982. They had two subsequent starts together, finishing a distant fourth on both occasions.
Ashley had one more win that season. Trained by Mrs Betty Kennard, the eight-year-old Stoke Rivers took the lead after the last and held Ocean Patrol by half a length at the end of the Wedmore Handicap Chase at Taunton on April 30, 1982. They had two subsequent starts together, finishing a distant fourth on both occasions.
Sadly, that first success over fences did not lead to more success, for Ashley endured two winless seasons before recording a final victory at Lingfield Park on March 15, 1985, when the seven-year-old Cons Pal, trained by David Wintle, scored by 15 lengths in the Eden Conditional Jockeys’ Selling Handicap Hurdle. It was only Ashley’s second ride of the season, his first having ended in a fall at Newton Abbot on the opening day of the 1984/85 campaign. That fall had sidelined him for over six months, hence his win on Cons Pal meant he was able to finish his career not just on his own terms but also on a winning note. He did not ride in public again.
Sadly, that first success over fences did not lead to more success, for Ashley endured two winless seasons before recording a final victory at Lingfield Park on March 15, 1985, when the seven-year-old Cons Pal, trained by David Wintle, scored by 15 lengths in the Eden Conditional Jockeys’ Selling Handicap Hurdle. It was only Ashley’s second ride of the season, his first having ended in a fall at Newton Abbot on the opening day of the 1984/85 campaign. That fall had sidelined him for over six months, hence his win on Cons Pal meant he was able to finish his career not just on his own terms but also on a winning note. He did not ride in public again.
Ashley Wathen’s wins were, in chronological order:
Ashley Wathen’s wins were, in chronological order:
1. Yule Log, Chepstow, April 19, 1976
1. Yule Log, Chepstow, April 19, 1976
2. Yule Log, Chepstow, March 19, 1977
2. Yule Log, Chepstow, March 19, 1977
3. Dry Ice, Uttoxeter, April 11, 1977
3. Dry Ice, Uttoxeter, April 11, 1977
4. Florindo, Stratford-on-Avon, March 6, 1980
4. Florindo, Stratford-on-Avon, March 6, 1980
5. Quantock Abbot, Newton Abbot, December 26, 1980
5. Quantock Abbot, Newton Abbot, December 26, 1980
6. Aunt Thea, Newton Abbot, September 11, 1981
6. Aunt Thea, Newton Abbot, September 11, 1981
7. Ocean Patrol, Taunton, April 30, 1982
7. Ocean Patrol, Taunton, April 30, 1982
8. Cons Pal, Lingfield Park, March 15, 1985
8. Cons Pal, Lingfield Park, March 15, 1985
Ashley Wathen's final winner: Cons Pal, Lingfield Park, March 15, 1985
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