Embedded Files
Chris Warren
Chris Warren
Ever had one of those days when you wished you’d stayed in bed? Jump jockey Chris Warren had one on Saturday, November 26, 1988 – Hennessy Gold Cup day at Newbury.
Ever had one of those days when you wished you’d stayed in bed? Jump jockey Chris Warren had one on Saturday, November 26, 1988 – Hennessy Gold Cup day at Newbury.
Chris was looking forward to his comeback ride on Tim Muggeridge’s Allied Force in division one of the novices’ hurdle. He’d been off for five weeks with a broken left collarbone, the result of a fall while schooling a horse at home and had been counting the days to getting back on the racecourse. By the end of the day he wished he hadn’t bothered.
Chris was looking forward to his comeback ride on Tim Muggeridge’s Allied Force in division one of the novices’ hurdle. He’d been off for five weeks with a broken left collarbone, the result of a fall while schooling a horse at home and had been counting the days to getting back on the racecourse. By the end of the day he wished he hadn’t bothered.
The day started badly when the police rang to say they had found his car wrecked six miles away after being stolen overnight by joy-riders. Fortunately, they had not touched his riding gear, but by the time Chris had retrieved it and arranged a lift to Newbury, he was already late and arrived to find another jockey already in his colours.
The day started badly when the police rang to say they had found his car wrecked six miles away after being stolen overnight by joy-riders. Fortunately, they had not touched his riding gear, but by the time Chris had retrieved it and arranged a lift to Newbury, he was already late and arrived to find another jockey already in his colours.
Grabbing the silks, he quickly changed and dashed into the paddock for his only mount of the day. But Allied Force fell at the first flight and the hapless pilot ended up in hospital, having smashed the same collarbone he’d broken five weeks earlier. It meant another lengthy spell hors de combat.
Grabbing the silks, he quickly changed and dashed into the paddock for his only mount of the day. But Allied Force fell at the first flight and the hapless pilot ended up in hospital, having smashed the same collarbone he’d broken five weeks earlier. It meant another lengthy spell hors de combat.
It was the nadir of a desperate season that had yielded just one winner. He could hardly be blamed for thinking that someone was trying to tell him something.
It was the nadir of a desperate season that had yielded just one winner. He could hardly be blamed for thinking that someone was trying to tell him something.
Christopher Iain Warren was born in Frimley, Surrey in 1962 and, though not from a racing family, he had his own ponies when a lad and competed with much success in local gymkhanas and in the show jumping ring.
Christopher Iain Warren was born in Frimley, Surrey in 1962 and, though not from a racing family, he had his own ponies when a lad and competed with much success in local gymkhanas and in the show jumping ring.
On leaving school, he became apprenticed to Captain Ryan Price at Findon but soon found himself too heavy for the Flat. Moving to Epsom, he joined Arthur Pitt and later Philip Mitchell. It was for Pitt that he had his first ride in public, in a three-year-old hurdle race at Fontwell Park on December 30, 1980. His mount, Sign Centre Again, was also making his debut, but those pundits who warned of the dangers of a novice riding a novice were silenced for once, as the combination ran on well from two out to finish a creditable sixth of 18.
On leaving school, he became apprenticed to Captain Ryan Price at Findon but soon found himself too heavy for the Flat. Moving to Epsom, he joined Arthur Pitt and later Philip Mitchell. It was for Pitt that he had his first ride in public, in a three-year-old hurdle race at Fontwell Park on December 30, 1980. His mount, Sign Centre Again, was also making his debut, but those pundits who warned of the dangers of a novice riding a novice were silenced for once, as the combination ran on well from two out to finish a creditable sixth of 18.
His first winner was on 20/1 outsider Aspen Flare, in an eventful Mount Harry Selling Handicap Chase at Plumpton on March 1, 1983. With half of the ten-strong field failing to fijish, Aspen Flare took advantage of the fall of the leader Geraldo at the 13th fence and came home six lengths clear of Santoss. That was the first ‘up’ of a riding career which saw more than its share of downs.
His first winner was on 20/1 outsider Aspen Flare, in an eventful Mount Harry Selling Handicap Chase at Plumpton on March 1, 1983. With half of the ten-strong field failing to fijish, Aspen Flare took advantage of the fall of the leader Geraldo at the 13th fence and came home six lengths clear of Santoss. That was the first ‘up’ of a riding career which saw more than its share of downs.
On New Year’s Eve 1983, Chris opened his account for the season when winning on Space Bridge at Worcester. Just seven days later a fall from Stevies Queen at Sandown left him with a leg broken in three places – the tibia, the fibula and a spiral fracture of the ankle. He returned four months later and rode two more winners before the end of the season
On New Year’s Eve 1983, Chris opened his account for the season when winning on Space Bridge at Worcester. Just seven days later a fall from Stevies Queen at Sandown left him with a leg broken in three places – the tibia, the fibula and a spiral fracture of the ankle. He returned four months later and rode two more winners before the end of the season
He enjoyed his best season in 1985/86 with 11 wins, including three races on the Albert Neaves-trained hurdler Allado, the first occasion being at Plumpton after having briefly been concussed in a fall earlier that afternoon, to the effect that he couldn’t even remember riding his winner.
He enjoyed his best season in 1985/86 with 11 wins, including three races on the Albert Neaves-trained hurdler Allado, the first occasion being at Plumpton after having briefly been concussed in a fall earlier that afternoon, to the effect that he couldn’t even remember riding his winner.
He once had a bad fall at Chepstow, and then on the journey home he fell asleep at the wheel on the M4, crashed his car, writing it off, and biting through his tongue.
He once had a bad fall at Chepstow, and then on the journey home he fell asleep at the wheel on the M4, crashed his car, writing it off, and biting through his tongue.
On the upside, he rated that dour stayer Memberson as the best horse he rode, the highlight of his career being when finishing fifth on him in the 1986 Whitbread Gold Cup.
On the upside, he rated that dour stayer Memberson as the best horse he rode, the highlight of his career being when finishing fifth on him in the 1986 Whitbread Gold Cup.
He enjoyed a good month in February 1987. Besides scoring on Hall’s Prince at Fontwell, he rode a 33/1 winner on Martyn Meade’s Tropical Mist at Hereford. It was as a result of that win that Meade offered Chris the ride on La Bambino in the 1987 Grand National. Although a forlorn 500/1 no-hoper, Chris did at least complete one full circuit of the course before pulling up. He was even able to offer fellow jockey Charlie Mann, who had fallen at the same fence on the first circuit, a lift on the back of his horse to the weighing room.
He enjoyed a good month in February 1987. Besides scoring on Hall’s Prince at Fontwell, he rode a 33/1 winner on Martyn Meade’s Tropical Mist at Hereford. It was as a result of that win that Meade offered Chris the ride on La Bambino in the 1987 Grand National. Although a forlorn 500/1 no-hoper, Chris did at least complete one full circuit of the course before pulling up. He was even able to offer fellow jockey Charlie Mann, who had fallen at the same fence on the first circuit, a lift on the back of his horse to the weighing room.
Chris ended that season with five victories but lost his right to claim an allowance when reaching the age of 26, so found life tough thereafter. He went 18 months between what turned out to be his penultimate winner, 50/1 outsider Bride at Plumpton in March 1987, and his last success, which came at Hereford on September 2, 1988, when Spring Play, trained by Tim Muggeridge, took the lead at the final flight and came away to take Orcop Selling Hurdle by a length and a half.
Chris ended that season with five victories but lost his right to claim an allowance when reaching the age of 26, so found life tough thereafter. He went 18 months between what turned out to be his penultimate winner, 50/1 outsider Bride at Plumpton in March 1987, and his last success, which came at Hereford on September 2, 1988, when Spring Play, trained by Tim Muggeridge, took the lead at the final flight and came away to take Orcop Selling Hurdle by a length and a half.
Although he had been passed fit by the doctor and was keen to resume following that 1988 Hennessy Gold Cup day debacle at Newbury, it was not long before he heeded the warnings, accepted the inevitable and drew stumps on his riding career.
Although he had been passed fit by the doctor and was keen to resume following that 1988 Hennessy Gold Cup day debacle at Newbury, it was not long before he heeded the warnings, accepted the inevitable and drew stumps on his riding career.
During his absences from the saddle he’d had plenty to occupy his time at his Stuccles Farm home at Twineham, Sussex, where he had horses at livery, and that would be direction his career path would take following his retirement.
During his absences from the saddle he’d had plenty to occupy his time at his Stuccles Farm home at Twineham, Sussex, where he had horses at livery, and that would be direction his career path would take following his retirement.
Chris Warren’s winners were, in chronological order:
Chris Warren’s winners were, in chronological order:
1. Aspen Flare, Plumpton, March 1, 1983
1. Aspen Flare, Plumpton, March 1, 1983
2. Space Bridge, Worcester, December 31, 1983
2. Space Bridge, Worcester, December 31, 1983
3. Summercove, Fontwell Park, April 10, 1984
3. Summercove, Fontwell Park, April 10, 1984
4. Ballyseedy Hero, Plumpton, April 23, 1984
4. Ballyseedy Hero, Plumpton, April 23, 1984
5. Mandown Lad, Newton Abbot, August 28, 1985
5. Mandown Lad, Newton Abbot, August 28, 1985
6. Polar Express, Worcester, September 5, 1985
6. Polar Express, Worcester, September 5, 1985
7. Allado, Plumpton, October 16, 1985
7. Allado, Plumpton, October 16, 1985
8. Brit, Fontwell Park, November 5, 1985
8. Brit, Fontwell Park, November 5, 1985
9. Allado, Windsor, November 9, 1985
9. Allado, Windsor, November 9, 1985
10. Brit, Devon & Exeter, November 12, 1985
10. Brit, Devon & Exeter, November 12, 1985
11. Jimmy Boy, Plumpton, March 17, 1986
11. Jimmy Boy, Plumpton, March 17, 1986
12. Vaigly Rel, Worcester, March 19, 1986
12. Vaigly Rel, Worcester, March 19, 1986
13. Bell Hop, Fontwell Park, April 2, 1986
13. Bell Hop, Fontwell Park, April 2, 1986
14. Aldington Mill, Ludlow, May 15, 1986
14. Aldington Mill, Ludlow, May 15, 1986
15. Allado, Huntingdon, May 26, 1986
15. Allado, Huntingdon, May 26, 1986
16. Precious Link, Bangor-on-Dee, December 8, 1986
16. Precious Link, Bangor-on-Dee, December 8, 1986
17. Precious Link, Newton Abbot, January 22, 1987
17. Precious Link, Newton Abbot, January 22, 1987
18. Tropical Mist, Hereford, February 4, 1987
18. Tropical Mist, Hereford, February 4, 1987
19. Hall’s Prince, Fontwell Park, February 23, 1987
19. Hall’s Prince, Fontwell Park, February 23, 1987
20. Bride, Plumpton, March 3, 1987
20. Bride, Plumpton, March 3, 1987
21. Spring Play, Hereford, September 2, 1988
21. Spring Play, Hereford, September 2, 1988
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse