Eddie Wright
Article by Chris Pitt
Article by Chris Pitt
Irish National Hunt jockey Eddie Wright was bred for the job, being a son of stud groom Ted Wright at Wheatfields Stud, where Caughoo had been prepared for his 100-1 shock Aintree victory in the 1947 Grand National.
Irish National Hunt jockey Eddie Wright was bred for the job, being a son of stud groom Ted Wright at Wheatfields Stud, where Caughoo had been prepared for his 100-1 shock Aintree victory in the 1947 Grand National.
He was one of several jockeys riding for the mighty Dreaper stable in the early 1970s when it was still at the height of its powers. In 1971 Eddie won Cheltenham’s Arkle Challenge Trophy Chase on Alpheus and Fairyhouse’s Easter Chase on Straight Fort for Tom Dreaper, who was then in his last year as the licence holder at his Kilsallaghan yard. When Tom handed over the reins to his son Jim Dreaper in 1972, the well-oiled machine continued to operate as before. In 1973 Eddie won the Sandymount Hurdle at Leopardstown on Flyer’s Pride, and in 1974 he landed the country’s biggest steeplechasing prize, the Irish Grand National on Colebridge.
He was one of several jockeys riding for the mighty Dreaper stable in the early 1970s when it was still at the height of its powers. In 1971 Eddie won Cheltenham’s Arkle Challenge Trophy Chase on Alpheus and Fairyhouse’s Easter Chase on Straight Fort for Tom Dreaper, who was then in his last year as the licence holder at his Kilsallaghan yard. When Tom handed over the reins to his son Jim Dreaper in 1972, the well-oiled machine continued to operate as before. In 1973 Eddie won the Sandymount Hurdle at Leopardstown on Flyer’s Pride, and in 1974 he landed the country’s biggest steeplechasing prize, the Irish Grand National on Colebridge.
Competition for rides at Kilsallaghan was fierce, with the likes of Val O’Brien, Sean Barker, Peter McLoughlin all vying for rides, while Tommy Carberry was also employed on many of the stable’s stars. It may have been that level of competition which led Eddie to making the journey across the Irish Sea to ride for Devon trainer Les Kennard in the 1974/75 season.
Competition for rides at Kilsallaghan was fierce, with the likes of Val O’Brien, Sean Barker, Peter McLoughlin all vying for rides, while Tommy Carberry was also employed on many of the stable’s stars. It may have been that level of competition which led Eddie to making the journey across the Irish Sea to ride for Devon trainer Les Kennard in the 1974/75 season.
He rode eleven winners that term, highlighted by the short-head success on Kennard’s Saffron Cake in the Joe Coral Golden Hurdle Final at the 1975 Cheltenham Festival.
He rode eleven winners that term, highlighted by the short-head success on Kennard’s Saffron Cake in the Joe Coral Golden Hurdle Final at the 1975 Cheltenham Festival.
He wound up the campaign with a Whit Monday double for Kennard at Devon & Exeter, plus a comfortable victory on Cantlie at Stratford on the final day of the season.
He wound up the campaign with a Whit Monday double for Kennard at Devon & Exeter, plus a comfortable victory on Cantlie at Stratford on the final day of the season.
Cantlie also got Eddie off the mark for the following season, 1975/76, winning the Garrick Jubilee Challenge Cup Hurdle at Stratford on August 30. His other winners that season – eight in all – included Kennard’s juvenile hurdler Military Debt at Newton Abbot in September and Cheltenham in November, and Wincanton’s Lord Stalbridge Memorial Cup Chase on Flippant Fred.
Cantlie also got Eddie off the mark for the following season, 1975/76, winning the Garrick Jubilee Challenge Cup Hurdle at Stratford on August 30. His other winners that season – eight in all – included Kennard’s juvenile hurdler Military Debt at Newton Abbot in September and Cheltenham in November, and Wincanton’s Lord Stalbridge Memorial Cup Chase on Flippant Fred.
He rode primarily for Sue Morris during the 1976/77 season. She was based near Chard, in Somerset and her main owner had been Paul Blackburn. However, Blackburn had died the previous year so his horses ran in the name of his administrators. Eddie rode four winners for Morris that season, all in Blackburn’s colours of blue and red, the first being on Agir in the Burton Rubber Company Limited Novices’ Chase at Uttoxeter on December 16, 1976. The second was handicap hurdler Holemoor Boy at Newton Abbot’s Christmas meeting; then came Scot Free at Haydock on March 5; and finally, Bit Of Manny in the Foxtor Challenge Cup Handicap Chase at Devon & Exeter on March 25, 1977.
He rode primarily for Sue Morris during the 1976/77 season. She was based near Chard, in Somerset and her main owner had been Paul Blackburn. However, Blackburn had died the previous year so his horses ran in the name of his administrators. Eddie rode four winners for Morris that season, all in Blackburn’s colours of blue and red, the first being on Agir in the Burton Rubber Company Limited Novices’ Chase at Uttoxeter on December 16, 1976. The second was handicap hurdler Holemoor Boy at Newton Abbot’s Christmas meeting; then came Scot Free at Haydock on March 5; and finally, Bit Of Manny in the Foxtor Challenge Cup Handicap Chase at Devon & Exeter on March 25, 1977.
Eddie returned to Ireland after his spell riding in Britain and resumed his career there. He subsequently became an assistant trainer in Canada, sensibly campaigning the horses in Florida during the winter months.
Eddie returned to Ireland after his spell riding in Britain and resumed his career there. He subsequently became an assistant trainer in Canada, sensibly campaigning the horses in Florida during the winter months.