Peter Wall

Peter Wall

Article by Alan Trout

Peter James Wall had his first ride over jumps in 1937 but did not have any success until after the war. 

His initial start came at Hawthorn Hill on November 8, 1937, when Herofiny was unplaced in the Hawthorn Selling Hurdle. His pre-war career ended with a fall at Bangor on April 13, 1940 and he did not resume until November 3, 1945, when his mount, Long Ben, ran out at Wetherby. 

Six days later, Peter achieved his first win when the four-year-old Blueit, trained by Neville Crump, hit the front approaching the final flight and went on to win the Stand Novices’ Hurdle (Division 1) at Catterick Bridge, beating Cocksure, ridden by the good amateur Reg Tweedie, by two lengths. Blueit’s owner, Major Victor McCalmont, then took over in the saddle.

Peter’s second, and final, victory came in the Kiplin Novices’ Chase at Catterick Bridge on February 23, 1946, when Long Ben, owned by Mrs Neville Crump and trained by her husband, did the same as Blueit, taking the lead approaching the last obstacle and winning comfortably, the margin of victory again being two lengths. Peter had ridden Long Ben five times since their Wetherby debacle in November and been placed twice but had also fallen twice. After another fall on their next outing., Peter was replaced by Jack Bissill. 

He continued to have rides for several seasons but without success, ending with Steel Target refusing at the first flight in the Five-Ways Handicap Hurdle at Birmingham on January 17, 1956, the horse’s third refusal in a row.