Jimmy Nolan
Article by Chris Pitt
Article by Chris Pitt
Jimmy Nolan is best remembered for his partnership with the front-running hurdler Eric, on whom he won five races during the 1971/72 season.
Jimmy Nolan is best remembered for his partnership with the front-running hurdler Eric, on whom he won five races during the 1971/72 season.
He was born in Ireland on June 29, 1948 and rode his first winner on Diana H in division two of the Monaloe Handicap Hurdle at Baldoyle on January 31, 1970. The following year he crossed the Irish Sea and joined Fulke Walwyn’s Lambourn stable. He rode his first British winner on Walwyn’s On The Level in the Haldon Harriers Handicap Chase at Devon & Exeter on May 19, 1971.
He was born in Ireland on June 29, 1948 and rode his first winner on Diana H in division two of the Monaloe Handicap Hurdle at Baldoyle on January 31, 1970. The following year he crossed the Irish Sea and joined Fulke Walwyn’s Lambourn stable. He rode his first British winner on Walwyn’s On The Level in the Haldon Harriers Handicap Chase at Devon & Exeter on May 19, 1971.
His banner season was 1971/72, during which he rode 19 winners, beginning with novice hurdler Shoo at Chepstow on October 2. Later that month he partnered Eric, trained by Vernon Cross at Stockbridge, for the first time in the Nailsworth Opportunity Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham and made all to win by five lengths. They followed up at Stratford in November, this time by seven lengths. Nine days later they again made all to land Newbury’s prestigious Berkshire Hurdle (now called the Gerry Feilden Hurdle) by a rapidly diminishing half-length from Jeff King’s mount Canasta Lad. That was to be the biggest win of Jimmy’s career.
His banner season was 1971/72, during which he rode 19 winners, beginning with novice hurdler Shoo at Chepstow on October 2. Later that month he partnered Eric, trained by Vernon Cross at Stockbridge, for the first time in the Nailsworth Opportunity Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham and made all to win by five lengths. They followed up at Stratford in November, this time by seven lengths. Nine days later they again made all to land Newbury’s prestigious Berkshire Hurdle (now called the Gerry Feilden Hurdle) by a rapidly diminishing half-length from Jeff King’s mount Canasta Lad. That was to be the biggest win of Jimmy’s career.
Eric did not reappear until March 3, 1972, again at Newbury, with Jimmy kicking his mount on at halfway to win by two lengths from Viroy, with favourite Garnishee six lengths further back in third. Later that month, at Plumpton, they again made all to win by eight lengths. He rode Eric just once more that season, leading from flag fall until being collared between the last two flights in the B.P. Shield Handicap Hurdle at Liverpool on Grand National day, fading to finish fifth.
Eric did not reappear until March 3, 1972, again at Newbury, with Jimmy kicking his mount on at halfway to win by two lengths from Viroy, with favourite Garnishee six lengths further back in third. Later that month, at Plumpton, they again made all to win by eight lengths. He rode Eric just once more that season, leading from flag fall until being collared between the last two flights in the B.P. Shield Handicap Hurdle at Liverpool on Grand National day, fading to finish fifth.
Jimmy enjoyed a couple of winners over the Easter period, Goldilocks for Vernon Cross at Plumpton on the Saturday, Kingrullah for Fulke Walwyn at Towcester on Easter Monday, and ended the campaign scoring on Walwyn’s promising hurdler Black Andrew at Worcester on May 15, his 19th winner of that season.
Jimmy enjoyed a couple of winners over the Easter period, Goldilocks for Vernon Cross at Plumpton on the Saturday, Kingrullah for Fulke Walwyn at Towcester on Easter Monday, and ended the campaign scoring on Walwyn’s promising hurdler Black Andrew at Worcester on May 15, his 19th winner of that season.
He rode seven winners the following season but Eric wasn’t among them. The horse was prominent for a long way in both the 1973 Schweppes Gold Trophy and Cheltenham’s County Hurdle, but failed to get his head in front in any of his races.
He rode seven winners the following season but Eric wasn’t among them. The horse was prominent for a long way in both the 1973 Schweppes Gold Trophy and Cheltenham’s County Hurdle, but failed to get his head in front in any of his races.
After that, Jimmy’s seasonal totals dropped to just one in each of the next three seasons and he never again scaled the heights of his 1971/72 campaign. One of his last winners was juvenile hurdler Tommy Tudor, trained by James Douglas-Home, at Worcester on September 1, 1983.
After that, Jimmy’s seasonal totals dropped to just one in each of the next three seasons and he never again scaled the heights of his 1971/72 campaign. One of his last winners was juvenile hurdler Tommy Tudor, trained by James Douglas-Home, at Worcester on September 1, 1983.
He still lives in Lambourn and has been married since 1982 to Sandra Nolan, who runs the Lambourn Open Day Facebook page and, as its long-standing committee secretary, has played a prominent role in that day’s continued success, having helped design the first-ever programme with Nicky Henderson in 1991.
He still lives in Lambourn and has been married since 1982 to Sandra Nolan, who runs the Lambourn Open Day Facebook page and, as its long-standing committee secretary, has played a prominent role in that day’s continued success, having helped design the first-ever programme with Nicky Henderson in 1991.
Jimmy Nolan’s five wins on Eric were:
Jimmy Nolan’s five wins on Eric were:
October 13, 1971, Cheltenham, Nailsworth Opportunity Handicap Hurdle
October 13, 1971, Cheltenham, Nailsworth Opportunity Handicap Hurdle
November 18, 1971, Stratford-on-Avon, Oxhill Hurdle (Division 1)
November 18, 1971, Stratford-on-Avon, Oxhill Hurdle (Division 1)
November 27, 1971, Newbury, Berkshire Hurdle
November 27, 1971, Newbury, Berkshire Hurdle
March 3, 1972, Newbury, Eastleigh Handicap Hurdle
March 3, 1972, Newbury, Eastleigh Handicap Hurdle
March 22, 1972, Plumpton, Wallands Hurdle
March 22, 1972, Plumpton, Wallands Hurdle
