Michael Naughton
Northern-based freelance jump jockey Michael Naughton was born in 1974. His twin brother Edmund would go on to become an aircraft engineer.
Northern-based freelance jump jockey Michael Naughton was born in 1974. His twin brother Edmund would go on to become an aircraft engineer.
Michael began his race-riding career as an amateur in the mid-1990s with Mary Reveley’s stable. He rode four winners from 17 mounts in the 1994/95 season, all trained by Mrs Reveley, and five from 27 mounts in 1995/96.
Michael began his race-riding career as an amateur in the mid-1990s with Mary Reveley’s stable. He rode four winners from 17 mounts in the 1994/95 season, all trained by Mrs Reveley, and five from 27 mounts in 1995/96.
Hel subsequently turned conditional but retained his association with Mary Reveley, who supplied him with three of his seven wins from 73 mounts in the 1997/98 season. The following campaign he rode ten winners from 132 mounts, eight of those being for Mrs Reveley.
Hel subsequently turned conditional but retained his association with Mary Reveley, who supplied him with three of his seven wins from 73 mounts in the 1997/98 season. The following campaign he rode ten winners from 132 mounts, eight of those being for Mrs Reveley.
Michael also rode winners for Len Lungo and Ferdy Murphy. However, in 2003 he was sidelined for eight months with two broken vertebrae in his back following an accident when riding work on the gallops. He thought of giving up but wanted to prove to himself that he could still do it, so he decided to carry on.
Michael also rode winners for Len Lungo and Ferdy Murphy. However, in 2003 he was sidelined for eight months with two broken vertebrae in his back following an accident when riding work on the gallops. He thought of giving up but wanted to prove to himself that he could still do it, so he decided to carry on.
He returned at the end of the year and enjoyed a welcome change of luck at Newcastle (bottom) on December 20 when winning the first two races, the bumper on Indy Mood and the novices’ chase on Darnley to complete a 168-1 double. He scored another double on Boxing Day at Sedgefield aboard Lucinda Russell’s duo Glenfarclas Boy and Strong Resolve.
He returned at the end of the year and enjoyed a welcome change of luck at Newcastle (bottom) on December 20 when winning the first two races, the bumper on Indy Mood and the novices’ chase on Darnley to complete a 168-1 double. He scored another double on Boxing Day at Sedgefield aboard Lucinda Russell’s duo Glenfarclas Boy and Strong Resolve.
Despite that recent change of fortune, Michael surprised his weighing room colleagues by calling time on his career, aged 29, at Sedgefield on January 13, 2004 after pulling up his mount, 50-1 outsider Ballynattin Blue, in a handicap hurdle, saying that “for some reason, the buzz has gone”. He’d taken a nasty fall at Musselburgh the week before and reckoned it may have “jolted some sense into me”.
Despite that recent change of fortune, Michael surprised his weighing room colleagues by calling time on his career, aged 29, at Sedgefield on January 13, 2004 after pulling up his mount, 50-1 outsider Ballynattin Blue, in a handicap hurdle, saying that “for some reason, the buzz has gone”. He’d taken a nasty fall at Musselburgh the week before and reckoned it may have “jolted some sense into me”.
Except that it wasn’t quite the end. After more than three and a half years away, Michael returned to the saddle with two rides for trainer John Davies at Newcastle on November 1, 2007. After finishing seventh on Habanus Livius in the novices’ hurdle, he came in tenth on Mischief Night in the 2m 4f handicap hurdle.
Except that it wasn’t quite the end. After more than three and a half years away, Michael returned to the saddle with two rides for trainer John Davies at Newcastle on November 1, 2007. After finishing seventh on Habanus Livius in the novices’ hurdle, he came in tenth on Mischief Night in the 2m 4f handicap hurdle.
He had to wait until August 5, 2008 before he visited the winner’s enclosure – and that was in a Flat race, guiding the Kate Milligan-trained Spiders Star to victory in a two-mile seller at Catterick.
He had to wait until August 5, 2008 before he visited the winner’s enclosure – and that was in a Flat race, guiding the Kate Milligan-trained Spiders Star to victory in a two-mile seller at Catterick.
His first winner over jumps since his comeback was High Bird Humphrey, trained by Simon West, in a Catterick maiden chase on March 4, 2009. That also turned out to be the last winner of his career. He announced his retirement for a second – and this time permanent – time after pulling up 100-1 shot Dark Gem in a Sedgefield juvenile hurdle on June 14, 2010. He had ridden more than 50 winners during his time as a jockey.
His first winner over jumps since his comeback was High Bird Humphrey, trained by Simon West, in a Catterick maiden chase on March 4, 2009. That also turned out to be the last winner of his career. He announced his retirement for a second – and this time permanent – time after pulling up 100-1 shot Dark Gem in a Sedgefield juvenile hurdle on June 14, 2010. He had ridden more than 50 winners during his time as a jockey.
During his time off, Michael had undertaken a course of IT training funded by JETS. That enabled him to secure his role after quitting the saddle with Fine Equinity where he became an IT product manager, developing new technology and helping grow the business abroad.
During his time off, Michael had undertaken a course of IT training funded by JETS. That enabled him to secure his role after quitting the saddle with Fine Equinity where he became an IT product manager, developing new technology and helping grow the business abroad.
In November 2015 he received £500 as joint runner-up in the Richard Davis JETS awards, recognising former jockeys who had made significant achievements in their new professions.
In November 2015 he received £500 as joint runner-up in the Richard Davis JETS awards, recognising former jockeys who had made significant achievements in their new professions.