Michael Nuttall

Michael Nuttall

Article by Alan Trout

After one fairly successful season on the Flat with seven wins, Michael John Nuttall returned a few years later to add another five over jumps. . 

Apprenticed to Harry Blacksahaw at Middleham, his first victory came at Teesside Park on April 3, 1975, when Queensway took the lead near the line and landed the Westbury Apprentice Handicap by a head. It was the four-year-old’s first win at the 17th attempt. 

Buy the end of August Michael had ridden another six winners including a double in consecutive races at Folkestone. His final victory on the Flat was at Beverley on August 28, when the three-year-old Knaphand led all the way and held the challenge of Eloquent, ridden by top jockey Mark Birch, to take the August Selling Plate by a head.

Having failed to add to his total on the Flat, Michael reemerged some years later with a licence to ride over jumps, working for Ron Thompson and then Brian Forsey. He had his first ride at Wincanton on February 25, 1982, when Jupiter’s Gem finished fifth of 20 in the Mere Maiden Hurdle (Division 2). 

He was beaten only half a length on the Lilac Lady by Peter Scudamore on Steel Trader at Worcester six days later, but it was not until the meeting at Newton Abbot on September 9 that he had first success. It came when the six-year-old Nearly Straight, trained by Mrs Betty Kennard, took the lead on the run-in to land the Hart Hill and Pitt Studs Novices’ Hurdle by a length.  

Although Michael had nearly four dozen rides that season he had no more victories and briefly relinquished his licence. However, he renewed it the following season and struck up a useful partnership with the ten-year-old chaser Dishcloth, owned and trained by Lady Susan Brooke, starting with a four-length win in the Chipley Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Chase at Newton Abbot on February 3, 1984. After two placed efforts the pair struck again when taking advantage of the fall of the leader Dennis Auburn to take the Graham Riviera Novices’ Handicap Chase at Chepstow on March 17. Seven days later came another success when Dishcloth held off the persistent challenge of Chinrulla to win the Althrey Woodhouse Challenge Cup Handicap Chase at Bangor-on-Dee. 

Brian Forsey supplied Michael with his last victory when Princess Isis beat eight rivals in the Princetown Handicap Hurdle (Division 1) at Devon & Exeter, on May 28, 1984. He had his final ride on Stolford, finishing seventh of 19 runners in the Crowcombe Selling Handicap Hurdle at Taunton on March 28, 1985.

Michael Nuttall’s winners were, in chronological order:

1. Queensway, Teesside Park, April 3, 1975

2. Queensway, Thirsk, May 17, 1975

3. Pal Dan, Ripon, May 21, 1975

4. Pal Dan, Catterick Bridge, July 24, 1975

5. Wrenaldo, Folkestone, August 19, 1975

6. Welsh Mate, Folkestone, August 19, 1975

7. Knaphand, Beverely, August 28, 1975 

8. Nearly Straight, Newton Abbot, September 9, 1982

9. Dishcloth, Newton Abbot, February 3, 1984

10. Dishcloth, Chepstow, March 17, 1984

11. Dishcloth, Bangor-on-Dee, March 24, 1984

12. Princess Isis, Devon 7 Exeter, May 28, 1984