UK Horse Racing Tips

The late Greville Starkey, who died from cancer at his home near Newmarket in 2010, rode 1,989 winners on the Flat in an illustrious career lasting 33 years. In fact, Starkey is considered, by many, the most talented horseman never to be crowned champion jockey. However, despite his successes, which included five British Classics and the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, he is still best remembered for failing to win the Derby on Dancing Brave in 1986.

Having won the Craven Stakes and the 2,000 Guineas at Newmarket, Dancing Brave started hot favourite for the Epsom Classic but, despite making relentless progress from the rear of the field throughout the final half a mile, failed by an ever-diminishing half a length to overhaul Shahrastani, ridden by the late Walter Swinburn. Starkey was roundly criticised for setting Dancing Brave an impossible task, but Swinburn said, “It’s a fine line. Had he got up by a head or a neck then all those who came out and tried to hang him for his ride would have been shouting his name from the rooftops.” Starkey made amends for his Epsom display by steering Dancing Brave to a comfortable victory in the Eclipse Stakes at Sandown, but protracted criticism for his earlier failure was to over shadow the rest of his career.

Starkey rode his first winner, Russian Gold, at Pontefract in 1956 and became champion apprentice the following year. He was later retained by John Oxley and Henry Cecil, before becoming stable jockey to Guy Harwood at Pulborough, West Sussex. In 1978, he rode four Classic winners, Shirley Heights in the Derby and Irish Derby and Fair Salina in the Oaks and Irish Oaks.

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