# Roddy Owen

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British-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Roddy Owen Sire Owenstown Grandsire Apron Dam Deslas Star Damsire Cygnus Sex Gelding Foaled 1949[1] Country United Kingdom Colour Bay Owner Lord Fingall Trainer Danny Morgan Major wins Leopardstown Chase (1958) Cheltenham Gold Cup (1959)

**Roddy Owen** (foaled 1949) was a British-bred, Irish-trained [Thoroughbred](/source/Thoroughbred) racehorse who won the 1959 [Cheltenham Gold Cup](/source/Cheltenham_Gold_Cup). After winning several good steeplechases in Ireland he was aimed at the major British races in the 1958/59 National Hunt season. He finished a close second in the [King George VI Chase](/source/King_George_VI_Chase) and then started second favourite for the Gold Cup in March. He relished the heavy ground came from a seemingly impossible position at the second last to defeat a strong field which included [Linwell](/source/Linwell), [Kerstin](/source/Kerstin_(horse)) and [Pas Seul](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Pas_Seul&action=edit&redlink=1). He finished fourth to Pas Seul in the following year's Gold Cup at the age of eleven.

## Background

Roddy Owen was a bay gelding bred in England, and exported to Ireland as an [unbroken](/source/Horse_training) five-year-old. He was sired by Owenstown, a high-class stayer whose wins included the [Irish St Leger](/source/Irish_St_Leger) and the [Ebor Handicap](/source/Ebor_Handicap). His dam Desla's Star was a distant descendant of the broodmare Gondola, a half-sister of the [St Leger](/source/St_Leger) winner [Gamester](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Gamester_(horse)&action=edit&redlink=1).[2] During his racing career Roddy Owen was owned by [Oliver Plunkett, 12th Earl of Fingall](/source/Earl_of_Fingall) and was trained at [Newbridge](/source/Newbridge%2C_County_Kildare), [County Kildare](/source/County_Kildare) by Danny Morgan who had won the Gold Cup as a jockey on [Morse Code](/source/Morse_Code_(horse)) in 1938. The horse was named after Captain Roderick Owen, an amateur jockey who won the [1892 Grand National](/source/1892_Grand_National).[3]

## Racing career

### Early career

Roddy Owen developed into a high class steeplechaser in Ireland,[4] finishing third in the 1956 [Irish Grand National](/source/Irish_Grand_National) and winning the Leopardstown Chase in 1958. He made his first appearance at the Cheltenham Festival in 1957 when he ran unsuccessfully under a weight of 167 pounds in the [National Hunt Handicap Chase](/source/National_Hunt_Handicap_Chase).[5]

### 1958/59 National Hunt season

After winning one of his first two starts of the 1958/59 season Roddy Owen was sent to England in December 1958 for the [King George VI Chase](/source/King_George_VI_Chase) at [Kempton Park Racecourse](/source/Kempton_Park_Racecourse).[4] He appeared to be an unlucky loser, recovering from a bad mistake four fences from the finish and being beaten only a head by Lochroe. After a poor run at [Leopardstown Racecourse](/source/Leopardstown_Racecourse) on his next start Roddy Owen's regular jockey Bunny Cox voluntarily gave up the ride and recommended [Bobby Beasley](/source/Bobby_Beasley) as a replacement. The 1959 Gold Cup was run on [heavy ground](/source/Going_(horse_racing)) on 6 March and attracted a field of eleven runners after the likely favourite [Saffron Tartan](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Saffron_Tartan&action=edit&redlink=1) was withdrawn on the morning of the race. Another notable absentee was the American Champion [Neji](/source/Neji_(horse)) who had sustained a leg injury a week earlier.[6] [Taxidermist](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Taxidermist_(horse)&action=edit&redlink=1), the winner of the [Whitbread Gold Cup](/source/Whitbread_Gold_Cup) and the [Hennessy Gold Cup](/source/Hennessy_Gold_Cup) was made the new favourite with Roddy Owen next in the betting on [5/1](/source/Fractional_odds) whilst the other runners included [Linwell](/source/Linwell), [Kerstin](/source/Kerstin_(horse)) and Lochroe. Beasley tracked the leaders but as the field approached the final fence he appeared to have no chance as he was four [lengths](/source/Horse_length) adrift of the leading trio made up of Pas Seul, Linwell and Lochroe. The race changed completely at the last obstacle when Pas Seul fell, almost bringing down Linwell, who in turn collided with Lochroe. Roddy Owen, racing on the inside, was able to avoid the chaos and swept past Linwell and Lochroe to take the lead. Linwell made a recovery and reduced the deficit but Roddy Owen stayed on well to win by three lengths with Lochroe another ten lengths back in third place.[3]

### Later career

In the 1959/60 National Hunt season Roddy Owen was again aimed at the Gold Cup. After finishing second on his seasonal debut at [Gowran Park](/source/Gowran_Park) in October he was beaten by Kerstin in the Imperial Leather Chase at [Manchester Racecourse](/source/Manchester_Racecourse) in December.[7] He faced eleven opponents at Cheltenham on 10 March. He was still in contention when hampered by the fall of Kerstin at the last and finished fourth behind Pas Seul, Lochroe and Zonda.[3] He stayed in training for the following season and finished third to Zonda at Leopardstown in November.[8]

## Assessment and honours

In their book, *A Century of Champions*, based on the [Timeform](/source/Timeform) rating system, John Randall and Tony Morris rated Roddy Owen an "average" Gold Cup winner.[9]

## Pedigree

Pedigree of Roddy Owen (GB), bay gelding, 1949[1] Sire Owenstown (GB) 1934 Apron (GB) 1920 Son-in-Law Dark Ronald Mother in Law Aprille Chaucer* Japonica Madame de Stael (IRE) 1923 Chaucer* St Simon* Canterbury Pilgrim* Temoignage The Tetrarch Monaleen Dam Desla's Choice (IRE) 1931 Cygnus (IRE) 1916 Sunstar Sundridge Doris Mangalmi William the Third* Vampire Desla (GB) 1914 Desmond St Simon* L'Abbesse de Jouarre Lady Fowler Wildfowler Orxema (Family: 19-c)[2]

* Roddy Owen is [inbred](/source/Inbreeding) 4S x 3S to the stallion [Chaucer](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Chaucer_(horse)&action=edit&redlink=1), meaning that he appears fourth generation and third generation on the sire side of his pedigree.

* Roddy Owen is inbred 5S x 4S x 5D x 4D to the stallion [St Simon](/source/St._Simon_(horse)), meaning that he appears fifth generation (via [Chaucer](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Chaucer_(horse)&action=edit&redlink=1)) and fourth generation on the sire side of his pedigree, and fifth generation (via [William the Third](/source/William_the_Third_(horse))) and fourth generation on the dam side of his pedigree.

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-pedigree_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-pedigree_1-1) ["Roddy Owen pedigree"](https://www.equineline.com/Free-5X-Pedigree.cfm?page_state=ORDER_AND_CONFIRM&reference_number=2366370&registry=T&horse_name==Roddy%20Owen&dam_name==Desla%27s%20Star%20%28GB%29&foaling_year=1949&nicking_stats_indicator=Y). Equineline. 2016-04-22. Retrieved 2016-04-22.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-tbl_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-tbl_2-1) ["The Twinkle - Family 19-c"](https://web.archive.org/web/20130921233636/http://www.bloodlines.net/TB/Families/Family19c.htm). Thoroughbred Bloodlines. Archived from [the original](http://www.bloodlines.net/TB/Families/Family19c.htm) on 2013-09-21. Retrieved 2016-04-29.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Harman_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Harman_3-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Harman_3-2) Harman, Bob (2000). *The Ultimate Dream: The History of the Cheltenham Gold Cup*. Mainstream Publishing. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [1-84018-381-0](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/1-84018-381-0).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-gh1_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-gh1_4-1) White and Gold (26 December 1958). ["Mandarin to win King George"](https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2507&dat=19581226&id=22hAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=XpUMAAAAIBAJ&pg=4230,6588441&hl=en). [Glasgow Herald](/source/Glasgow_Herald).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** White and Gold (13 March 1957). ["Preference for Armorial III in Grand National Trial"](https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2507&dat=19570313&id=k2pAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=q5sMAAAAIBAJ&pg=3522,1382740&hl=en). Glasgow Herald.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** AP staff (6 March 1959). ["Gold Cup to Roddy Owen"](https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1946&dat=19590306&id=GYsxAAAAIBAJ&sjid=aqgFAAAAIBAJ&pg=3595,1005796&hl=en). [Montreal Gazette](/source/Montreal_Gazette).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** White and Gold (5 December 1959). ["Roddy Owen best of Manchester field"](https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2507&dat=19591205&id=Z-o-AAAAIBAJ&sjid=-EwMAAAAIBAJ&pg=2034,4874659&hl=en). Glasgow Herald.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Harkaway (23 March 1961). ["Blonde Warrior for Topham Trophy"](https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2507&dat=19610323&id=LBU1AAAAIBAJ&sjid=5KULAAAAIBAJ&pg=1952,3342201&hl=en). Glasgow Herald.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-century_9-0)** Morris, Tony; Randall, John (1999). *A Century of Champions*. Portway Press. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9781901570151](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9781901570151).

v t e Cheltenham Gold Cup winners 1924 Red Splash 1925 Ballinode 1926 Koko 1927 Thrown In 1928 Patron Saint 1929 Easter Hero 1930 Easter Hero 1931 no race 1932 Golden Miller 1933 Golden Miller 1934 Golden Miller 1935 Golden Miller 1936 Golden Miller 1937 no race 1938 Morse Code 1939 Brendan's Cottage 1940 Roman Hackle 1941 Poet Prince 1942 Medoc II 1943 no race 1944 no race 1945 Red Rower 1946 Prince Regent 1947 Fortina 1948 Cottage Rake 1949 Cottage Rake 1950 Cottage Rake 1951 Silver Fame 1952 Mont Tremblant 1953 Knock Hard 1954 Four Ten 1955 Gay Donald 1956 Limber Hill 1957 Linwell 1958 Kerstin 1959 Roddy Owen 1960 Pas Seul 1961 Saffron Tartan 1962 Mandarin 1963 Mill House 1964 Arkle 1965 Arkle 1966 Arkle 1967 Woodland Venture 1968 Fort Leney 1969 What a Myth 1970 L'Escargot 1971 L'Escargot 1972 Glencaraig Lady 1973 The Dikler 1974 Captain Christy 1975 Ten Up 1976 Royal Frolic 1977 Davy Lad 1978 Midnight Court 1979 Alverton 1980 Master Smudge 1981 Little Owl 1982 Silver Buck 1983 Bregawn 1984 Burrough Hill Lad 1985 Forgive 'n Forget 1986 Dawn Run 1987 The Thinker 1988 Charter Party 1989 Desert Orchid 1990 Norton's Coin 1991 Garrison Savannah 1992 Cool Ground 1993 Jodami 1994 The Fellow 1995 Master Oats 1996 Imperial Call 1997 Mr Mulligan 1998 Cool Dawn 1999 See More Business 2000 Looks Like Trouble 2001 no race 2002 Best Mate 2003 Best Mate 2004 Best Mate 2005 Kicking King 2006 War Of Attrition 2007 Kauto Star 2008 Denman 2009 Kauto Star 2010 Imperial Commander 2011 Long Run 2012 Synchronised 2013 Bobs Worth 2014 Lord Windermere 2015 Coneygree 2016 Don Cossack 2017 Sizing John 2018 Native River 2019 Al Boum Photo 2020 Al Boum Photo 2021 Minella Indo 2022 A Plus Tard 2023 Galopin Des Champs 2024 Galopin Des Champs 2025 Inothewayurthinkin 2026 Gaelic Warrior

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Roddy Owen](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roddy_Owen) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roddy_Owen?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.