Rider was jumps champion three times in early sixtiesSummerghand wins Stewards’ Cup at empty GoodwoodStan Mellor, whose death was announced on Saturday at the age of 83, was Britain’s champion National Hunt jockey three times, the first rider to reach 1,000 jumps winners and also a successful trainer later in his career. He may be best remembered, though, as the jockey who pulled off a feat that many thought impossible by beating the great Arkle at the height of his powers.
Stalbridge Colonist, Mellor’s mount in the 1966 Hennessy Gold Cup, was getting 35lb from Arkle and his jockey executed waiting tactics to perfection against the hot favourite, moving towards the lead on the approach to the final fence and then quickening to the front on the run-in, giving Pat Taaffe and Arkle, with 12st 7lb to carry, little chance to respond. Mellor was narrowly beaten in the Cheltenham Gold Cup aboard the same horse a few months later.