Ian Popham
Born on 28 December, 1989, jump jockey Ian Popham achieved Grade One success on Annacotty in the Kauto Star Novices’ Chase and scored an emotional victory on that horse in the Paddy Power Gold Cup. However, he endured a stop-start career that was interrupted by injury, including three broken collarbones, two heavy falls which both resulted in a badly fractured pelvis, and countless other injuries, culminating in a calamitous fall at Market Rasen on Boxing Day 2014.
Born on 28 December, 1989, jump jockey Ian Popham achieved Grade One success on Annacotty in the Kauto Star Novices’ Chase and scored an emotional victory on that horse in the Paddy Power Gold Cup. However, he endured a stop-start career that was interrupted by injury, including three broken collarbones, two heavy falls which both resulted in a badly fractured pelvis, and countless other injuries, culminating in a calamitous fall at Market Rasen on Boxing Day 2014.
Ironically, neither of the falls in which he shattered his pelvis occurred in an actual race; one happened on the gallops, another when having his girths checked at the start. The first, which required four operations to repair the six fractures, put him out for nine months, the other sidelined him for six months.
Ironically, neither of the falls in which he shattered his pelvis occurred in an actual race; one happened on the gallops, another when having his girths checked at the start. The first, which required four operations to repair the six fractures, put him out for nine months, the other sidelined him for six months.
Having started his career with Philip Hobbs, Ian joined Paul Nicholls’ yard when the champion trainer was dominating jump racing with the likes of Kauto Star, Denman, Master Minded and Big Buck’s. In 2010 he won the Badger Ales Trophy on Meanus Dandy and the ‘Vote AP Gold Cup’ (the big two-and-half-mile handicap chase at Cheltenham’s December meeting) on Poquelin, both for Nicholls. Dan Skelton was Nicholls’ assistant trainer at the time, a connection that would eventually pay dividends long after Ian opted to leave the Nicholls stable in search of more rides.
Having started his career with Philip Hobbs, Ian joined Paul Nicholls’ yard when the champion trainer was dominating jump racing with the likes of Kauto Star, Denman, Master Minded and Big Buck’s. In 2010 he won the Badger Ales Trophy on Meanus Dandy and the ‘Vote AP Gold Cup’ (the big two-and-half-mile handicap chase at Cheltenham’s December meeting) on Poquelin, both for Nicholls. Dan Skelton was Nicholls’ assistant trainer at the time, a connection that would eventually pay dividends long after Ian opted to leave the Nicholls stable in search of more rides.
His freelance status saw him team up with Gloucestershire trainer Martin Keighley. However, his progress was regularly punctuated by injury. He suffered his first really bad accident in September 2011 when a horse reared over with him on the training gallops, breaking his pelvis in three places. He had only just returned to action when the second accident occurred. He was unseated from Keighley’s Oyster Hill at the start in October 2012 which resulted in him breaking his pelvis in four places.
His freelance status saw him team up with Gloucestershire trainer Martin Keighley. However, his progress was regularly punctuated by injury. He suffered his first really bad accident in September 2011 when a horse reared over with him on the training gallops, breaking his pelvis in three places. He had only just returned to action when the second accident occurred. He was unseated from Keighley’s Oyster Hill at the start in October 2012 which resulted in him breaking his pelvis in four places.
His resilience and determination were rewarded when he returned to action in January with two winners in his first three rides back. He paired up with the Keighley’s Any Currency in the 2013 Grand National and managed to get round, coming home last of the 17 finishers. He rode another of Keighley’s string, Champion Court, to win the Grade Two Silver Trophy Chase at Cheltenham in April 2013 and completed the course on him in the following year’s Topham Trophy at Aintree.
His resilience and determination were rewarded when he returned to action in January with two winners in his first three rides back. He paired up with the Keighley’s Any Currency in the 2013 Grand National and managed to get round, coming home last of the 17 finishers. He rode another of Keighley’s string, Champion Court, to win the Grade Two Silver Trophy Chase at Cheltenham in April 2013 and completed the course on him in the following year’s Topham Trophy at Aintree.
He also rode for trainer Caroline Keevil and won five races for her on Bally Legend, including the Brewin Dolphin Trophy Handicap Chase at Exeter in December 2013 and the BetBright Chase (formerly the Racing Post Chase) at Kempton in February 2014.
He also rode for trainer Caroline Keevil and won five races for her on Bally Legend, including the Brewin Dolphin Trophy Handicap Chase at Exeter in December 2013 and the BetBright Chase (formerly the Racing Post Chase) at Kempton in February 2014.
At Kempton on Boxing Day 2013, he won the Kauto Star (formerly the Feltham) Novices’ Chase on Martin Keighley’s Annacotty. This landmark Grade One success was a coming of age ride for Ian.
At Kempton on Boxing Day 2013, he won the Kauto Star (formerly the Feltham) Novices’ Chase on Martin Keighley’s Annacotty. This landmark Grade One success was a coming of age ride for Ian.
However, the catalogue of injuries continued, he broke a collarbone in November 2014, and had no sooner returned than he had another bad fall at Market Rasen on Boxing Day, when he was kicked by pursuing horse that had been brought down. It left him with serious facial injuries, including a fractured cheekbone, broken chin-bone, two lost teeth and yet another broken collarbone. He underwent surgery to plate his chin together and endured a liquid diet until the wounds healed.
However, the catalogue of injuries continued, he broke a collarbone in November 2014, and had no sooner returned than he had another bad fall at Market Rasen on Boxing Day, when he was kicked by pursuing horse that had been brought down. It left him with serious facial injuries, including a fractured cheekbone, broken chin-bone, two lost teeth and yet another broken collarbone. He underwent surgery to plate his chin together and endured a liquid diet until the wounds healed.
He missed both Cheltenham and Aintree and went to France for the summer to get his head straight as things were not going well. When he was finally fit to resume riding, the opportunities were no longer there.
He missed both Cheltenham and Aintree and went to France for the summer to get his head straight as things were not going well. When he was finally fit to resume riding, the opportunities were no longer there.
He was close to quitting when salvation came in the form of Annacotty, who rolled back the years with a breath-taking win in the 2015 Paddy Power Cup at Cheltenham. It was Annacotty’s first start for his new trainer Alan King but the owners stayed loyal to the jockey and insisted that Ian retained the ride. Annacotty and Ian followed up their Cheltenham triumph with another victory over course and distance in the big handicap chase at the Festival Trials meeting on January 30, 2016.
He was close to quitting when salvation came in the form of Annacotty, who rolled back the years with a breath-taking win in the 2015 Paddy Power Cup at Cheltenham. It was Annacotty’s first start for his new trainer Alan King but the owners stayed loyal to the jockey and insisted that Ian retained the ride. Annacotty and Ian followed up their Cheltenham triumph with another victory over course and distance in the big handicap chase at the Festival Trials meeting on January 30, 2016.
In January 2018 Ian broke and dislocated a shoulder in yet another fall. That was the straw that broke the camel’s back. While he was off he spent time with jockeys’ agents Niall Hannity and Chris Broad. Having ridden 135 winners during his ten-year career, he announced his retirement from race riding in April to become a jockeys’ agent with Harry Skelton among his clientele. So now he’s booking rides rather than taking them.
In January 2018 Ian broke and dislocated a shoulder in yet another fall. That was the straw that broke the camel’s back. While he was off he spent time with jockeys’ agents Niall Hannity and Chris Broad. Having ridden 135 winners during his ten-year career, he announced his retirement from race riding in April to become a jockeys’ agent with Harry Skelton among his clientele. So now he’s booking rides rather than taking them.