Chris Bell

Chris Bell

In a career over jumps that lasted for little more than four years, Christopher John Bell, popularly known as ‘Banner’, rode 41 winners.

He served his time with Tony Dickinson at Harewood, in Yorkshire, and then Tony’s son Michael. His first ride was at Sedgefield on March 25, 1980, when Mr Resistor finished eighth of 14 runners in the Middleborough Opportunity Selling Handicap Hurdle. His second ride went much better, for at Southwell on April 3 his mount, Lucky Eagle, was a comfortable winner of the Burgage Novices’ Opportunity Hurdle, taking the lead at the final flight and beating Twilight Wave by seven lengths. 

Progress was slow at first with only ten more winners in the next two years, but one of those victories was on Badsworth Boy, among the best two-mile chasers of the 1980s. After a successful career over hurdles, Badsworth Boy won his first chase with ‘Banner’ aboard in the East Keswick Opportunity Handicap Chase at Wetherby on March 3, 1982. Robert Earnshaw then took over in the saddle. 

The 1982/83 season saw 20 wins for ‘Banner’, including a double at Sedgefield, and there were another ten in 1983/84, which included three victories on Toirdealbhach (pronounced ‘Trayloch’) and one on the exuberant trailblazer The Mighty Man. 

‘Banner’ had his last success at Sedgefield on March 5 when Brunton Park got the better of a prolonged duel with Kevin Jones on Succeeded to land the Daily Mirror Conditional Jockeys’ Novices’ Chase. 

Aged just 21, he had his final mount on Chuckbuck, coming home sixth of nine finishers in the Deighton Novices’ Hurdle (Division 2) at Wetherby on April 24, 1984, having led in the early stages. Tellingly, he had to put up 2lb overweight at 11st 5lb, causing him to give up the struggle against increasing weight. 

He ended his career as one of the most successful jockeys never to lose his claim. Of his total of 41 winners, over half were gained in conditional jockeys’ races, hence he was still able to claim 4lb when he retired. He had a remarkably high strike rate for the Dickinson stable but weight had always been his problem.

He admitted that it had shot up and even when he was doing around 10st he would hardly eat at all and take laxatives on top of that. He was looking forward to starting his new job as assistant trainer to John Jenkins at Epsom. 

He listed The Mighty Mac, Badsworth Boy and Gay Spartan as the best he had ridden, although his most successful mounts were W Six Times and Visconti.

Chris ‘Banner’ Bell’s wins were, in chronological order:

1. Lucky Eagle, Southwell, April 1, 1980

2. Soldiers Field, Hexham, May 24, 1980

3. Chuckling Lad, Market Rasen, May 31, 1980

4. Jubilee Medal, Market Rasen, August 23, 1980

5. Naval Whistler, Stockton, November 11, 1980

6. Prince Of Padua, Southwell, October 5, 1981

7. Tommy Joe, Wetherby, October 14, 1981

8. Western Man, Ayr, December 3, 1981

9. Badsworth Boy, Wetherby, March 3, 1982

10. Crook Of Devon, Carlisle, April 10, 1982

11. Macs Delight, Market Rasen, April 12, 1982

12. Whisper Gently, Market Rsaen, August 28, 1982

13. W Six Times, Sedgefield, November 10, 1982

14. Visconti, Haydock Park, November 25, 1982

15. W Six Times, Wetherby, November 30, 1982

16. Visconti, Doncaster, December 1, 1982

17. The Welder, Newcastle, December 4, 1982

18. W Six Times, Fakenham, December 10, 1982

19. Jimmy Martin, Towcester, December `18, 1982

20. Mossmoran, Sedgefield, December 27, 1982

21. Londolozi, Sedgefield, December 27, 1982

22. Jimmy Martin, Ayr, January 3, 1983

23. Londolozi, Nottingham, January 10, 1983

24. Charming Charles, Market Rasen, January 15, 1983

25. Donjill, Wetherby, February 5, 1983

26. Mossmoran, Newcastle, February 18, 1983

27. The Welder, Doncaster, February 26, 1983

28. Sir Wimpy, Market Rasen, March 11, 1983

29. Mr Snow, Carlisle, April 2, 1983

30. On Leave, Kelso, April 23, 1983

31. Visconti, Cartmel, May 28, 19834

32. Outlaw Man, Market Rasen, August 1, 1983

33. State Case, Southwell, October 3, 1983

34. Chuckbuck, Market Rasen, October 15, 1983

35. The Mighty Mac, Wetherby, November 29, 1983

36. W Six Times, Wolverhampton, December 26, 1983

37. Toirdealbhach, Cheltenham, January 3, 1984

38. Toirdealbhach, Ascot, January 13, 1984

39. Nero Wolf, Market Rasen, January 18, 1984

40. Toirdealbhach, Sandown Park, February 3, 1984

41. Brunton Park, Sedgefield, March 5, 1984 

With thanks to Alan Trout for providing the bulk of this article and full list of winners.