Martin Banham

Martin Banham

Article by Alan Trout 

Martin Anthony Banham rode over jumps for much of the 1970s and had nine wins. Born on August 23, 1953, he served a three-year apprenticeship with royal trainer Peter Cazalet, although most of his early rides were for Mick Goswell. 

The first of these was on Gold Hope in the Sevenoaks Handicap Chase at Folkestone on October 1, 1973. His mount tussled for the lead with Doughty Cottage, partnered by Roger Rowell, but then weakened to finish a remote second, beaten a distance. The nine-year-old never ran again and Martin’s first win did not come until August 25, 1975, when Copper Castle took the Shaef Novices’ Hurdle at Plumpton. On this occasion, Roger Rowell had to be content with second place, beaten four lengths on Kloten.

After three more rides on Copper Castle only yielded one dead heat for second place, Martin and the three-year-old struck again when taking division two of the Hedge Hoppers’ Hurdle at Newbury on October 25, scoring by three lengths from Welsh Treaty. Martin kept the ride but had no further success that season, although Copper Castle ran well in a couple of more important three-year-old contests in November, namely the Aurelius Hurdle at Ascot and the Benson & Hedges Hurdle at Sandown Park.

He had only one win in the 1976/77 season, when Spanish Lantern had a comfortable victory in the Lime Open Handicap Hurdle at Sandown’s Grand Military meeting in March, beating The Flak Bomber by eight lengths. 

Martin gained his biggest success when Live Spark, the 20/1 outsider of five, landed the Wyld Court and Tom Masson Trophy Hurdle at Newbury on October 20, 1977, although their task was made much easier when the 11/4 on favourite Levaramoss showed his ever-increasing wayward tendencies by refusing to start. 

Newbury was also the scene of Martin’s next victory the following month when Glorious Devon ran on strongly to take the Wood Speen Novices’ Hurdle (Division 2, Part 2) on November 9. Then it was the turn of Live Spark to shine again eight days later when landing the Vauxhall Novices’ Hurdle (Division 2) at Kempton Park. His final win that season came at Plumpton on Easter Monday when Franwin kept on well to take the Easter Selling Hurdle. The Albert Davison-trained 12-year-old was completing a quick double, having won over  the same course and distance two days earlier when ridden by Gerry Gracey.    

There was a long gap before win number eight was achieved. Eventually, at Lingfield Park on February 27, 1980, Ribellaro registered the most comfortable of victories when taking the Heddon Novices’ Hurdle by 30 lengths. Despite this success Martin did not keep the ride and endured a wait of almost a year for what would prove to be his last win, which came at Leicester on February 3, 1981, when the six-year-old Keno Hill, also trained by Albert Davison, took the lead soon after halfway and landed the Burton Lazars Selling Handicap Hurdle by ten lengths.

He had his final ride a couple of months later when Doon Silver was unplaced in the Stukeley Selling Handicap Hurdle at Huntingdon on Easter Monday, April 20, 1981. 

Martin Banham’s winners were, in chronological order:

1. Copper Castle, Plumpton, August 25, 1975

2. Copper Castle, Newbury, October 25, 1975

3. Spanish Lantern, Sandown Park, March 11, 1977

4. Live Spark, Newbury, October 20, 1977

5. Glorious Devon, Newbury, November 9, 1977

6. Live Spark, Kempton Park, November 17, 1977

7. Franwin, Plumpton, March 27, 1978

8. Ribellaro, Lingfield Park, February 27, 1980

9. Keno Hill, Leicester, February 3, 1981