Mark Grant
Jump jockey Mark Grant rode around 60 point-to-point winners as an amateur in Ireland before turning conditional and riding for David Wachman. He achieved further success there before moving to Britain in 2006.
Jump jockey Mark Grant rode around 60 point-to-point winners as an amateur in Ireland before turning conditional and riding for David Wachman. He achieved further success there before moving to Britain in 2006.
Having already ridden out his claim prior to arriving in Britain, he had to put his head down and work hard to make the grade. He rode for Jim Old, Andy Turnell, Jo Hughes and later for Nigel Twiston-Davies, enjoying his best season numerically in 2012/13 with 14 winners.
Having already ridden out his claim prior to arriving in Britain, he had to put his head down and work hard to make the grade. He rode for Jim Old, Andy Turnell, Jo Hughes and later for Nigel Twiston-Davies, enjoying his best season numerically in 2012/13 with 14 winners.
The horse with whom he was best associated was the Twiston-Davies-trained Count Meribel, who he rode in 27 races, winning five times, three over hurdles and two chases. Three of those wins came Carlisle, comprising a brace of novice hurdles and a novices’ handicap chase. They also finished second there in the Listed Colin Parker Memorial Chase, beaten by the useful Lostintranslation.
The horse with whom he was best associated was the Twiston-Davies-trained Count Meribel, who he rode in 27 races, winning five times, three over hurdles and two chases. Three of those wins came Carlisle, comprising a brace of novice hurdles and a novices’ handicap chase. They also finished second there in the Listed Colin Parker Memorial Chase, beaten by the useful Lostintranslation.
Count Meribel gave Mark a memorable day when winning the ITV-televised Steel Plate And Sections Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham on November 16, 2018, beating Le Breuil by a neck. Prior to being sent chasing, Mark had finished second on him in the Grade 2 Bristol Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham in December 2017.
Count Meribel gave Mark a memorable day when winning the ITV-televised Steel Plate And Sections Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham on November 16, 2018, beating Le Breuil by a neck. Prior to being sent chasing, Mark had finished second on him in the Grade 2 Bristol Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham in December 2017.
He rode what proved to be his last winner on the Pat Murphy-trained Galtee Mountain in a 2m 3f handicap hurdle at Fontwell Park on March 20, 2021.
He rode what proved to be his last winner on the Pat Murphy-trained Galtee Mountain in a 2m 3f handicap hurdle at Fontwell Park on March 20, 2021.
Mark announced his retirement at the start of April 2021, aged 39, bringing to an end a career spanning 23 years. For the previous five years he had combined riding with his burgeoning pre-training business which included preparing yearlings for the breeze-up sales.
Mark announced his retirement at the start of April 2021, aged 39, bringing to an end a career spanning 23 years. For the previous five years he had combined riding with his burgeoning pre-training business which included preparing yearlings for the breeze-up sales.
Appropriately, his final ride was on Count Meribel, finishing last of six in a 2m5f handicap chase at Newton Abbot on April 3, 2021. Ironically, it was the very same race in which his brother-in-law Richard Johnson also had his last ride.
Appropriately, his final ride was on Count Meribel, finishing last of six in a 2m5f handicap chase at Newton Abbot on April 3, 2021. Ironically, it was the very same race in which his brother-in-law Richard Johnson also had his last ride.
Delighted to have called it a day on Count Meribel, the horse that had given him the highlight of his career in the saddle, Mark told the press: “He has been good to me over the years and I thought he was a good one to finish on. When you're riding a nice horse like Count Meribel it keeps you going.”
Delighted to have called it a day on Count Meribel, the horse that had given him the highlight of his career in the saddle, Mark told the press: “He has been good to me over the years and I thought he was a good one to finish on. When you're riding a nice horse like Count Meribel it keeps you going.”