Nick Holman

Nick Holman

Jump jockey Nicholas Philip Holman, known as Nick, rode 17 winners during the second half of the 1970s. A nephew of former royal jockey Tony Grantham, he was associated with the Findon stable of Mrs Diane Oughton throughout his career. She had recently taken over the licence from her late husband, Alan, and she supplied all but two of Nick’s wins. Somewhat unusually for a young claiming jockey, he had far more success over fences than hurdles, all bar two of wins being in the former category. 

His first ride, the 11-year-old Percy Crummles, finished second, beaten five lengths by Jeff Barlow on Number Engaged in the Charisma Artistes Opportunity Handicap Chase at Kempton Park on October 19, 1974, 

It was for her that he rode his first winner on Good Relations in the Bucktail Opportunity Handicap Chase at Ascot on January 10, 1975, taking the lead at the last fence and going on to win by a length and a half.

That was his only winner of the season but he rode five the next, including two on the classy Frozen Saint, in the Jack Upton Opportunity Handicap Chase at Newbury in November and the Three Bridges Chase at Plumpton in February. The latter occasion was the second leg of a double, initiated by Bredgar in the Hassocks Novices’ Chase, the opening race on that day’s Plumpton card. Nick won another novice chase at Huntingdon in April aboard another of Mrs Oughton’s string, Harry Hotspur.

He again rode five winners in the 1976/77 campaign, including two more on Harry Hotspur, comprising an opportunity handicap chase at Huntingdon in November and the valuable Easter Hero Handicap Chase at Kempton Park on January 21, 1977. He also won again on Frozen Saint at Plumpton in October and landed a Fontwell Park novices’ chase in April on French Coin. 

Five more victories were recorded during the 1977/78 campaign, including another two handicap chases on Harry Hotspur, at Kempton in October and at Huntingdon on Boxing Day.

Nick gradually began cutting back on his race-riding commitments, which by then he was combining with running a pub. He rode his last winner on Bredgar in the three-runner Scaynes Hill Handicap Chase at Plumpton on November 28, 1978, beating the odds-on favourite Nicholas Nickleby II, the mount of Richard Evans, by four lengths.  

His last ride was on Cambooys, finishing seventh of 14 finishers in the Double Gloucester Novices’ Hurdle, also at Plumpton, on April 29, 1980. 

Nick Holman’s winners were, in chronological order:

1. Good Relations, Ascot, January 10, 1975

2. Frozen Saint, Newbury, November 21, 1975

3. Bredgar, Plumpton, February 23, 1976

4. Frozen Saint, Plumpton, February 23, 1976

5. Desert Fore, Lingfield Park, March 19, 1976

6. Harry Hotspur, Huntingdon, April 10, 1976

7. Frozen Saint, Plumpton, October 26, 1976

8. Harry Hotspur, Huntingdon, November 30, 1976

9. Harvest, Worcester, December 15, 1976

10. Harry Hotspur, Kempton Park, January 21, 1977

11. French Coin, Fontwell Park, April 5, 1977

12. Harry Hotspur, Kempton Park, October 15, 1977

13. Foolsome, Folkestone, November 8, 1977

14. Roi De Frontiere, Windsor, November 28, 1977

15. Harry Hotspur, Huntingdon, December 26, 1977

16. Purple Emperor, Fontwell Park, February 8, 1978

17. Bredgar, Plumpton, November 28, 1978