Martin Keighley
Martin Keighley
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Before becoming a successful trainer, Martin Holmes Keighley rode nine winners under rules, all bar the last of them being in National Hunt Flat Races. He was born in West Yorkshire where his father was a fireman and his mother a hairdresser. Despite his non-racing background, from an early age he always wanted to work with racehorses.
Before becoming a successful trainer, Martin Holmes Keighley rode nine winners under rules, all bar the last of them being in National Hunt Flat Races. He was born in West Yorkshire where his father was a fireman and his mother a hairdresser. Despite his non-racing background, from an early age he always wanted to work with racehorses.
He started out as a conditional jockey with David Nicholson, and it was on one of horses, Air Shot, that he had his first success when the four-year-old, making his debut, was a comfortable winner of the Open N.H. Flat Race (Division 1) at Chepstow on March 19, 1994, taking the lead with half a mile to go and scoring by five lengths. They followed up seven days later at Bangor-on-Dee, this time winning by 11 lengths.
He started out as a conditional jockey with David Nicholson, and it was on one of horses, Air Shot, that he had his first success when the four-year-old, making his debut, was a comfortable winner of the Open N.H. Flat Race (Division 1) at Chepstow on March 19, 1994, taking the lead with half a mile to go and scoring by five lengths. They followed up seven days later at Bangor-on-Dee, this time winning by 11 lengths.
The opportunity to school the likes of King George VI Chase winner Barton Bank, dual Queen Mother Champion Chase hero Viking Flagship and other top horses proved to be a valuable education at the Nicholson academy.
The opportunity to school the likes of King George VI Chase winner Barton Bank, dual Queen Mother Champion Chase hero Viking Flagship and other top horses proved to be a valuable education at the Nicholson academy.
Despite those two wins on Air Shot it would be more than 18 months before Martin had another victory. By that time he was riding for another top trainer in Nigel Twiston-Davies, who was responsible for his next six wins, all in bumpers.
Despite those two wins on Air Shot it would be more than 18 months before Martin had another victory. By that time he was riding for another top trainer in Nigel Twiston-Davies, who was responsible for his next six wins, all in bumpers.
They included Gatflax, on whom he won twice, first at Ascot, and then in controversial circumstances at Huntingdon on October 10, 1997. The race was dominated by the Charlie Brooks-trained Barton but he ran out with seven furlongs left to run. However, his inexperienced jockey continued and won easily. The stewards were slow to react and some bookmakers had begun paying out before Barton was disqualified.
They included Gatflax, on whom he won twice, first at Ascot, and then in controversial circumstances at Huntingdon on October 10, 1997. The race was dominated by the Charlie Brooks-trained Barton but he ran out with seven furlongs left to run. However, his inexperienced jockey continued and won easily. The stewards were slow to react and some bookmakers had begun paying out before Barton was disqualified.
Martin won a valuable bumper at Newbury on Frantic Tan in February 1998, then two months later registered his biggest success aboard King’s Road in the Martell Champion Standard National Hunt Flat Race at Aintree on Grand National day, recording the easiest of wins by 19 lengths. It set the seal perfect day for Nigel Twiston-Davies, who had trained Earth Summit to win the Grand National earlier in the afternoon.
Martin won a valuable bumper at Newbury on Frantic Tan in February 1998, then two months later registered his biggest success aboard King’s Road in the Martell Champion Standard National Hunt Flat Race at Aintree on Grand National day, recording the easiest of wins by 19 lengths. It set the seal perfect day for Nigel Twiston-Davies, who had trained Earth Summit to win the Grand National earlier in the afternoon.
Martin’s first and only win over hurdles came at Uttoxeter on June 28, 1998, when Britannia Mills, trained by David Wintle, finished 12 lengths clear at the end of the Foster Conditional Jockeys’ Selling Handicap Hurdle. The winner had changed stables before her next outing and Martin had no further success in the saddle thereafter.
Martin’s first and only win over hurdles came at Uttoxeter on June 28, 1998, when Britannia Mills, trained by David Wintle, finished 12 lengths clear at the end of the Foster Conditional Jockeys’ Selling Handicap Hurdle. The winner had changed stables before her next outing and Martin had no further success in the saddle thereafter.
He gave up race-riding at the age of 25 on account of injury and lack of opportunities, then worked as a groundsman at Cheltenham, where he learnt and the art of building hurdles and fences, and, most importantly, becoming expert at reading ground conditions, which would help him when he started training.
He gave up race-riding at the age of 25 on account of injury and lack of opportunities, then worked as a groundsman at Cheltenham, where he learnt and the art of building hurdles and fences, and, most importantly, becoming expert at reading ground conditions, which would help him when he started training.
He took out a public trainer’s licence in October 2006 but had previously trained point-to-pointers and hunter chasers under permit. In fact, his first winner under NH rules was one of his own horses, Bosuns Mate, ridden by his wife Belinda, in a hunters’ chase at Sandown Park in February 2003.
He took out a public trainer’s licence in October 2006 but had previously trained point-to-pointers and hunter chasers under permit. In fact, his first winner under NH rules was one of his own horses, Bosuns Mate, ridden by his wife Belinda, in a hunters’ chase at Sandown Park in February 2003.
Martin and Belinda moved into Condicote Stables, near Moreton-in-Marsh, Gloucestershire. His first winner as a licensed trainer was Prince Dundee, whom he also part-owned, in a conditional jockeys’ selling handicap hurdle at Taunton in January 2007.
Martin and Belinda moved into Condicote Stables, near Moreton-in-Marsh, Gloucestershire. His first winner as a licensed trainer was Prince Dundee, whom he also part-owned, in a conditional jockeys’ selling handicap hurdle at Taunton in January 2007.
The horse that really got him going was Champion Court, who recorded his first major success in the Grade 2 Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle in November 2010. Having graduated to fences, he won the Dipper Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham in 2012 and the Silver Trophy Chase, also at Cheltenham, in 2013.
The horse that really got him going was Champion Court, who recorded his first major success in the Grade 2 Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle in November 2010. Having graduated to fences, he won the Dipper Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham in 2012 and the Silver Trophy Chase, also at Cheltenham, in 2013.
Martin won the Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle for a second time with Creepy in 2013.
Martin won the Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle for a second time with Creepy in 2013.
In March 2016, he appeared to have saddled his first winner at the Cheltenham Festival when Any Currency was first past the post in the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase. However, the 13-year-old was subsequently found to have traces of the prohibited substance triamcinolone acetonide (TCA) in his urine and was disqualified. Martin was cleared of any wrongdoing but, nevertheless, the runner-up Josies Orders was promoted to first place.
In March 2016, he appeared to have saddled his first winner at the Cheltenham Festival when Any Currency was first past the post in the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase. However, the 13-year-old was subsequently found to have traces of the prohibited substance triamcinolone acetonide (TCA) in his urine and was disqualified. Martin was cleared of any wrongdoing but, nevertheless, the runner-up Josies Orders was promoted to first place.
He achieved his first Grade One winner came in December 2013 when 12-1 chance Annacotty won Kempton’s Kauto Star (Feltham) Novice Chase.
He achieved his first Grade One winner came in December 2013 when 12-1 chance Annacotty won Kempton’s Kauto Star (Feltham) Novice Chase.
In 2018 Martin sent out Mr Mafia to win at Market Rasen, breaking the 30-year-old course record. He celebrated his 300th jumps winner when Brorson won at Catterick in December 2021.
In 2018 Martin sent out Mr Mafia to win at Market Rasen, breaking the 30-year-old course record. He celebrated his 300th jumps winner when Brorson won at Catterick in December 2021.
He has since enjoyed more success at Cheltenham, notably with Back On The Lash, a two-time winner of the Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase in 2021 and 2023.
He has since enjoyed more success at Cheltenham, notably with Back On The Lash, a two-time winner of the Glenfarclas Cross Country Handicap Chase in 2021 and 2023.
On October 24, 2025, Martin and Belinda’s teenage son Freddie Keighley rode his first Cheltenham winner when outbattling champion jockey Sean Bowen on 22-1 shot De Temps En Temps in a two-and-a-half-mile novice hurdle. It was Martin’s 25th winner at the course and he, quite understandably, nominated it as the highlight.
On October 24, 2025, Martin and Belinda’s teenage son Freddie Keighley rode his first Cheltenham winner when outbattling champion jockey Sean Bowen on 22-1 shot De Temps En Temps in a two-and-a-half-mile novice hurdle. It was Martin’s 25th winner at the course and he, quite understandably, nominated it as the highlight.
Martin Keighley’s winners were, in chronological order:
Martin Keighley’s winners were, in chronological order:
1. Air Shot, Chepstow, March 19, 1994
1. Air Shot, Chepstow, March 19, 1994
2. Air Shot, Bangor-on-Dee, March 26, 1994
2. Air Shot, Bangor-on-Dee, March 26, 1994
3. La Bella Villa, Aintree, November 17, 1995
3. La Bella Villa, Aintree, November 17, 1995
4. Gatflax, Ascot, March 26, 1997
4. Gatflax, Ascot, March 26, 1997
5. Gatflax, Huntingdon, October 10, 1997
5. Gatflax, Huntingdon, October 10, 1997
6. Frantic Tan, Newbury, February 14, 1998
6. Frantic Tan, Newbury, February 14, 1998
7. King’s Road, Haydock Park, February 28, 1998
7. King’s Road, Haydock Park, February 28, 1998
8. King’s Road, Aintree, April 4, 1998
8. King’s Road, Aintree, April 4, 1998
9. Britannia Mills, Uttoxeter, June 28, 1998
9. Britannia Mills, Uttoxeter, June 28, 1998
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