Martin Ley

Martin Ley

Article by Alan Trout

Having ridden three winners as an amateur, Martin Ley turned professional and added another five. 

His first victory came at Devon & Exeter on November 18, 1875, when Dance Hard got up in the closing stages of the Farringdon Selling Handicap Hurdle and beat Minniegaff by a neck. It was Martin’s second start on the Milton Bradley-trained six-year-old who never ran again. 

Despite having more than 30 rides that season, Martin did not add to his tally, then draw a blank in 1976/77. He rode his second winner in November 1977 on First Break, trained by Taffy Salaman, scoring by 15 lengths. He won again on him at Wincanton on Boxing Day, this time by a short head. 

Martin had his first ride as a professional in August 1978 and soon found himself in the winner’s enclosure when Peacock Vain landed the Oving Novices’ Selling Hurdle at Fontwell Park at the end of the month. However, that was Martin’s only victory in the professional ranks for over three years. 

He then had a successful partnership with the chaser Royal Friend, winning on him three times. The last of these was at Chepstow on January 25, 1983, when the nine-year-old took the lead on the flat and ran on to take the Ralph Morel Cup Handicap Chase by two lengths. This was not only Martin’s final victory but also his last ride, electing to bow out on a winner.

Martin Ley’s wins were, in chronological order:

1. Dance Hard, Devon & Exeter, November 18, 1975

2. First Break, Windsor, November 28, 1977

3. First Break, Wincanton, December 26, 1977

4. Peacock Vain, Fontwell Park, August 31, 1978

5. Royal Friend, Hereford, April 12, 1982

6. Plume D’Or, Taunton, April 22, 1982

7. Royal Friend, Taunton, December 28, 1982

8. Royal Friend, Chepstow, January 25, 1983