Gerard Martin

Gerard Martin

Article by Alan Trout

Gerard Joseph Martin rode eight winners over jumps in the mid-1980s. He was a conditional with jockey with John Edwards, although all of his victories were for other trainers. 

His race-riding career started at Newton Abbot on March 13, 1985, when Aberration, trained by Matt McCormack, trailed in 14th of 15 finishers in the Peter Gurney Conditional Jockeys’ Selling Handicap Hurdle. 

It was at the other end of the country that he had his first win, when the blinkered Wil-Tot, trained by John Norton, took the lead at the second last flight and drew clear to land the BBC Radio Cumbria Handicap Hurdle at Carlisle on Easter Monday, April 8, 1985, scoring by ten lengths. 

It was not until the following January that he had a second success, but then came four in under seven weeks, including three on the novice chaser Joe’s Fancy. 

There were three more the following season, the last of which was his final win. That came at Newcastle on February 21, 1987, when Burri Walk went clear from the third last to take the Chub Handicap Hurdle by four lengths. It was the third time Gerard had won on the mare. They finished third at Carlise the following month, but Brian Storey then took over in the saddle and won on her next time out.

Gerard Martin’s winners were, in chronological order:

1. Wil-Tot, Carlisle, April 8, 1985

2. Joe’s Fancy, Doncaster, January 24, 1986

3. Joe’s Fancy, Carlisle, February 4, 1986

4. Burri Walk, Hexham, March 13, 1986

5. Joe’s Fancy, Newcastle, March 16, 1986 

6. Green Archer, Nottingham, January 5, 1987

7. Burri Walk, Catterick Bridge, February 14, 1987

8. Burri Walk, Newcastle, February 21, 1987