Geoff Yates

Geoff Yates

Article by Alan Trout

Geoffrey Michael Yates had three wins under National Hunt rules in the early 1950s, having had his first ride at Huntingdon on Easter Monday, March 29, 1948, when finishing fourth on 

Merry Emperor in the Brampton Hurdle. 

He did not have many mounts during the next couple of seasons and it was not until the opening race on the card at Market Rasen on Saturday, May 12, 1951 that he recorded his first success, taking the lead two flights from home on War Bond and running on to take the Hainton Selling Handicap Hurdle by three lengths. Geoff had ridden the eight-year-old on his six previous starts that season and had twice been placed. 

He rode his second winner just two days later when Bon Nuit comfortably won the Milton Handicap Chase at Huntingdon on Whit Monday by 20 lengths. The eleven-year-old was having his ninth race of the season, during which he had been placed three times and finished fifth in the Topham Trophy over the Grand National fences. Bon Nuit was trained by John Cockton at Little Stukeley, near Huntingdon, hence it was very much a local success.

Bon Nuit also provided Geoff with his third and final victory when taking the Langton Selling Handicap Chase at Market Rasen on Boxing Day 1952, albeit this time by only half a length, proving just good for Peter Pickford’s mount Column. Earlier that year Pickford had completed the course on Column when a 100/1 outsider in the Grand National, finishing eighth, well behind the placed horses but ahead of two other longshot finishers.

Geoff kept the ride on Bon Nuit but one fourth place was the best they managed in four subsequent starts. The last of them, in the Walton Selling Handicap Chase at Towcester on April 25, 1953, ended in a fall. That was Geoff’s final ride.