HRI FEATURE: Young jockey Martin aiming for dream winner at Navan

DAVID JENNINGS

Jack Martin, the 24-year-old son of former trainer Pat, celebrated his first winner in the pouring rain at Clonmel last September when he teamed up with fellow Meathman Joey Murray to land a Flat Handicap over two miles with Make Good.

Just two months later he was back in the winners' enclosure, this time showing his versatility in the saddle by winning a handicap hurdle over three miles at Punchestown on the Finbar Hand-trained Comeonarchie.

Explaining how he started riding in the first place, Martin said: "I actually lost a load of weight to ride in a charity race for Gavin Cromwell one day on a horse called Silvertown. Then, after I did that, I decided I might as well take out my licence. I got the bug that day."

True to his word, he got his licence and never looked back.

"I suppose I owe my love of horses to my Dad. He's the one who got me into racing and the reason I love it as much as I do," he said.

"Dad never had the quality of horses that other trainers might have had, but one rarely went through the yard without winning a race along the way."

Martin, a native of Johnstown outside Navan, would dearly love to ride a winner at his local track.

"I actually rode a mare for Finbar [Hand] in the Listed mares bumper at the Navan Racing Festival a few years ago. She was called Theflyingbee and ran well for a long way before finishing fifth. That was some buzz. I think she was only my third ever ride in a race.

"I'd love to ride a winner at Navan, that's one of my main aims. It's a great track and to ride a winner there would be magic. Fairyhouse would do, as well. I'm not fussy!"

Martin is based with Cromwell at the moment and also rides out for Hand on a daily basis, too.

"I'm learning loads with Gavin," he said. "You're riding out every day with some great people and the operation he has in place there is something else. It's a great place to work."

Does he see himself following in the footsteps of his father and turning his hand to training?

"I do at some stage, that would be the end-game for me. But I would have no intentions of doing it in the next five years or anything like that. It's for down the line some time."

How about a Cheltenham banker? "Narciso Has looks a bit special, doesn't he?" he replied. "I'd say he'll win the Triumph Hurdle."