The Racing Life of Harry Bannister

As a third-generation jockey, racing runs deeply through the veins of Harry Bannister. ‘My grandfather Michael used to ride in point-to-points and used to be chairman of the PPORA (Point to Point Owners and Riders Association),’ he explains. ‘My dad Nick used to own horses, including a past winner of the RSA Chase. He is chairman of Haydock Racecourse and Racing Welfare, and he used to be a jockey too.’

Harry, 31, followed in their footsteps by starting his riding career as a successful amateur, winning two gentlemen championships in the 2013-14 and 2014-15 seasons. Having gained this experience, Harry then took out his professional licence and hasn't looked back.

Photo Credit: Racing Post

He's come a long way since winning on the talented handicapper Fine Parchment in May 2013 as a 7lb-claiming amateur. That winning combination continued through to that December and Harry tallied up the winners for Fine Parchment’s trainer, the now retired, Charlie Mann. In fact, Charlie Mann still tops the list of who has provided the majority of, as of last month, Harry’s 300 winners. Richard Bandey, Alex Hales, Ben Case and Warren Greatrex have all trained winners that Harry has ridden, as well as Venetia Williams and Kim Bailey, though not as regularly as the aforementioned.

At the 2025 Punchestown festival, Harry had a huge day when winning a Listed chase on Warren Greatrex’s Bill Baxter. This adds to other big chase wins, including two Grand National trails at Haydock in 2020 on Smooth Stepper and in ‘23 on Quick Wave.

Having grown up in Skipton, North Yorkshire, Harry lives with his spaniel Nova on the edge of Oxfordshire in Shrivenham, approximately twenty minutes from Lambourn. Although Harry is now a successful jockey, he never falters to hold the values of a true gentleman.

Did you have a horsey childhood? I had a very horsey childhood. I've got two younger brothers, Archie and Roddy and we all rode ponies. We went hunting a lot, did lots of Pony Club three-day events and tetrathlon and the odd pony race here and there. It was very much a hunting, showjumping and eventing style childhood and I went from that into point-to-points.

Early racing memories: I remember years ago, when I was about eight and Archie was six or seven, Dad won on a horse called J R Kay. They won the hunt race or something at our home point-to-point, and I remember that vividly.

We obviously went racing a lot with Dad and were there when Hussard Collonges won at the 2002 Cheltenham Festival. Archie and I were taken out of school, Mum was there and Hussard Collonges won the RSA at 33-1. He ran in the Gold Cup the year after, ran at Punchestown, was fourth in a Hennessy and placed in a lot of other good races. I wish he was around now!

As a boy, which jockey did you look up to? AP McCoy, as a lot of people did. The more I rode, I became quite friendly with Barry Geraghty. He was very helpful for my riding career. He's such a nice man and always gave me the time of day. It was a great asset to have someone like Barry Geraghty in your corner, and he was a great mentor.

Harry with Mick Easterby, being presented with his second amateur championship by

Dr Philip Pritchard and winning at Haydock on Southern Sam in December '23

How did you get into racing? I started riding out at Mick Easterby’s. I rode a lot of point-to-pointers for his son David who now jointly holds the trainer’s licence. At the time, David trained the point-to-pointers and Tom Greenall and I won a lot of point-to-points for him. A morning or two a week, I’d go to Charlie Mann's, which instigated the move south. Firstly, I went to Jonjo O’Neill’s then down to Warren’s in Lambourn. Charlie was a constant figure, even though I never worked for him as such.

Did you always want to be a jockey? Yes, I did – there was never anything else. It was always what I wanted to do. Having a horsey background and a family who supported that helped me in becoming a jockey.

Favourite racecourse: Haydock, which sounds a bit biased because it's closest to home and Dad's the chairman but I've had a lot of luck there.

Unluckiest racecourse: Exeter. I've only ever had one winner there and it was the last track to tick off on the whole list but now I finally got all of them. Riding a winner at Exeter had been the bane of my life for so long – it was out on its own for about three seasons but I finally ticked it off last season.

Favourite meeting: I love the Grand National meeting. It's got a different feel than other meetings and Liverpool makes it what it is.

Best day in racing so far: When I won the cross-country race on Diesel D’Allier at Cheltenham in 2021 at the December meeting. The year before in exactly the same race, I had been chinned on the line by one of Charlie Mann’s. This was a bit of a redemption win. You don't get many second chances, so to go on to win the same race meant a lot. All the family were there as well. That was a good day.

Harry and Diesel D'Allier on that 'redemption win' at Cheltenham

What is the race you'd most like to win? I’d obviously love to win the Aintree Grand National – that's a given to everyone. To be a bit different, I'd like to win the Champion Chase because of the speed.

Favourite racehorse: I think it's different with jockeys – we go through stages of getting attached to different racehorses, especially if they're going through a real purple patch. Over the years, rather than favourite horses, I've had horses that have been very good for my career.  La Bague Au Roi was one initially and then a horse of Alex Hales’ called For Pleasure, who was a massive over achiever, are two horses that helped my career.

What do you love about racing? I think we are lucky to do a job that isn't really a job. So many people get stuck in a rat race in their lives, just going to work in their 9-5 so I think, it’s amazing we're able to do something we love. At the end of the day, we only come into racing because we like horses and riding horses. The fact we can do something we love, compared to 98% of other jobs that don't do that. It’s not all good, don't get me wrong – it can be trying, sometimes you win and sometimes you lose but you keep on riding.

If you weren't jockey, what would you do? I'd actually like to teach kids sport. To make them run laps... Only joking. I just think, at that stage of your life, you’re very mouldable and can be pointed in a good direction. If you're interested in sport at a young age, a good teacher can be influential.

Best racing celebration so far: Harry Skelton’s Champion Jockey party. He had Britain’s Got Talent's Stavros Flatley doing the entertainment and obviously everyone in racing was there so it was really good.

Favourite meal: I'm quite boring with food. I'm a bit bland and aim for convenience. I eat chicken, rice and vegetables a lot.

Favourite drink: I never have drunk alcohol so I'll go for a J2O. Plus, Robinson’s squash is my main drink of choice.

Favourite snack: I'm partial to a bit of chocolate.

Favourite holiday destination: I'm a fan of Greece.

Favourite music: I go with whatever is current.

Favourite film: Gladiator.

Other interests: I like golf and I have a playing partner in Jack Quinlan. I like health and fitness so I go to the gym a bit – I know that isn’t really a hobby. I also like walking up mountains with my dog.

A second Grand National Trial on Quick Wave