GO POINTING
VOL 02 15 / NOVEMBER / 2024
Killer Clown & Daisy White (no 4)
COVER PHOTO: Graham Fisher
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PREVIEW
PORTMAN
SUNDAY 17TH NOVEMBER 2024
By Bob Bracher
The Wessex point-to-point season, which consists of 21 planned meetings from November to May opens with the Portman holding their meeting at the popular Badbury Rings course near Wimborne this coming Sunday, with the first race scheduled at 12.30pm. The current going report is good but in the absence of any forecast rain consideration will be given to watering the course before Sunday.
The meeting whose headline sponsor is Savills will feature a big screen, trade and food stands, bookmakers and an amazing Silent Auction of over 60 lots. Entry costs are £15 per person with under 16s free.
The feature race of the day is the Mixed Open race for which a quality entry has been received. Course specialist Another Furlough from Harry Ryall’s stable may make his seasonal debut in this race and having won at the course for the last two seasons he should certainly be on the short list. I K Brunel is the model of consistency winning two of his five starts last season and will be the mount of last season’s lady champion rider Izzy Hill and is another to consider. One for Rosie is a class act and won his last two races but he might find one or two of his younger rivals too good for him. An intriguing entry is Saint Calvados rated as high as over 160 in his heyday when trained by Paul Nicholls and last seen running in France. Now trained by his former trainer Harry Whittington he
will be a first ride in point to points for his owner David Maxwell since 2018. Another Furlough is chosen in an open looking race.
The meeting begins with a two and half Maiden race for four- and five-year-olds where there is little form to go on. Tom Malone’s representative Blazing Force, unplaced in a Maiden in Ireland, should be considered along with the once raced Blue Topaz trained by Fran Poste. The ex-Irish Shikantsen Enki owned by Robert Fear and Andrew Ham, and trained from his new Hereford base by Chris Barber, has the advantage of a race in Ireland last month and this may prove decisive. Mention should be made of Lady Kloppenheim who will be making her debut over fences having run in a Bumper last season. She should be watched with interest.
The Conditions race for Grassroots Riders who have ridden fewer than 20 winners also contains an entry for Another Furlough and if this race is chosen, he will be the selection. Of his potential rivals Precious Bounty looks the main danger. He already had an outing at Knightwick last weekend and ought to come on for that race if he runs again. Harry Ryall has also entered My Lucky Star; the winner of a Maiden at Larkhill last season and she is one to follow during the season.
The Conditions race which follows does contain entries for both One For Rosie and Saint Calvados and this race may be an easier option than the Mixed Open. The
ex-Dan Skelton trained My Drogo, now with Ed Walker, is an interesting prospect for point to points. The winner of four Hurdle races and a Chase he will hopefully be rejuvenated by a drop in class and with the likely assistance of Will Biddick he looks the answer to this race.
The Restricted race may go to Bushtucker Park who easily won a Restricted race at Holnicote last season and has a good partnership with champion jockey James King and trainer Julie Wadland. She will be hard to beat but Calidad has been running in better races and may find this drop in class to his liking. Bruce Gobbler, from the already in form stable of Josh Newman, won a Maiden at Upcott Cross and Assassins Lullaby who caused an upset also at Upcott Cross might fight out the minor places.
The Maiden race which concludes the card may give Dorset Dazzler the chance to break his duck. Placed on his final two outings he may emulate his brother who won the course last season. Crouching Tiger trained by Sally Alner, who was runner up at Peper Harrow in May, is another to consider. The ex-Irish Blazing Force and Snap Fish may be the unknown factors in this race and it would be no surprise if either of these proved to be too good for the form horses from last season.
First Race 12,30pm. Badbury Rings is 4miles NW of Wimborne on B3082 Postcode DT11 9JL
Badbury Rings host the sole fixture of the weekend.
Photo: Tim Holt
THIS WEEK’S GRASS ROOTS STORY
The opening race of the 24/25 Point to Point season at Knightwick created a fairytale for the ‘White’ family when Killer Clown provided 19-year-old Daisy White with her first winner at the twelfth attempt.
The previous eleven had given Daisy a realistic view of what riding in point-to-point races can mean - a wonderful journey of highs and lows.
A couple of places and unseats, the tragic loss of her first horse Dans Wee Man who broke down irreparably in her first season and a fall leaving her with a broken collarbone in April have certainly shown her the realities of life as a pointto-point jockey.
The scenes in the winner’s enclosure on Saturday highlighted exactly what it meant to them as a family.
I went to visit Daisy, her Mum Rachael and of course Clown on Monday at the family home near Malmesbury.
Daisy’s Mum Rachael explained how they acquired the horse, ‘‘Emma Lavelle who trained him is a great friend of ours, Daisy has been riding out for Emma since she was 11. We weren’t looking for a horse but when Emma rang to say he was for sale how could we refuse? He is an absolute dream, a kind and easy horse to do and we all ride him!’’
Rachael, who rode under her maiden name Barrow, rode around 30 winners mainly in points but told me ‘‘I had one on the flat at Wolverhampton and one over hurdles at Huntingdon, both for Don Cantillon.’’
A family steeped in racing history Rachael’s mother Joan Barrow was a trainer and also rode as an amateur. She was one of the first ladies to ride against the boys and in 1976 rode a winner over hurdles at Ayr on a horse trained by ‘The Duke’ whilst participating in a programme called The Big Time hosted by Esther Rantzen.
Daisy’s dad Charlie also rode in point-to-points and Johnson White who trains alongside Phillip Hobbs is Daisy’s Uncle. The racing gene certainly runs through the White veins.
Having ridden since she was tiny, aged 8, Daisy was given the option from mum of pony racing or eventing? The answer was simple “pony racing”. She rode 4 winners and whilst never on the speediest ponies she always had the biggest smile and received the biggest cheer. That I can quite imagine as chatting to Daisy it’s clear how passionate she is and very deserving of success. To celebrate Saturday’s first victory Daisy explained ‘‘We have had a bottle of champagne in the lorry for ten years waiting for a reason to really celebrate, so we filled the cup with it, but it tasted awful’’ she laughs.
Killer Clown, a useful ex-rules horse who had a rating of 148 at his best relished the change to pointing. Daisy says, ‘‘He has been enjoying lots of different things this autumn before
Daisy White with her first winner, by Claire Hart
All smiles after Killer Clown’s victory.
Photo: Alun Sedgmore
recently using the gallops at event rider Kitty King’s and Robbie Llewellyn’s nearby bases.’’
She added ‘‘Saturday was an amazing day, words cannot quite describe it, best day ever – I have been waiting a while for it. Clown was such a dude and looked after me the whole way round, the perfect schoolmaster’’ reflecting on Saturdays victory.
Daisy also rode an accomplished race aboard Some Operator to finish third in the Conditions level three later on the card, he outran his odds of 12/1 and Daisy looks forward to reuniting with him in a few weeks’ time.
A move north this week beckons for both horses to the yard of Simon Waugh. Daisy, a first-year student at Newcastle University studying Business Management, plans to do them herself as much as possible. However, she will also have the help and support of Simon and his daughter Aimee who was
once a successful amateur and now a flat jockey.
Rachael is clearly apprehensive about the horses leaving home as she will miss them but excited for Daisy to enjoy Pointing in the north. ‘‘I am so proud of her and hope she has lots of fun, I loved my time up there and shall look forward to re-connecting with old friends.’’
Daisy who is 5ft 9” has realistic ambitions ‘‘Eventually I would like to get my amateur licence and I aspire to be as professional as I can be, one step at a time but I dream of riding in a Foxhunters; that would be a dream come true!’’
I drove away feeling very heartened by the warmth, enthusiasm and excitement both Rachael and Daisy clearly feel and it highlights that our wonderful sport has the capability to create wonderful stories.
The perfect start to the season.
Daisy’s first horse.
Killer Clown and Daisy head onto the course.
REPORTS
Cheshire-based trainer Hannah Roach made pointing’s first meeting of the new season her own by saddling a fabulous four-timer courtesy of victories for Paul Marvel, Barton Snow, Rewritetherules and Gracchus De Balme - all partnered by jockey Huw Edwards.
An understandably thrilled Roach said: “It just makes all the hard work with early mornings and late nights worthwhile. We had a feeling that we would have a few winners but we didn’t really expect nearly all of the horses would win
“It’s my first double, my first treble and my first four-timer all on the same day so it does not get any better than that. I am also over the moon for all the owners as they have been very supportive and that support has paid off for them as well.”
Perhaps the star of the Roach quartet was the ex-Irish Gracchus De Balme’s victory in the Mixed Open as he only had to be pushed out on the run to the line after closest pursuer Take All had ducked out at the final fence.
Winning owner Derek Malam was celebrating his 110th winner Pointing and under Rules following the success and said: “This horse had decent form for Joseph O’Brien in Ireland and we hoped he would win on his first start for Hannah
“He is a nice horse and the hope is that he will go on from here and make up into a hunter chaser in the New Year - with that in mind I suspect he will have another run in points and we will take it from there.”
Roach’s mentor Joe O’Shea had a reputation for improving horses from other yards and some of that has obviously rubbed off as Rewritetherules gave the impression he had lost the plot with more letters in his form-line than numbers last term.
But, with his enthusiasm rekindled on his debut for his new handler, he sauntered to success in the Level 3 Conditions contest after easing to the front on the bridle three out and seeing off the attentions of The Composeur by an ever increasing 18 lengths.
Another Irish Import in the shape of Barton Snow was sent off 4/9 favourite and, after being given a patient ride by Edwards, proceeded to get the better of Great Valley by three lengths in the Restricted contest.
KNIGHTWICK
SATURDAY 9TH NOVEMBER 2024
By Andrew King
Steve Allen, representing winning owners The MMI Partnership, was all smiles following the win. He said: “It’s our first horse with Hannah and she has done a brilliant job with him.
“I think he wants better ground than the softish conditions he encountered here so he might have one more run if the weather allows and then come back in the Spring, however, he is new to all of us so we will take it one race at a time.”
Paul Marvel started the ball rolling for Roach and Edwards when taking the honours in the Conditions (Level 3) race but the seven-year- old had to be driven out by the rider to secure his superiority over Henschke.
Winning joint owner Nathan Richards: “He needs every yard of three miles but we were ultra confident he would be up to the task on his first run in Britain since being bought out of the Willie Mullins yard in Ireland
“The longer term plan for the horse is to end up in hunter chases but he is more than likely to have another run or two in points in one of the longer distance races that start in the New Year.”
It was not only Roach who was wearing a big smile at the meeting as it proved a red letter afternoon for 19-year-old Daisy
White as she partnered her first ever winner after Killer Clown collected the opening Conditions race for Grass Roots Riders.
White took time off from her studies at Newcastle University to make the trip to Worcestershire and was obviously ecstatic about her first ever winner from 11 previous tries.
She said: “I was always travelling nicely on the horse but I did not want to hit the front too soon so I gave him a pull on the home turn and then had to hold my nerve before kicking on going to the final fence.”
The two legs of the split maiden, which concluded the card, went the way of Dropematthestation, trained by Gina Ellis, and Kilfilum Woods, was having his first outing for Fran Poste’s yard after being sold out of the Paul Webber yard.
Despite making an error at the third fence from home, the first named jumped well in the main to take division one with Jack Andrews not having to get too serious in the saddle to come three lengths ahead of favourite El Capitaine.
Kilfilum Woods profited via a confident waiting ride from off the pace by Zak Baker as he only had to nudge his mount out in the closing stages to score from The Village Way.
Maiden Race (Div. 1). The eventual winner, Dropematthestation (no 6) and Jack Andrews prominent.
Photo: Alun Sedgmore
DUNSMORE RACING CLUB
SATURDAY 10TH NOVEMBER 2024
By Granville Taylor and Donna Harris
Dunsmore Racing Club opened the new point to point season in the Devon & Cornwall area before a good sized crowd in pleasant autumn weather. 31 of the 49 entries faced the starter in six races, giving competitive racing with just three favourites obliging.
Josh Newman’s Woolminstone, Somerset, yard took the honours, scooping the last three races, each ridden by Josh himself.
Tip Top Mountain showed a nice turn of foot to take the Mixed Open under a wily Newman ride. The nine-year-old was returning to pointing after seven successes under rules, and was always holding the challenge of Duc De Bourbon (Charlie Sprake) in the home straight. The gelding was well bought at Doncaster in the summer for Tilly Garton who works in
the yard and plans to take the mount when her licence comes through. Josh reported, “He really enjoyed it. Loved it and dug in well. He will be a fun ride for Tilly.”
Dairy farmer John Gardener has been a grand supporter of point-to-pointing and said that his racing colours are 57 years old this year. The colours were carried to victory in both the Restricted and the Maiden thanks to the five-year-old grey Holiday Fund and Clondaw Drake respectively.
“Holiday Fund prefers firmer going and that’s why he didn’t get on in Ireland”, said the owner, whilst Josh reported, “He’s good, never picked up the bridle for the first two and a half miles. I had to get after him after the back straight and he ran on well.”
Five-year-old Clondaw Drake put the icing on the cake to seal a memorable hat trick for the yard with a four lengths success in the ten- runner Maiden. Josh Newman was content to sit in the chasing pack until joining runner up Hardy Buck (Fly
McIntyre) at the last, quickly asserting on the sprint to the judge. The winner was purchased at Goffs Doncaster sales in May with the rider saying, “We didn’t know what he was going to be like, he is so strong. I had to creep up and he travelled and jumped well”.
Goffs sponsored the four-year-olds only Maiden which saw Will Biddick off the mark on his first ride of the season on Vol Royale. All five runners held a chance four out, but Biddick circled his rivals on the last bend and had joined Codetalker (Charlie Case) for the lead when making a mistake at the penultimate fence. The pair took off together at the last, but Biddick’s mount found a nice turn of foot up the run in to win going away.
The winner is one of many potential stars stabled with his rider near Sparkford and jointly owned by him and Jeffery Brown, a beef cattle farmer and tractor dealer based at Molland. The rider remarked, “He has grown up physically and mentally. It was a really professional run. Fred PhilipsonStow rides Vol Royale every day and has done a great job on him.” Vol Royale is likely to be seen next in the sales ring at Goffs Cheltenham sales later this week.
The Grass Roots Conditions race run in memory of Keagan Kirkby and sponsored by Paul Nicholls Racing Ltd went to the North Cotswold gelding Kayf Hernando. The eightyear-old, partnered by 17-year old Tom Hutsby, was left clear when Checkitout slipped up at half way, with the favourite Longshanks never looking likely to get on terms.
The winner is based at the successful breaking and pre-training yard of Justin Brotherton at Stow-on-the-Wold, who said ,”I didn’t know Keagan personally, but would like to say we have heard that he was lovely and our thoughts go out to his family and friends.”
Paper Mill was an impressive winner of the Exeter Racecourse Intermediate. Mike Kehoe’s likeable eight-year-old was well in command under Charlie Case from the last ditch and was eased after jumping the last. A prolific winning pointer, he ran well on his hunter chase debut at Cheltenham in May and can build on that effort this season.
Mention should be made of Norman Chanin, celebrating 40 years as clerk of the course with the Silverton, who produced an excellent racing surface on Sunday.
Vol Royale, Will Biddick (1st) Four Years Old Maiden
Photo: Tim Holt
FIXTURE LIST 2024/25
AREA FIXTURE COURSE DAY DATE
W Portman Badbury Rings Sunday 17 November 2024
D&C East Cornwall Great Trethew Sunday 24 November 2024
N Border Hexham Sunday 01 December 2024
W Hursley Hambledon Larkhill Sunday 01 December 2024
WM The Wheatland Chaddesley Corbett Sunday 08 December 2024
D&C Cornwall Club Wadebridge Sunday 08 December 2024
W New Forest Larkhill Sunday 15 December 2024
N Ratcheugh Racing Club Alnwick Sunday 15 December 2024
WM Harkaway Club Chaddesley Corbett Sunday 29 December 2024
EA Thurlow Horseheath Tuesday 31 December 2024
W Larkhill Racing Club Larkhill Sunday 05 January 2025
N West Percy Alnwick Sunday 05 January 2025
EA Dunston Harriers Ampton Sunday 12 January 2025
D&C North Cornwall Wadebridge Sunday 12 January 2025
Y Yorkshire Area Point-to-Point Club Sheriff Hutton Sunday 12 January 2025
W Royal Artillery Larkhill Saturday 18 January 2025
MID South Wold Revesby Park Saturday 18 January 2025
N Jedforest Friars Haugh Sunday 19 January 2025
EA Cambridgeshire with Enfield Chace Horseheath Sunday 26 January 2025
SM Heythrop Cocklebarrow Sunday 26 January 2025
N Percy Alnwick Sunday 26 January 2025
D&C Tiverton Foxhounds Chipley Park Sunday 26 January 2025
MID Melton Club Garthorpe Sunday 02 February 2025
W South Dorset Milborne St Andrew Sunday 02 February 2025
SE South East Club Charing Sunday 02 February 2025
Y York & Ainsty and West of Yore Askham Bryan Sunday 02 February 2025
MID Brocklesby Brocklesby Park Saturday 08 February 2025
N Berwickshire Races Friars Haugh Sunday 09 February 2025
EA Waveney Harriers Higham Sunday 09 February 2025
W Combined Services Larkhill Sunday 16 February 2025
EA Puckeridge & Essex Horseheath Sunday 16 February 2025
Y Sinnington Duncombe Park Sunday 16 February 2025
D&C South Pool Harriers Buckfastleigh Sunday 16 February 2025
SAND Kimblewick (February) Kingston Blount Saturday 22 February 2025
N College Valley & North Northumberland Alnwick Sunday 23 February 2025
MID Cottesmore Garthorpe Sunday 23 February 2025
W Countryside Alliance Club (Wessex) Badbury Rings Sunday 23 February 2025
WALES Curre & Llangibby Howick Sunday 23 February 2025
AREA FIXTURE COURSE DAY DATE
D&C Spooners & West Dartmoor Cherrybrook Sunday 06 April 2025
SAND Vine & Craven Kingston Blount Sunday 06 April 2025
Y Bedale Hornby Castle Saturday 12 April 2025
W Cattistock Chilfrome Saturday 12 April 2025
WM Croome & West Warwickshire Shelfield Park Saturday 12 April 2025
WALES Llangeinor Pentyrch Ystradowen Saturday 12 April 2025
SE Old Surrey & Burstow and West Kent Penshurst Saturday 12 April 2025
SM Bicester with Whaddon Chase Edgcote Sunday 13 April 2025
N Overton Races Overton Sunday 13 April 2025
D&C Silverton Dunsmore Sunday 13 April 2025
EA Essex & Suffolk Higham Friday 18 April 2025
D&C Flete Park RacesDartmoor Foxhounds Flete Park Saturday 19 April 2025
SM Kimblewick (Easter) Kimble Saturday 19 April 2025
WM North Staffordshire Sandon Saturday 19 April 2025
MID Pytchley with Woodland Dingley Saturday 19 April 2025
W Seavington Cotley Saturday 19 April 2025
WM Worcestershire Chaddesley Corbett Saturday 19 April 2025
D&C Four Burrow Trebudannon Monday 21 April 2025
WM North Cotswold Paxford Monday 21 April 2025
SM Old Berkshire Lockinge Monday 21 April 2025
WM South Shropshire Eyton on Severn Monday 21 April 2025
W Taunton Vale Foxhounds and Taunton Vale Harriers Cothelstone Monday 21 April 2025
N Tynedale Corbridge Monday 21 April 2025
WM Berkeley Woodford Saturday 26 April 2025
SE Chiddingfold, Leconfield & Cowdray Parham Saturday 26 April 2025
N Fife Pusk Saturday 26 April 2025
MID Quorn Garthorpe Saturday 26 April 2025
D&C Axe Vale Stafford Cross Sunday 27 April 2025
D&C Flete Park RacesTotnes & Bridgetown Racing Co Ltd Flete Park Saturday 03 May 2025
SE Mid Surrey Farmers Godstone Saturday 03 May 2025
W Devon & Somerset South Hill Sunday 04 May 2025
MID Fernie Dingley Sunday 04 May 2025
WM North Shropshire Eyton on Severn Monday 05 May 2025
D&C Stevenstone Vauterhill Monday 05 May 2025
SM Warwickshire Mollington Monday 05 May 2025
Y Zetland Witton Castle Monday 05 May 2025
W Minehead Harriers and West Somerset Holnicote Saturday 10 May 2025
Y DerwentScarborough Races Charm Park Sunday 11 May 2025
D&C Eggesford Upcott Cross Sunday 11 May 2025
SM Kimblewick (May) Kingston Blount Sunday 11 May 2025
W Weston & Banwell and West Somerset Vale Cothelstone Wednesday 14 May 2025
N Haydon Hexham Saturday 17 May 2025
SE Surrey Union Peper Harow Saturday 17 May 2025
D&C Dulverton West Bratton Down Sunday 18 May 2025
SM Grafton Edgcote Sunday 18 May 2025
WM Knutsford Races Club Tabley Sunday 18 May 2025
MID Fitzwilliam (Milton) Dingley Saturday 24 May 2025
Wales Welsh International Ffynnondruidion Saturday 24 May 2025
SM Berks & Bucks Draghounds Kingston Blount Sunday 25 May 2025
D&C Exmoor Bratton Down Sunday 25 May 2025
WM Albrighton & Woodland Chaddesley Corbett Monday 26 May 2025
D&C South Tetcott Upcott Cross Monday 26 May 2025
D&C Tiverton Staghounds Bratton Down Sunday 01 June 2025
D&C Torrington Farmers Umberleigh Saturday 07 June 2025
IN THE FRAME
Duc De Bourbon, Charlie Sprake leads Mixed Open runners in the Dunsmore paddock
Photo: Tim Holt
Maiden (NWFAA) runners pass the Dunsmore crowd
Photo: Tim Holt
SPEED
FIGURES
BADBURY RINGS 17/11/2024
12:30 THE FOUR AND FIVE YEARS OLD MAIDEN RACE: Bigforyourboots (IRE) (60)
1:05 THE CONDITIONS RACE (LEVEL 2), FOR GRASS ROOTS RIDERS: Another Furlough (IRE) (116) My Lucky Star (IRE) (101) Precious Bounty (IRE) (95) Doctor Doyen (IRE) (76)
1:40 THE CONDITIONS RACE (LEVEL 3): Dorset Diamond (GB) (106) One For Rosie (GB) (102) Highland Glory (GB) (100) Southfield Lily (GB) (87)
2:15 THE MIXED OPEN RACE: Another Furlough (IRE) (123) I K Brunel (GB) (119) One For Rosie (GB) (119) Precious Bounty (IRE) (107) Len Brennan (IRE) (101)
2:50 THE RESTRICTED RACE: Calidad (IRE) (114) My Lucky Star (IRE) (101) Bushtucker Park (IRE) (97) Finding Freedom (IRE) (90)
3:25 THE MAIDEN RACE (NWFAA): Dorset Dazzler (GB) (88) Crouching Tiger (IRE) (76) Flaming Henry (GB) (72)
EXETER SUPPORTS HUNTER CHASING
THE UK’S LEADING INTERMEDIATE SERIES
#55 QUALIFIED HORSES IN 2023
EACH QUALIFIER IS RUN FOR A MINIMUM OF £500
EXETER OFFER A MINIMUM OF £5000 PRIZE MONEY
ALL RUNNERS QUALIFY FOR INTERMEDIATE SERIES FINAL ON HALDON HILL (CLASS 5)
2024
SUNDAY 10 NOVEMBER
Dunsmore Club – Dunsmore
SUNDAY 24 NOVEMBER
East Cornwall – Great Trethew
SUNDAY 8 DECEMBER
Cornwall Hunt Club – Wadebridge
2025
SUNDAY 26 JANUARY
Tiverton – Chipley Park
SUNDAY 16 FEBRUARY
South Pool – Buckfastleigh
SUNDAY 16 MARCH
Dart Vale – Buckfastleigh
SUNDAY 23 MARCH
Lamerton – Kilworthy
LAST QUALIFIER
SUNDAY 30 MARCH
South Cornwall – Trebudannon
INTERMEDIATE FINAL ENTRIES
SATURDAY 5 APRIL, 2025
INTERMEDIATE FINAL FRIDAY 11 APRIL, 2025
ON THE CLOCK
Grey skies ushered in the new season at Knightwick but the gloom was quickly lifted by a sparkling four-timer for the Hannah Roach and Huw Edwards combination. Fit and ready to run for their lives, all were impressive, but the standout performance came from Gracchus de Balme (FR) (120) who ran out a comfortable winner of the Mixed Open. A former inmate of the Joseph O’Brien stable, Gracchus de Balme was rated as high as 130 over hurdles in Ireland and was sent off favourite here with useful rival A Jet of Our Own thought to require a softer surface. In the end it was another debutante, Take All (119), who emerged as the main danger until he deposited his rider through the wing having been brought to challenge at the last. There will be other days for Take All if his mind can be channeled in the right direction (he too was a decent performer in Ireland) but the winner looks ready made for Hunter Chases. His previous record suggests heavy ground will pose no problems but that it may be prudent to campaign him over distances short of three miles as he rises in grade. Kilfilum Woods (104) was well touted before the concluding maiden and got the better of market rival The Village Way (98) on the run to the line having been held up in rear through the early stages. Both have scope to progress having previously shown a fair amount of ability under Rules.
Small fields dominated at Dunsmore the next day and it was little surprising therefore that the fastest time of the day was posted by the day’s biggest field. Victory went to the strong travelling Clondaw Drake (104) who had raced five times in Irish points without success but stepped up markedly here to defeat favourite Hardy Buck (100). The runner-up had appeared distinctly moderate before being beaten just 5 lengths in an Irish Hunter chase in April, and overall the fit of the race does suggest one should not get too carried away. However, as its stands the time figure posted by the winner is some 13lbs above its form rating suggesting there may be some value to be had next time round.
There is only one fixture this coming weekend, The Portman at Badbury Rings, where Another Furlough looks to get back on track following his fall in the Intermediate Final at Cheltenham. Quietly progressive beforehand and still only seven years old he will not have an easy time of it with the likes of One for Rosie and Givega and Saint Calvados in opposition but equally this might be reflected in a rewarding starting price.
Clondaw Drake delivered an impressive performance on his UK debut.
Photo: Tim Holt
LATEST RESULTS
KNIGHTWICK
09/11/2024
12:00 1. KILLER CLOWN (IRE) Miss D. White 7-2 2. FAN CLUB AULMES (FR) T. Hutsby Evens
3. IRASCIBLE (FR) Miss A. Jackson-Fennell 4-1 (5 ran).
12:35 1. PAUL MARVEL (FR) Huw Edwards 1-2F 2. HENSCHKE (IRE) B. Lovegrove-Fielden 10-1
3. TOP OF THE CHARTS (FR) Miss C. M. Mills 20-1 (6 ran).
1:10 1. BARTON SNOW (IRE) Huw Edwards 4-9F 2. GREAT VALLEY (FR) G. Sankey 6-4
3. COSSACK DANCER (GB) Miss C. M. Mills 6-1 (4 ran).
1:45 1. REWRITETHERULES (IRE) Huw Edwards 2-1 2. THE COMPOSEUR (IRE) Miss Aimee Jones 5-4F 3. SOME OPERATOR (IRE) Miss D. White 12-1 (6 ran).
2:20 1. GRACCHUS DE BALME (FR) Huw Edwards 11-10F 2. WILLEWONGA (GB) Miss C. Brewitt 11-2 3. A JET OF OUR OWN (IRE) F. Philipson-Stow 6-4 (5 ran).
2:55 1. DROPEMATTHESTATION (GB) Jack Andrews 3-1 2. EL CAPITAINE (IRE) J. Newman Evens 3. ILITCH (FR) C. Case 14-1 (8 ran).
3:30 1. KILFILUM WOODS (IRE) Z. Baker Evens 2. THE VILLAGE WAY (GB) Sean O’Connor 7-4 3. BLACKIJO DAGROSTIS (FR) F. Philipson-Stow 6-1 (7 ran).
DUNSMORE
10/11/2024
12:30 1. VOL ROYALE (IRE) W. Biddick 5-4F 2. CODETALKER (GB) C. Case 5-2 3. SUCCES FOU (FR) James King 5-2 (5 ran).
1:00 1. KAYF HERNANDO (GB) T. Hutsby 9-4 2. LONGSHANKS (IRE) Sean O’Connor 4-7F (3 ran).
1:30 1. PAPER MILL (GB) C. Case 4-9F 2. KING ORRY (IRE) J. Shaw 8-1 3. FUNKY SENSATION (GB) J. Bament 6-1 (4 ran).
2:00 1. TIP TOP MOUNTAIN (IRE) J. Newman 5-1 2. DUC DE BOURBON (FR) Charlie Sprake 7-4F 3. CALL SIMON (IRE) James King 6-1 (5 ran).
2:30 1. HOLIDAY FUND (IRE) J. Newman 4-6F 2. SUMMER JAM (IRE) E. Doggrell 11-4 3. FINDING FREEDOM (IRE) D. H. P. Lewis 5-1 (4 ran).
3:00 1. CLONDAW DRAKE (IRE) J. Newman 5-1 2. HARDY BUCK (IRE) M. McIntyre 5-2F 3. ALWAYS FORCE IT (IRE) E. Doggrell 20-1 (10 ran).
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TRAINER TALK: JOSH NEWMAN
BY JAKE EXELBY, SOUTH MIDLANDS AREA PRESS OFFICER
32-year-old Josh Newman has long been one of the most successful riders on the South West pointing circuit, with over 150 winners between the flags and under rules since his first winner – Sobre Tresor for his aunt Chloe at Littlewindsor – when he was 19, and he has started to make his mark as a point-to-point trainer too.
Based at Blackmore Farm near Crewkerne in Somerset since 2019, he shares a dual yard with wife Kayley (they got married in the summer), who holds a professional licence under her former name of Woollacott. In 2022/2023, Josh was leading trainer with 6-14 horses, before becoming national champion last season after a close battle with Alan Hill. Jake Exelby travelled down the M5 in advance of the new season – which Josh started with a bang, with a Dunsmore treble – to meet the newlyweds and find out how last season evolved, and what they’re expecting next time round.
Josh and Kayley are unusual among dual yards in that their primary focus is pointers – they have 25 to run next season, as opposed to 12 in the licensed yard, and Kayley explained why. “You want the right quality for the game you’re in and –for the budget we’ve got – we can be a lot more competitive in pointing. For a good horse, you need to be spending at least £40,000 under rules. Mind you, Our Dylan only cost us £3,500 and we’ve won two handicaps with him.”
The couple are also unafraid to swap their horses back and forth between points and professional racing and Kayley cites two recent success stories from their yard. As well as Our Dylan, who didn’t win for them between the flags before his rules successes, they have Stratton Oakmont. A multiple-placed maiden under rules before switching to points, he won a Maiden on his first start, then a Restricted in 2023, before going back to the professional game, where he has since won twice and been placed five times from seven starts. “You need different types of horse for each code,” she confirms. “Often, good horses that travel well can’t win a point because their asset is their cruising speed, and they don’t like the constant changes of pace in points.”
Kayley and I talk while Josh (El Capitaine) leads point-topoint riders Hannah Morgan (who will ride stable stalwart Sixteen Letters this year) on Iris Des Issards and Purdy Peaster on the experienced Paloma Blue, alongside Olli Watson and Ben Godfrey on two of Kayley’s string – winning chaser Stellar Stream and juvenile hurdler Lucky Bere – over the schooling circuit of tyres, logs and brush fences.
Workout over, I ask Josh about another important part of their operation. Like so many yards nowadays, he splits his string between pointers who stay between the flags to hopefully go through the grades, and young maidens who are bought to sell. “It’s hard to strike a balance,” Josh admits, “Particularly with a dual yard. People overestimate how much we have to spend on horses and assume that, if a horse was any good, we’d keep it.”
“Pointing needs more support from race planning and the sales companies,” continues Josh. “It’s important that young horse maidens exclude rules horses, as beating one with a low rating devalues the form, and we need help at the actual sales – we always seem to be one of the first few lots – and Mount Mason, who dead-heated at Charlton Horethorne, didn’t get into the Cheltenham Festival sale because of his low price as a store, but the other winner did. Although he did sell there for £55,000 in April!”
Recent graduates of Blackmore Farm to have gone on to success under rules include Park This One, placed in Grade Two company for Jamie Snowden and No Risk With Lou and Wise Guy, dual winners for Alex Hales and Stuart Edmunds respectively, while last season’s Garthorpe winner Big Burt has gone to James Owen. “We’ve come out in front over the last few years, despite modest budgets,” admits Josh. “And,
(L-R) Josh on El Capitaine, Olli Watson on Stellar Stream, Kayley with Purdy Peaster and Paloma Blue, Hannah Morgan on Iris Des Issards
Photo: Caroline Exelby
while they were bought to sell, it would have been lovely to keep them here for Kayley to train!”
Josh talks me through his championship winning season. “We’d had a good season the year before, being leading mid-sized trainer, but never thought I’d have a chance of the main title. We switched feeds to Red Mills in the close season, so started slowly (he only had five wins to the end of February), but we changed the horses’ feeding patterns, got them trim and worked them harder. The first time I thought about it was when I had six winners on the last weekend of March – Big Burt won on Saturday, I went to Kilworthy on Sunday with what I thought were four good chances and three of them came in, and we had a double at Cotley.”
“That put me right up there with Max Comley, but Alan Hill was having a few good weekends and I assumed Gina Ellis would come from behind despite her late start (she only started training pointers in March when husband Tom took out a full licence), so I always thought we’d be caught,” Josh goes on, “As we didn’t have the ammunition and don’t over-race our horses. Towards the end, we were having a lot of placings and just the odd winner – still rolling, but with a flat tyre!”
Josh came to the final day of the season one clear of Alan and he takes up the story again. “We went two clear when Whitsand Bay won the first at Upcott Cross, Alan pulled one back at Chaddesley Corbett and, if his final runner had won, he’d have beaten me on countback. But it didn’t, we won the last with Bruce Gobbler and ended up winning by two. We stayed at Upcott Cross for a while – all the team from the yard were there, along with lots of our owners, but didn’t celebrate when we got home, as it was late by the time we’d unloaded, and we had the kids with us.”
“Of course it’s an ambition to be champion trainer again,” confirms Josh about his plans for next season. “But I just want the horses to be fit, healthy and run to the best of their ability. If you start the season thinking about the title, you put too much pressure on yourself. You can’t tell until March or April. Gina will be the one to beat – she’s got so much ammunition –and, of the up-and-coming yards, Harry Ryall is one to watch. He’s a good lad who’s got his head screwed on. He’s worked in a few different yards and has learnt from them but does things his own way. I rode for him in his first season.”
While Josh obviously rides many of his horses himself, he also uses Darren Andrews – he’s ridden a lot of winners, has got a lot of experience, comes in once a week, knows our horses and routines and rides to instructions – Callum Pritchard (who has now turned conditional), who he helped get started, and even gave female champion jockey Izzie Marshall a couple of wins on Sixteen Letters. “(Her future father-in-law) Alan told me he wouldn’t bring anything to Cotley if I let Izzie ride him,” laughs Josh.
“To be champion jockey is unrealistic,” Josh admits, despite totals of 20+ in each of the past three seasons. “But it would be nice to win the area title in Devon & Cornwall or Wessex – because I split my rides between them, I’ve never won one. And I’ve no plans to retire yet – I’ll only do so when I stop getting the buzz.”
Asked about his favourite horse, Josh surprisingly (to me at least) nominates not one he’s trained himself, but Ed Walker’s mare Wind Tor, on whom he won six. “She was small and compact but jumped well for a little horse. She was game and you knew you’d always get a tune out of her.” As for a pointer he’d love to have in his yard and ride, his
Team Newman celebrate winning the trainers title at Upcott CrossJosh is holding daughter Hazel
Photo: Tim Holt
response is more predictable. “Latenightpass has been fantastic for the Ellises. He’s homebred, has won multiple point-to-points, the Aintree Foxhunters, a cross-country chase at Cheltenham and ran in the Grand National.”
“Pointing is a great education,” continues Josh. “It allows everyone to learn before taking the next step. Sometimes I think people rush to go under rules – horses, trainers and jockeys. You see young lads who want to jump on the bandwagon and think they can go professional and fly through their claim. For me, it’s better to wait two or three years and turn conditional later, having had a hundred rides and 20-30 winners, rather than half that number.”
“I love pointing because it’s competitive – I ride in the same way and put in the same effort as any professional – but relaxed and sociable at the same time. We always go to the races with a basket in the back of the lorry and have a drink afterwards, win, lose or draw,” concludes Josh. “It’s all about our owners and staff. We celebrate the good days and endure the bad ones… it’s a team effort.”
Josh’s Three to Follow for 2024/2025
Cue Jump
A big, strong mare who’s related to Cue Card. She ran well when second at Larkhill with Callum Pritchard, and we decided not to rush her and put her away. She’s come back even better this year and will run in the autumn, potentially in a young horse Maiden. If she continues to improve, she could be smart.
Impakt St Georges
A new six-year-old for John Symes who’ll come in shortly and run after Christmas. He’s still a maiden but has been placed in points and hurdles in Ireland and is rated 107. His form’s solid and he can go through the ranks. He won’t be a one-season horse as John’s a pure pointing person and looks after his horses. He’s had the likes of Sixteen Letters, Steeltown, Whizzaar and Parkam Jack with us.
El Capitaine
Came from Ireland, where he was owned by Chris Jones – who has Paloma Blue with us – and trained by Tom Dreaper, and had a hurdles rating of 114 after only being beaten four and a half lengths by Buddy One. Owned by Ivan Thompson and we’re excited about him and think he could get up to Novice Hunter Chase level. We’ll also try and get a handicap mark for him over here. Second at Knightwick on his seasonal debut.
Josh and Cue Jump
Photo: Caroline Exelby
Josh leading his string over the obstacles
Photo: Caroline Exelby
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NATIONAL POINT-TO-POINT
CHAMPIONSHIPS 2024/25
ON THE FOLLOWING PAGE YOU CAN FIND SOME EARLY SEASON LEADERBOARDS.
• Goffs Ladies’ Champion Jockey
• Tattersalls Jockey Club Sales Men’s Champion Jockey
• Highflyer Bloodstock Leading Ladies’ Novice Rider
• Highflyer Bloodstock Leading Men’s Novice Rider
• Foran Equine Champion Trainer
• Foran Equine Leading Trainer (6-14 horses)
• Oriental Club Leading Trainer (5 horses or fewer)
• Point-to-Point Racing Company Leading Owner
• Connolly’s Red Mills Champion Horse
In the event of a tie in any category, the winner will be decided by second placings. If it is still tied, third, then fourth placings will decide the winner. Walkovers will again not count towards any National Championship in 2024-25.
LADIES CHAMPIONSHIP MENS
