DISPATCHES FROM THE SOUTH AND WEST MIDLANDS: 9 NOVEMBER

The 2025-2026 point-to-point season kicked-off at Lower Machen in South Wales on Sunday 9^th November, and participants from the South Midlands and West Mercian Areas were to the fore, taking five of the six races between them.

Leading trainer Alan Hill and his daughter-in-law, former female champion jockey Izzie – seeking to regain her title this year – were in double form. They took the opening Restricted with the impressive Jongleur D’Ainay, returning from a near two-year absence to score in the fastest time of the day, then followed up with Amron Sage in the Ladies Open, which saw the closest finish on the card.

Izzie and Alan Hill (Carl Evans)

Luca Morgan’s Baron Du Brizais provided the third South Midlands-trained winner of the afternoon in the Young Horse Maiden and now has a date at the Goffs Coral Gold Cup sale on Saturday 29^th November. Potential purchasers have the new GB Pointing Bonus to target. He was the mount of multiple champion male rider James King, already odds-on to retain his title.

Baron Du Brizais takes the Young Horse Maiden (Alun Sedgmore)

Though qualified with a Northern Area certificate, St Cuthbert’s Cave – formerly in Gordon Elliott’s yard – who made a successful debut between the flags in the Mens Open, is now trained by Joe O’Shea and the Cheshire-based handler is very much part of the West Mercian Area. His rider Huw Edwards is sure to be able to look forward to another successful season – his mounts include the likes of John Corbet Cup winner Jeux D’Eau.

The second West Mercian winner at Lower Machen was Chris Barber’s Western Monkey in the Older Horse Maiden. Partnered by Ed Doggrell, the six-year-old newcomer won comfortably in a race that saw the biggest field of the day.

Muddy connections celebrate with Western Monkey (Alun Sedgmore)