HORSES TO FOLLOW 2026/2027: ALAN HILL
Having trained pointers since 2006 (after wife Lawney took out a professional licence) at his Woodway Farm base at Aston Rowant, between Oxford and High Wycombe, Alan Hill stands just one shy of a landmark 500th win between the flags and in Hunter Chases, putting him among the all-time elite of point-to-point trainers. And with two Aintree and one Cheltenham Foxhunters among nearly 150 winners, he was no slouch in the saddle either!
Fortunes Calling
Ex-Irish and had two pointing runs, pulling up and finishing third. We bought him via ThoroughBid. I don’t know much about him, but the dry summer really seems to have helped strengthen him – it can do, as the grass stays in a horse’s system as long as they drink plenty of water – and you, as his joint-owner, didn’t even recognise him today! He looks like the sort of horse I like, big, but not over-big, and strong. He’ll probably want a trip and some cut in the ground, and we’ll look for something around Christmas.
Jongleur D’Ainay
The second of my horses to follow co-owned with the writer. The biggest frustration is that he’s only had one run in the last two years due to curbs, but hopefully now that he’s grown to a good size, those issues are sorted. Both his wins have had the wow factor, especially last season at Lower Machen and the plan is to start at Chaddesley Corbett or Alnwick if conditions are in his favour, with the long-term objective of the Cheltenham Intermediate Final. Our first aim is to get a sequence of runs into him to learn how good he is. He’s seven now, so we want to see more of him on the track, and he seems stronger this season.
Lime Burner
A new horse for the Cranfield family, who has come from Mark Grant. A gorgeous looking horse, who I fell in love with at first sight – he moves well for a big horse. He ran in three Larkhill Maidens – his first run behind Carrillo was very good and the form was franked, he was going well when falling next time, and his form last time has worked out well. We haven’t done much with him yet, though he’s jumping well at home, and he’ll start fast work soon. He’ll be out around Christmas, and probably wants cut, although he’s run well at Larkhill. One of the greediest horses I know!
Normofthenorth
Had his issues in recent seasons, cutting his hind leg badly and suffering an over-reach. Ironically, he’s one of the soundest horses I’ve trained, but just picks up niggles. He’s as enthusiastic as ever and won at Kingston Blount in May before running OK at Stratford, but he didn’t enjoy Uttoxeter with 14 runners. He’ll go for Ladies and Conditions Races and has fallen down the grades, so can run in Level Twos without a penalty, which is good as he’s small. Loves to dictate and owes us nothing – he has 11 wins and seven placings from 19 starts and got injured in his only other race. Entered at Buckfastleigh on Sunday.
Reel Much Fun
Another owned by the Cranfields. He was third first time out at Horseheath and we were really pleased, then we took him back there, but were disappointed with his fourth – he didn’t travel through the soft patches. We then went to Higham – his owners’ local course – which we thought might be too sharp, but he loved the ground and won easily. He then won two at High Easter, though he found the ground too soft first time and only won thanks to Huw Edwards’ perseverance. He’s still got a lot to learn – he was weak last year, so we roughed him off early and he’s come back stronger. He’ll probably be ready for Horseheath and we’ll build from there - he’ll want a break between his races. A credit to David Minton, who buys for his owners.
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