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Five meetings took place over the Spring Bank Holiday, at venues as geographically distant as Ffynnon Druidion, near Fishguard in West Wales, and the two Devon courses – Bratton Down and Upcott Cross. However, the travelling didn’t put off participants from the West Mercian and South Midlands Areas, as they got on the scoresheet at all five fixtures. Laura Richardson and Huw Edwards got the ball rolling at Ffynnon Druidion on Friday, winning with Peaches and Cream. On the Monday, closer to home at Worcestershire venue Chaddesley Corbett, they took the Restricted with Artic Sting, who was crowned leading Mare, Novice Horse and Family Horse for the West Mercian Area. Edwards then doubled up on another mare, Dazzlelikethis, a first training success for Cai Williams in the Maiden. Huw Edwards wins on Artic Sting at Chaddesley Corbett (Graham Fisher) James King has long been assured of both the West Mercian Area leading rider award, and a fifth national jockeys title. He cemented his status with six more wins over the weekend, four of which came at Kingston Blount in Oxfordshire on Sunday. He had a treble for Alan Hill on Normofthenorth (Conditions Race), I K Brunel (Mixed Open) and Gorvitho (Maiden) and won the Restricted on Luke Price’s No Hard Feelings. Read Russell Smith’s review of the action at Kingston Blount here. James King and Norm of the North score at Kingston Blount (Neale Blackburn) King notched up two more wins, taking his total to 65 for the season, for his main backer Luke Price at Chaddesley Corbett, taking the Open on Lavorante and the Mares Maiden Final on Lady Bee Great, while Daisy White capped a fine season – which included two Hunter Chase wins – on Killer Clown in the Ladies Open. Andrew King reports from Chaddesley Corbett here. Daisy White leads Killer Clown back after their victory (Graham Fisher) Down in Devon, runners were thin on the ground at Bratton Down on Sunday, but Aimee Jones managed a win on Emberscombe, and at Upcott Cross on Monday, two more West Mercian participants who have enjoyed a splendid season were on the mark. Chris Barber and Ed Doggrell have combined to great effect this year and teamed up to win with Jewel In The Park, and Doggrell then doubled up with Charlotte Hawker’s Montana Golden. With 40 wins, Barber finished second in the national trainers title and Doggrell was third in the national male rider standings, 36 wins being by far his best total. Ed Doggrell and Jewel In The Park (Tim Holt)

West Mercian and South Midlands Area owners, trainers and jockeys travelled far and wide over the past week in search of success, which they enjoyed as venues as far afield as Hexham in Northumberland on Saturday and Bratton Down in North Devon on Sunday. Jockeys from the two areas are in demand nationally this season, with over half of the victories in the saddle being for trainers from other regions. Ed Doggrell got the ball rolling at Somerset track Cothelstone last Wednesday, with wins on Chris Barber’s Walkingtheline and outside ride Far Out West. Doggrell moved on to 34 in by far his best season and Barber is now on 39 wins, and looks set to be at least joint-second in the national trainers title. Ed Doggrell and Walkingtheline win at Cothelstone (Tim Holt) Also at Cothelstone, novice champion-elect Lucas Murphy gave Clondaw Drake a superb ride. It was the first of four wins at three meetings for the talented 16-year-old – he also scored on Carrickfergus at Peper Harow in Kent on Saturday and notched up a double at Northamptonshire venue Edgcote on Sunday, on Talimar Pearl in the PPORA Novice Riders Final and Taghadoe in the closing Conditions race. He now has 18 wins in an outstanding debut campaign. Lucas Murphy is all smiles in the winners enclosure after Talimar Pearl's win (Neale Blackburn) James King has long been assured of a fifth jockeys title, and he took his tally to 59 for the season. He had a Peper Harow treble on No Hard Feelings, Galudon and Lewis Road, the latter for Alan Hill, then went to Bratton Down and scored on Lady Bee Great and Lavorante. Also at the Devon course, Fred Philipson-Stow paid a first visit, and was rewarded with victory on Boys Will Be Boys, while – at the other end of the country – Amber Jackson-Fennell made it two out of two for the season at Hexham with fellow long-distance traveller Down The Valley. James King has again ridden plenty of winners this season in Luke Price's familiar colours (Carl Evans) Gina Andrews would have been champion had she called time on her season at the end of January (!) but the record-breaking British female jump jockey continued her pursuit of success with an Edgcote double, on Corra Bheinn in the Maiden for Francesca Poste and Penniless in the Restricted, taking her to 44 for the season. Alan Hill’s Soldier Unknown won the Adjacent Hunts race at the course. Read Jake Exelby’s review of the action at Edgcote here. At the last ever meeting at Tabley in Cheshire on Sunday, West Mercian trainers went through the card and the jockeys’ wins were shared equally between local riders and those from the South Midlands. Fred Timmis’ Pip Pirrip took an eventful Area Feature race – the Lord Daresbury Classic – in the hands of Huw Edwards, the Small Keepers Conditions Race went to Poncherello for the Garton family who ran the two meetings at Tabley, ridden by Henry Crow, and Mawlood, trained by Georgie Howell, was a welcome winner for Cameron Hillhouse in the closing Conditions race – it was his first ever success over jumps, and first since a flat race win in 2022. The Garton family were rewarded for all their work at Tabley over the years with Poncherello's victory (PPORA) Zac Baker went home with a double, on Nickie Sheppard’s A Jet Of Our Own in the Mixed Open and on the progressive Karaktere D’Enfer – trained by Jo Priest – in the Restricted, and Heidi Brookshaw and Daniel Williams teamed up to take the Maiden with Dark Soldier. Rory Alkin reports from Tabley here. Connections with Karaktere D'Enfer after his win (PPORA)

With just three fixtures this weekend, participants from the South Midlands and West Mercian Areas did not find the pickings as rich as is often the case, although the usual suspects continued to enjoy success. James King and Senior Citizen National-champions elect James King (overall) and Lucas Murphy (novice riders) had across the card doubles. King scored on Galudon at Holnicote in Somerset on Saturday and on Alan Hill’s Senior Citizen in the Area Conditions Race at Oxfordshire venue Kingston Blount on Sunday. He now stands on 54 for the season and is just one shy of his 350thwinner between the flags. Murphy teamed up with Paul Nicholls at Holnicote and won with Emailandy, and travelled to Upcott Cross in Devon on Sunday to score on Woodstock Octo. With 14 wins – plus two under rules – he is all but guaranteed to be leading novice. Jewel In The Park and Ed Doggrell (Tim Holt) Chris Barber may fall just short of a first trainers title, but has enjoyed a splendid season, and took his tally to 38 with a Holnicote double with Jewel In The Park and Kings Affinity. Both were ridden by Ed Doggrell, another having by far his best campaign – he is third in the jockeys table with 32 wins. Ed Doggrell and Kings Affinity (Alun Sedgmore) Local connections did not enjoy their usual dominance at Kingston Blount, taking only three of the six races – and one of these, I’m Like A Lion for Bradley Gibbs in the Restricted, is South Midlands-qualified but trained outside the area – so it was good to see the ebullient and evergreen Tim Underwood bask in a third success of the year with new recruit Modern Drift, who he had been talking up for weeks! Read Russell Smith’s review of the action at Kingston Blount here.

Another busy weekend saw participants from the West Mercian and South Midlands Areas on the scoresheet at five meetings, with the focus unsurprisingly being on the South Shropshire fixture (West Mercian) and the Warwickshire (South Midlands), both on the Bank Holiday Monday Chris Barber and Gina Andrews are in contention for the national trainers title, and both ended up with two weekend winners. Andrews had a double at Dingley in Northamptonshire on Sunday, with Main Stage – who she rode herself – and Ocean View (Zac Baker), while Barber’s victories came at South Hill in West Somerset on Sunday with Stick Season and Shropshire track Eyton-on-Seven on Monday in the GB Pointing Young Horse Series Maiden with Chasing Good Times. Ed Doggrell rode Barber’s Sunday winner, having initiated a double on Just Loose Change, and Fred Philipson-Stow was on board on Monday. Ed Doggrell wins on Stick Season at South Hill (Tim Holt) In the saddle, Andrews – assured of a twelfth female jockeys title – also rode Validation to win at Godstone in Kent on Saturday and scored on Aramax in the Mixed Open at Warwickshire course Mollington on Monday, while Zac Baker took the Conditions Race at Eyton-on-Severn on Jo Priest’s Kauto No Risk. James King travelled far and wide over the weekend as he consolidates his bid for a fifth jockeys crown and won on Monrocco Moonlight for Alan Hill at Godstone, Inchidaly Robin at South Hill, and Luca Morgan’s J’Envoievalserenki in the Adjacent Hunts Race at Mollington. Lucas Murphy is another title chaser and his win on Fear The Deere at Godstone was his twelfth between the flags in his debut season – he is in pole position to be champion novice rider, ahead of Philipson-Stow. Zac Baker and Kauto No Risk (Graham Fisher) West Mercian participants made hay at Eyton-on-Severn – in addition to the winners mentioned above, Rhiannon Lodge and Henry Crow teamed up to take the Restricted with Count Frollo, Pip Pirrip broke his duck in the Maiden for Fred Timmis and Huw Edwards, and Harry O’Dwyer continued his successful partnership with Premier Fantasy in the Mixed Open. Connections with Chasing Good Times after his win at Eyton-on-Severn (Marilyn Sweet) It was a similar story for South Midlands trainers and riders at Mollington. The Jolly Pot was a welcome – and popular – winner for Jimmy Tarry and Joe Stevenson in the 2m4f Conditions Race, Tim Underwood’s Garde La Peche took the Novice Riders Race, and Seek Him There won the Restricted for father and son Ben and Charlie Case. Rounding off the weekend, the West Mercian-qualified Myfanwy’s Magic, now trained by Hannah Marshall in Dorset – and previously the unluckiest Maiden in training – won the Maiden. Jake Exelby reports from Mollington here. Joe Stevenson on Jimmy Tarry's The Jolly Pot - a popular winner (Neale Blackburn)

With two of the six weekend meetings being in the West Mercian Area – the Berkeley at Woodford in Gloucestershire on Saturday and the Cheshire Forest at Tabley on Sunday – area participants generally focused on those two fixtures and were involved in all twelve victories across the two cards. It was Ed Doggrell who took the riding honours on Saturday, notching up his first ever four-timer, three of which – Citizen Jane in the Members, Couer D’Alene in the second Conditions Race, and Kings Affinity in the closing Maiden – were for his boss Chris Barber, enjoying his best ever season with 31 winners to date. Ed himself is now on 28 – by far his best tally. His fourth success was Farfromaway for Francesca Poste in the Intermediate. Ed Doggrell won on Couer D'Alene (Alun Sedgmore) Dan Cherriman got off the mark for the season on Rhiannon Lodge’s Galileo Silver – returning to form on the quicker ground – in the first Conditions Race, then immediately followed up in the Mens Open on Hugos New Horse, trained by Nickie Sheppard, who he has only just bought, and who he was riding in a race for the first time. Read Andrew King’s review of the action at Woodford here. Dan Cherriman is clear close home on Hugos New Horse (Alun Sedgmore) Yet again, James King made the headlines at Tabley, riding his fifth treble of the season to go 12 clear in the jockeys title race. Two – Prince In The Park in the Restricted and Spanish Darling in the Maiden – were for Luca Morgan, while the third was Lavorante in the Level 2 Conditions Race, another winner for King trained by Luke Price. The pair had also combined with Galudon at Parham in Kent on Saturday. Also at Tabley, Heidi Brookshaw’s Buzzard Trix continued his love affair with the course, scoring for the fifth time at the Cheshire venue in the Level 1 Conditions Race for Daniel Williams, the Joe O’Shea-trained and Henry Crow-ridden Gracchus De Balme appreciated the drop in class in a match for the Mixed Open after running in the Cheltenham and Aintree Foxhunters on his last two starts, and Amidnightstar, trained by Tom Britten, took the Level 3 Conditions Race in the hands of Fred Philipson-Stow, for whom it was a second winner of the weekend. Rory Alkin reports from Tabley here. Connections of Buzzard Trix enjoy the presentation At Leicestershire course Garthorpe on Saturday, Gina Andrews’ quest for a first trainers title was helped by No Risk Des Flos’ win. His rider, Molly Legg, is herself in contention to be leading female novice rider. Will Thirlby had his first winner of the season in with Chiroqui Princess, who he owns, trains and rides, Bradley Gibbs took the opener – the first leg of a double for the trainer-rider – on the Heythrop-qualified I’m Like A Lion, and Fred Philipson-Stow benefitted from spare ride Champagne Glory in the last race.

Action from racing at Mollington (Neale Blackburn) The next point-to-point in the South Midlands Area is the Warwickshire fixture (also known as Mollington Races) at Mollington on Monday 4th May, with the first of six races at 2.00pm. Clerk of the Course Fred Hutsby confirmed on Monday morning, in advance of entries closing, that the track is being watered in the mornings and evenings, and that the going remains Good to Firm but is starting to soften and is expected to be Good by race day. 46 entries have been received from 43 individual horses. Centrepiece of the meeting is the Ray Randerson Carpets Mixed Open Race, which has eight entries, headed by pointing legend Grace A Vous Enki, a winner of 13 of his 14 starts between the flags – including 11 out of 11 at Larkhill – who won this race two years ago and took the prestigious Lady Dudley Cup last time. Trainer Chris Barber has also entered Mount Sinai, three times a winner this season, but below her best at Howick last time. Jenny Owen is also responsible for two entries - both Aramax and The Big Lense have won twice this season and have definite chances. The same could be said for Gina Andrews’ Master Templar, another prolific winner (15 wins from 21 outings in points) and he would be a popular success for local owner Jenny Hayward. Farnoge won a match at Lockinge but was only third at Woodford last weekend, Mister Splash has yet to win in this company and has an entry at Warwick on Friday, while Alan Hill advised that Soldier Unknown is more likely to go for the Dingley four-miler on Sunday. “We’re hoping to run Grace A Vous Enki,” Barber told me. “But we’d like some rain and everything needs to be 100% with him.” Master Templar, along with Andrews’ other two entries on the day, also holds an engagement at Dingley, and his trainer-rider admitted, “We’ll probably go to Dingley, as it looks an easier race, and we don’t want to take on Grace A Vous Enki.” Andrews, who has her 12th female jockeys championship in the bag, but is seeking a first trainers title, added with a smile, “We need wins!” Five entries have been received for the F N Pile & Sons PPORA Club Members Conditions Race (Level 1), restricted to Novice Riders who have not had more than ten winners. Garde La Peche heads the ratings based on her Larkhill win in March. She didn’t reproduce that form next time, but the race may have come too quickly, then was hampered when unseating at the first last weekend. Definiteadare – trained by Justin Brotherton – ran his best race of the season to finish second at Woodford on Saturday and would be bidding to give Georgia Kirk a first winner. Premier D’Troice and Ryans Fancy have been running below their best this season, while pointing debutant El Saviour has shown nothing under rules for two years but – ridden by Marina Bealby – will not lack for assistance from the saddle. Tim Underwood said of Garde La Peche, “Her unseat could be a blessing in disguise because, if she’d had a hard race on Saturday, she wouldn’t have been able to run at Mollington. She’s in good form and gets all the allowances.” The Sir James Shuckburgh BT Restricted Race has 11 entries, the highest of the day. Three are trained by Chris Barber, of whom Jack Black is clear top-rated after two comfortable wins at Maisemore Park and Chaddesley Corbett. His other two, Taktics and Farm Assured, have both taken weak Mares Maidens, with the latter’s success coming in a match. Main Stage, trained by Gina Andrews, Ben Case’s Seek Him There and Validation are all incredibly consistent – between them, they have either won or been in the frame in their last 20 starts! However, the first-named is more likely to go to Dingley. Try The Money broke his duck at Bitterley but was well behind Jack Black last time, Myfanwy has disappointed since her Lower Machen second, Frontieres Lad has no form since the 2023/2024 season and Connor Gray’s The Sad Shepherd showed nothing last time on his return from a near two-year break. Alan Hill’s Our Brother John will probably run at Godstone rather than here. “I got a bit excited entering three, as we’ve still got a chance of the trainers title,” laughed Barber. “Jack Black is the pick of mine and he’s an intended runner.” Charlie Case, son of trainer Ben, confirmed, “The primary plan is to run Seek Him There at Mollington, although he’s also entered at Eyton-on-Severn, and it depends on where the other entries are going.” The opening contest is the Butler Sherborn Warwickshire and Adjacent Hunts Conditions Race (Level 1). Five have been entered, headed by Gina Andrews’ Young Rich, the mount of female novice riders championship contender Molly Legg, who has been running well this season with a win and two placings. Luca Morgan’s intriguingly named J’Envoievalserenki won on his pointing debut and has three thirds to his name since but has failed to finish on his last two starts, while Shanty Alley – trained by Ben Case for his son George – has not shown the same form this season as he did when winning at Edgcote last year. Charlie Case advised that the intention is to run, with the horse having no other entries this weekend. Elen Wylie’s Au Fleuron is another running below his best at present, while The Sad Shepherd is also entered in this race. “We’ll probably run Young Rich,” said Andrews. “Although Molly also has Tigerbythetail entered at Witton Castle on Monday.” The Winkworth Conditions Race (Level 2) is run over the shorter distance of 2m4f and seven have been entered. The class act looks to be Alan Hill’s The Dancing Tree, however his trainer confirmed him a runner in the Intermediate Final at Warwick and expects Coolagh Park to represent him here. “Coolagh Park is my most likely runner at Mollington,” Hill told me. “He’ll appreciate the two-and-a-half-mile trip, and this race would be the choice of his weekend entries.” James Luck’s What A Steal won at Didmarton but fell at Parham last weekend and The Jolly Pot – trained by Jimmy Tarry, who older readers will remember having a five-timer at Mollington in his riding days – ran well last time when third at Chaddesley Corbett. El Saviour and Ryans Fancy are entered here as well as in the Novice Riders race, while Tim Underwood plans to send Ask Nile to Godstone. The card closes with the Walnut Hill PPORA Club Members Maiden Race, which has attracted ten entries. Myfanwy’s Magic must be one of the unluckiest maidens in training, having been beaten a length or less on his most recent two outings and – before that – being in contention when hampered and falling. Standupanddeliver also deserves to get his head in front – and provide Anna Dando with a first success – having been placed on his last three starts, while Bingo Little looked the certain winner when unseating at the last at Kimble, before disappointing at Chaddesley Corbett. Chris Barber’s debutants are always worth a look, so keep an eye on his four-year-old Chasing Good Times, another juvenile who is potentially on the upgrade is Café Whispers, but James Henderson’s Knick Knack has not shown much in three runs since an encouraging second at Cocklebarrow on his first pointing start. Maxine Filby’s Mi Chico Latino – named after a song by her owner Geri Horner – has not run since the 2023/2024 campaign and the other three entries – Penelope Ann, trained by Victoria Collins (some placed form notwithstanding), Hydrbra, and Justin Brotherton’s Gladiateddi – appear to have plenty to find, although the latter showed a glimmer of promise before running out last time. Barber wouldn’t be drawn on whether Chasing Good Times would run, telling me only, “He’s also entered at Eyton-on-Severn and, while the Mollington race looks weaker, we won’t make a decision until later in the week.” Fixture Secretary Katharine Henry is looking forward to the meeting and said, “We’ve got loads of trade stands, the usual kids corner, the hounds will be in the paddock, and we have a dog show. There will be plenty to keep what we hope will be a big crowd entertained and we hope the rain stays away!” Admission is £15 per person (cash only) on the day, with 16s and under free. Reserved premium parking can be booked by emailing sponsorship@mollingtonhorseraces.co.uk. The first race is at 2pm and gates open at 11am. Entertainment includes childrens attractions, a family dog show (six classes starting at 12pm, with entry at £3 per class), and a hound parade before the first race. Mollington is a wide, undulating, galloping track with four long, sweeping bends and a stiff uphill finish. It is on the A423, five miles north of Banbury. Postcode OX17 1QE. What Three Words: bleak.teardrop.waking. Mollington Races is a very popular Bank Holiday meeting and racegoers are asked to allow ample time for their journey. For more information, visit https://mollingtonhorseraces.co.uk or find us on Facebook @MollingtonRaces

With six more fixtures at the weekend, including Chaddesley Corbett in the West Mercian Area and Kingston Blount in the South Midlands, opportunities were again plentiful and participants took full advantage, with wins at all six meetings.   It seems that James King is the headline story most weeks and he took the honours again this time with three wins on Saturday at Worcestershire course Chaddesley Corbett and another treble on Sunday at Kingston Blount in Oxfordshire. Two of his Saturday successes were for Chris Barber – Jack Black in the Restricted and Grace A Vous Enki, fulfilling a lifelong ambition for owners Clive and Joan Hitchings in the Lady Dudley Cup Mens Open. The remarkable 10-year-old was scoring for the 13 th time – 11 of them at Larkhill – from 14 starts in points, and his only defeat was in this race two years ago. King completed his hat-trick on Poliath for Phil Rowley in the Mares Maiden. Connections of Grace A Vous Enki with the Lady Dudley Cup (Graham Fisher) At Kingston Blount, King took the Members on Alan Hill’s The Dancing Tree, won the Maiden on the Luca Morgan-trained Prince In The Park, then scored in the Veterans Race on Lavorante. He now stands on 45 wins for the season, eight clear of his nearest pursuer, while Grace A Vous Enki and The Dancing Tree are among the joint-leaders in the national champion horse competition. James King and the prolific The Dancing Tree (Neale Blackburn) Barber almost matched the six-timer, having five wins at three meetings over the weekend. He sent Rockatansky to Charm Park, near Scarborough in Yorkshire, to take the latest GB Pointing Bonus Young Horse Maiden in the hands of Ed Doggrell, then had a double at Lower Machen in Wales, with Taktics and Flora Hobbs. The latter was a first win since his comeback from injury for Fred Philipson-Stow.   West Mercian connections took five of the six races at Chaddesley Corbett, Hannah Lewis and Heidi Palin teaming up to win the Members with Malinas Glory, then Tom Lacey’s Herbies Sock taking the Open Maiden for Sean O’Connor. Gina Andrews, another who is enjoying a fabulous season – guaranteed a 12 th female riders championship and leading the trainers title which she is bidding to win for the first time – prevented a West Mercian clean sweep by winning the Ladies Open with Master Templar, scoring for the 15 th time from 21 starts between the flags. Read Andrew King’s review of the action at Chaddesley Corbett here. Gina Andrews at her determined best on Master Templar (Graham Fisher) Andrews went to Lower Machen on Sunday and took the Mixed Open with Fumet D’Oudairies, another prolific pointing winner whose record stands at 11 from 13. Also at the Welsh track, the Jo Priest-trained and Zac Baker ridden Laugusto made a winning debut and Ask Elli, trainer-ridden by Bradley Gibbs, won for the second time this season.   Back at Kingston Blount, the ‘Hands & Heels’ Novice Riders race went to For Rita, owned, trained and ridden by Abi Henry, and Francesca Poste’s Jasmin Des Blins took the Restricted, an 11 th win of the season for Lucas Murphy, who looks nailed-on to be national novice riders champion in his first year. Russell Smith reports from Kingston Blount here. A close-up view of Jasmin Des Blins (right) (Graham Fisher)   Poste had an across the card double on Sunday, winning the Maiden at Cotley in Somerset with Laudable, ridden by Ed Doggrell at a venue over 300 miles distant from the one at which he had won the day before. Other jockeys who enjoyed success at Charm Park were Molly Legg – now joint-top of the female novice standings – on spare ride Diamond Flush, and Sam Scott, who rode African Paridise (yes, the spelling is correct), a first training success for Warwick Ryan-Beswick. Finally, Amber Jackson-Fennell went to Flete Park in Devon on Saturday to win on Dreamaboutit.

Another busy weekend saw four point-to-points take place on Saturday and four more on Sunday, and West Mercian and South Midlands participants were on the scoresheet at seven of the eight fixtures.   James King and Ed Doggrell currently sit first and third in the national jockeys standings, and both added three wins to their tally at the weekend. They each had a double at Chilfrome in Dorset on Saturday – King on Shareyourbiscuits and No Hard Feelings, and Doggrell on Duc De Bourbon and Chris Barber’s Jewel In The Park, owned by his family. King then scored on Inchidaly Robin at Kent track Penshurst on Sunday, where Lucas Murphy had his tenth win of the season on Carrickfergus. Ed Doggrell and Jewel In The Park win at Chilfrome (Tim Holt) Doggrell’s Sunday success came in the Restricted at Edgcote, on the progressive Farfromaway, trained by Francesca Poste. Also successful at the Northamptonshire venue were Kandor in the Mixed Open, trained by Matthew Gill and ridden by Daniel Williams, and Cap Du Mathan, who received the biggest cheer of the day after taking the Members. The horse is owned by Sky Sports Racing presenter Vanessa Ryle, trained by Jack Sherborn Hoare, and was ridden – on her debut – by his wife Minna. Celebrations after Cap Du Mathan wins the Members at Edgcote (Neale Blackburn) Read Jake Exelby’s review of the action at Edgcote here.   Amber Jackson-Fennell – in the saddle – and Gina Andrews, as trainer, were responsible for across the card doubles. Jackson-Fennell travelled to Dunsmore in Devon on Sunday and won on Winding Lake while she stayed closer to home at Warwickshire course Shelfield Park on Saturday, continuing her fruitful partnership with What’s Up Harry in the Conditions Race. Andrews’ two winners both came on Saturday. She won with No Risk Des Flos – who she also rode – at High Easter in Essex, where Alan Hill and Huw Edwards teamed up to win with Reel Much Fun again, and Tigerbythetail, partnered by Molly Legg in the Ladies Open at Shelfield Park.   Andrew King reports from Shelfield Park here. Tigerbythetail wins for Molly Legg at Shelfield Park (Graham Fisher) Rounding off the weekend action, Daisy White ran recent Ludlow Hunter Chase winner Killer Clown, who she owns, trains and rides, to Hornby Castle in North Yorkshire and took the Ladies Open.

The Easter Bank Holiday is the busiest weekend of the pointing calendar, with twelve meetings taking place across the country, from Cornwall to North Yorkshire. With four fixtures in the West Mercian Area, along with two in the South Midlands, opportunities abounded for participants from those two areas. James King continues his remorseless pursuit of a fifth jockeys title and his four winners over the past few days – Rhythm Of Life at Higham in Suffolk, The Dancing Tree for Alan Hill at Buckinghamshire venue Kimble, and a treble at Paxford – saw him go five clear of nearest rival Josh Newman. His successes at the Gloucestershire course were Alaphilippe for Angela Slatter and a double for Francesca Poste’s Station Yard Racing, on Jasmin Des Blins and Kilfilum Woods. Heidi Palin rode her second winner of the weekend on Malinas Glory, a first victory of the campaign for trainer Hannah Lewis.   Andrew King reports from Paxford here   Kilfilum Woods and James King (Graham Fisher) Gina Andrews is seeking two titles this season – leading female rider and champion trainer. She is so far clear in the former race that she could have stopped riding in January and still won (!) but rode a treble at Dingley in Northamptonshire on Saturday on Rebel Aura for Eamonn O’Donnabhain and Call Me Early and Cheytac, both of whom she trains herself. She is now a remarkable 27 winners ahead at the top of the jockeys race, and has an advantage of six over Chris Barber and Josh Newman as she bids to be crowned top trainer for the first time. Other South Midlands winning riders at Dingley were Ellie Holder (Il Padrino) and Charlie Case (Right Lets Go).   The West Mercian fixture at Staffordshire track Sandon saw local participants go through the card. The progressive Mayor Kingston took the Members for in-form Neil Gittins and promising young rider Felix Barlow, Boley Bob continued his rise up the grades for Joe O’Shea in the first Conditions race, Midnight River – trained by Bridget Skelton and ridden by Heidi Palin – won the Mixed Open, and Chris Barber and Ed Doggrell combined to win the 2m4f Conditions race with Couer D’Alene, like Boley Bob winning for the fourth time this season. Also at Sandon, there were first wins for two trainers – Isabel De Clare taking the Maiden for Gillon Crow and College Road, who he also rode, getting Tommie O’Brien off the mark in the bumper.   Read Rory Alkin’s review of the action at Sandon here Celebrations after Boley Bob wins (Marilyn Sweet) The other West Mercian meeting on Saturday was held at Bitterley in Shrophire and, between them, local and South Midlands trainers and riders took home all the spoils. There were doubles for jockeys Zac Baker (Kauto No Risk for Jo Priest in the Members and Glancing Hill for Francesca Poste in the Conditions race) and Sam Burton (Nickie Sheppard’s Samba Mambo in the Restricted and Jane Allfrey’s Try The Money in the Maiden), and Luca Morgan and Harry O’Dwyer teamed up to win the flat race with Spanish Darling. Finally at Bitterley, trainer Ryan Bradford enjoyed a first success with Est Illic in the Novice Riders race. It was also a first pointing victory for Jess Stewart, who had got off the mark under rules last month.   Read Andrew King’s report from Bitterley here Glancing Hill wins for Zac Baker (Graham Fisher) Joe Neal, who trains in the Malvern hills, is very much West Mercian (!) but he took his pointing debutant Hystery Bere to Kimble and won his first race – as both trainer and jockey – since 2023 in the Novice Riders contest. The useful mare All Loved Up won the Mens Open for trainer Harry Brown and rider Hugh Lillingston, while another mare, the Bradley Gibbs-trained Bluescape, took the Restricted.   Russell Smith reports from Kimble here All Loved Up and Hugh Lillingston in full flight (Neale Blackburn)   With three further West Mercian and South Midlands meetings on Easter Monday, there was little incentive for local participants to travel further afield, although Aimee Jones did, travelling to Cothelstone in Somerset to win her third race of the season, this time on Emberscombe.   At Lockinge in Berkshire, the usual massive crowd saw a treble for Lucas Murphy, who now has nine winners in his bid to be national novice champion. His three were 14yo Castletown – owned by his grandfather, trained by his mother and led up by his brother – in the Members, Taghadoe in the Restricted and Kasanova’s Dream in the Maiden. The latter initiated a first training double for Katie Croft, who followed up immediately when Baunmore Jet and Molly Armytage won the ‘Keeper-Jockey’ race.     Read Jake Exelby’s review of the action at Lockinge here Veteran Castletown was a real family success As at Sandon on Saturday, West Mercian trainers and/or riders were involved in every win at Eyton-on-Severn on Monday. Max Kendrick’s Magnifaik and Sean O’Connor opened proceedings at the Shropshire course, winning the 4yo and 5yo Maiden and giving him his first winner as a trainer in the process. Laura Richardson’s Artic Sting, ridden by partner Huw Edwards, won the older horse Maiden, Harry O’Dwyer took the Mixed Open on Premier Fantasy, Nickie Sheppard’s Yippee Ki Yay scored in the Novice Riders race and Count Frollo – a first winner of the season for Rhiannon Lodge and yet another for Henry Crow – won the Restricted. Rounding off proceedings after a jam-packed weekend, Neil ‘Gitto’ Gittins had his sixth winner from his last seven runners when Blagthebookies and Iola Sankey took the Members race.   Read Rory Alkin’s report from Eyton-on-Severn here Sean O'Connor and Magnifaik (Carl Evans)

The Old Berkshire point-to-point at Lockinge on Easter Monday (6 th April) is one of the best-known and most popular meetings of the season, attracting crowds of up to 10,000. Lockinge usually attracts a huge crowd (Carl Evans) Racegoers are known for turning up hours before the first race and walking the course, a dog on a lead in one hand and a drink in the other! The fixture is the only one in the country to have taken advantage of a new rule, introduced this season, where Bank Holiday meetings are permitted to run five – rather than six – point-to-point races, as long as other contests are included alongside the jumping action. They have structured their race programme innovatively, with the first race over fences at 1.15pm, and two pony races – both sponsored by Pinewood School - taking place after the second race, from 2.25pm. This initiative has been designed to keep the large crowd entertained throughout the afternoon. Clerk of the Course Sarah Main told me on Sunday, “The going remains Good. Watering started today and will continue during the week if there is no significant rain." Sarah can be contacted on 07788 423624 if required. 53 entries (45 individual horses) have been made for the five races, although racegoers should note that, with 12 fixtures over the Easter weekend, many horses will have entries at multiple meetings. Eight are entered in what is likely to be the highlight of the card, the Luck Greayer Shipping Bloodstock Mixed Open Race . Entries are headed – on Pointerform ratings – by Douglas Longbottom , a winner of a Cheltenham Hunter Chase in May but running below his best this season. Most of his rivals are on form, three of them – Calidad , Lily Bradstock’s Myth Buster and Gina Andrews’ Tigerbythetail – winning last time out. Harry Brown’s Bass Rock had his bubble burst last time when stepping up to Open company but had previously completed a hat-trick under promising young rider Lucas Murphy (son of former top professional Timmy), who currently heads the national novice jockey standings. Farnoge has been second twice from three starts this season and Alan Hill’s Soldier Unknown ran well over four miles last time in his first attempt in this grade. Hill said of his charge, “He’s got other entries this weekend so we’ll take a look at the races before deciding, but he may well run at Lockinge.” Bradstock advised, “He’s in at Kimble as well. We’d prefer to go to Lockinge as it’s our local track, but it depends on the ground. It can get dry quickly and there’s no rain forecast, although I know they’re watering. Myth Buster is a real old favourite – he’s better on quick ground but won’t want it too firm.” “Bass Rock has come out of his last race fine,” said Brown, admitting, “The small field didn’t suit him as they didn’t go a gallop. He’s a definite runner on Monday.” Will Shields, spokesperson for trainer Bea Coward, wouldn’t be drawn on whether Douglas Longbottom – a winner here in 2024 – runs, telling me, “We don’t know whether to go to Cothelstone or Lockinge – we’ve got a bit of a jockey shortage! Douglas Longbottom was disappointing at Badbury Rings – I don’t know what got into him – but he’s been working fine since then and is back to his normal self.” The Kidson-Trigg Auctioneers Keeper-Jockey Conditions Race (Level 2) has attracted 14 entries. Races of this nature – limited to keepers and jockeys who have not trained or ridden more than three winners this season – are designed to offer opportunities to the grass roots of the sport and are always popular with participants. Calidad and Farnoge (who is joint-top rated) are also entered here and may find this an easier opportunity than the Mixed Open. On the same rating as Farnoge is Revesby Park winner Coeur Serein , while Clashhill , just one point behind, was progressive last season and has been runner-up on both starts this term. His trainer has also entered Fame And Concrete , second to the smart Boley Bob last time. High Game Royal has been running well for trainer-jockey husband and wife Rebecca and Nick Romain, Tim Underwood’s Ask Nile should come on for his recent reappearance, while Secret Cargo has not yet returned to his best form since missing a year, but his owner-trainer-rider’s horses are running well. Underwood, who got off the mark for the season on Saturday, laughed, “If my mare hadn’t won the other day, I’d be thinking I couldn’t train ivy up a wall!” He has engaged his winning jockey Henry Main again for all his runners, and said of Ask Nile, “He’s come back from Siddington in perfect order. He blew up there and I probably ran him too early.” Racing commences with the Charles Russell Speechlys Maiden Race, and the sponsors have been rewarded with 12 entries. Clear top-rated is Master Potter , who showed promise when second at Kingston Blount last time. Also runner-up and showing improved form on his most recent run was Standupanddeliver , while Bea Coward’s Valentin De Maine disappointed last time after a good reappearance. James Henderson’s Knick Knack has not repeated the promise of his Cocklebarrow pointing debut but was possibly unlucky when hampered on his last run. Fred Hutsby’s Lady Lussa was progressive last season but hasn’t run yet this campaign, and two British pointing debutants to consider are Katie Croft’s Kasanova’s Dream , twice placed for Gordon Elliott in Ireland, and ex-Irish pointer Krafty Kelly . Like Myth Buster, Master Potter is also entered at Kimble and plans are also ground-dependent, as Bradstock explained. “He’s in good shape and ready to run. He’s a nice, light-framed horse so we don’t want to run him if it’s too fast.” Henderson confirmed that this was the preferred target for triple-entered Knick Knack, and told me, “The horse seems really well. What happened at Siddington was not his fault – the horse in front of him fell, he went right and (son and jockey) George went left!” Will Shields reported of Valentin De Maine, “He’s OK again after a sluggish run last time. He’d run well – also at Larkhill – on his debut for us.” The Arkell’s Restricted Race over two-and-a-half miles has nine entries and could go the way of top-rated Tellmesomethingood , trained by Alan Hill and jointly owned by the trainer and your correspondent. However, I would be the first to admit that he has disappointed this season and both the consistent Validation and Steppingstone – who has had some issues with his jumping – are worthy of consideration, along with Taghadoe , who ran well on his seasonal debut but disappointed last time. Cadillac Ranch has also disappointed – twice – since taking a Charing Maiden in good style, while Kedg West is another Tim Underwood charge likely to do better for his first start of the season. Hill confirmed Tellmesomethingood a probable runner, saying, “He’s also in at Higham and Kimble but the plan is to run him at Lockinge. I don’t think it’ll be the strongest Restricted of the weekend, he should be suited by the better ground and tight track, and my co-owner’s working there, so he’d like a runner!” Underwood professed Kedg West his best chance of the day. “I had to wait longer than I wanted to run him first time,” he confirmed, “And he needed the run. I think he’ll go well on what’s likely to be quick ground.” The final race of the day is the Dubarry of Ireland Old Berkshire Hunt Members Race , which has attracted 10 entries. Four are entered elsewhere on the card, including Myth Buster and High Game Royal , but two who are not are Harry Brown’s useful pair, All Loved Up and Arthur’s Sixpence . The first-named mare has been in fine form this season, landing the Lord Ashton point-to-point ‘classic’ at Cocklebarrow, while the latter ran a great race in a Newbury Hunter Chase recently. Veteran Castletown has been improving with every race this season and will have the assistance of Lucas Murphy in the saddle, James Henderson’s Pax was running well earlier in the season only to disappoint on his last two starts, and Tim Underwood’s Stranger Danger has yet to repeat last year’s form in 2026. “I think Arthur’s Sixpence will win,” admitted Underwood. “But Stranger Danger definitely runs – he’s been very disappointing this season and I don’t know why.” Brown, who rides as well as trains Arthur’s Sixpence, was hopeful of proving Underwood right! “I’d like to think he can give me my first win (as a jockey) in the Members. He ran a blinder at Newbury and has won twice at Lockinge. I think I’ve got two runners with live winning chances.” A footnote to this race is the entry for former rules horse Shot Tower , to be ridden by 75-year-old owner-trainer Mark Smith with the aim of raising money for the Injured Jockeys Fund. Smith first rode in a point-to-point some 60 years ago and subsequently rode under rules and competed in international eventing. Let’s hope he enjoys his outing, comes back safe and generates plenty of support for a good cause. Gates open at 10.00am and the races over fences are preceded by a dog show, sponsored by St Hugh’s School , and a parade of hounds. Terrier racing will take place during the afternoon and there will be a children’s funfair. Admission is £20 per person by cash or card on the day, with 14s and under free. Advance tickets are available for £15 up to Good Friday via the Old Berkshire point-to-point website here Lockinge is located two miles south-east of Wantage on the B4494, eight miles north-west of M4 Exit 13. Follow the signs if coming from the south. OX12 8PA For more information, visit www.obhpointtopoint.co.uk

By Russell Smith Connections with the trophy after Lift Me Up won at Kimble in 2024 (Neale Blackburn) Lift Me Up and IK Brunel, winners at the Kimblewick Hunt meeting over the last two years, are set to do battle in front of a bumper crowd at Kimble on Easter Saturday (1.30pm). Trainer Maxine Filby sent out Lift Me Up from the Marston St Lawrence stables of former Spice Girl Geri Horner and her motor racing husband, Christian, to land a mixed open over 2m 4f on this card in 2024. Last year the same prize was claimed by IK Brunel from Alan Hill's Aston Rowant yard. With the mixed open having been scrapped, the two horses are now on a collision course in the 5G Communications Men's Open to be run over 3m - with the pair both on retrieval missions. Lift Me Up, who has a new pilot in Sean O'Connor, takes a massive drop in class after being pulled up in the Princess Royal Challenge Cup Open Hunters' Chase at the Cheltenham Festival. Filby said: "We know Cheltenham is not his favourite place but he definitely didn't like it this time at all. We know he likes this course and the better ground. Hopefully the sun will shine and he will be back to what he can be like. But it just depends on how he gets out of bed in the morning. "He is quite a stressy horse. He is quite opinionated and you know when he doesn't like things. The annoying thing is he looks amazing and riding him, he is in the best form we have had him." IK Brunel, who was sixth to Beacon Edge at Didmarton last time out, is also entered in the ladies open but Hill is leaning towards letting him take on Lift Me Up, with James King on board. The master of Woodway Farm reported: "It looks a very competitive ladies on paper and I think at the moment we favour the men's. He has had a wind op since his last run because he was very disappointing, so hopefully it will be of great benefit." A six-strong line-up is completed by Harry Brown's Lord Ashton of Hyde's Cup hero, All Loved Up, Janika, who was fourth to Lift Me Up two years ago, Padjoes Legacy and Skandiburg with the quartet all holding other entries over the Bank Holiday. With clerk of the course Graham Tawell reporting on Tuesday that the going was Good with watering to take place if necessary, the revamped six-race card has attracted 47 entries. Filby and the Horners are also set to be represented by their exciting French import Cartesien in the Lawnflite Ladies Open. Formerly trained by Francois Nicolle, the six-year-old grey made an impressive UK debut with an easy three-lengths win over Bothwell Bridge at Guilsborough. Filby commented: "We are not sure what we have got and it will be nice to see him run again. He is quite a difficult horse to keep in one piece, so we will take it a race at a time. He is pretty smart." Janika, who unseated two out when holding every chance at Fakenham last time out, has also been entered here by Ed Turner as has Nigel Padfield's Padjoes Legacy, who completed a hat-trick when dead-heating with Commander Of Ten at Parham last weekend. Together with IK Brunel, another entry of six is completed by Myth Buster with Lily Bradstock expressing a preference to run at her local track, Lockinge, on Easter Monday depending on the ground, and Calidad, who beat the useful Learntalot at Siddington last time out. Myth Buster is also in the Alan Fantham Memorial Kimblewick & Adjacent Hunts Conditions Race (Level 2), which has been opened up to include entries from the Bicester with Whaddon Chase, Old Berkshire, Heythrop, Vine & Craven plus the Berks & Bucks Draghounds. Hill, who has won the corresponding contest an incredible 14 times, is set to rely on The Dancing Tree from his three entries. The seven-year-old is chasing a four-timer and the trainer feels he is his best chance of the day, explaining: "He will get 10lb of Myth Buster, so I think he is well in at the weights. He is in great form. I am impressed with what we are seeing from him on the course and at home." Eight entries have been received with All Loved Up and Skandiburg also having this option along with Elen Wylie's Ston Easton runner-up Au Fleuron and Longshanks. Bradley Gibbs is anticipating a bold showing from Ask Elli in the Richardsons Chartered Accountants Restricted, which has also attracted eight entries. The six-year-old mare has made the frame in all four starts this term, chasing home What's Up Harry at Didmarton last time out. Gibbs, who has entered Bluescape as a back-up, said: "She is in very good form and is very consistent. Hopefully she will get her head in front on Saturday." With Tellmesomethingood bound for Lockinge, Hill will be looking to Nice To See You to bounce back to form. "He won his maiden and next time out at Horseheath he never went at all," commented the Aston Rowant handler. "He then ran at Brocklesby and came home and scoped dirty." Nick Wright's Steppingstone and Graveside Lad, from Turner's Suffolk stables, also come into the reckoning. Gibbs, successful in the Charles Elliott Sculptures Maiden for the last two years with Premier Fantasy and Bluescape, has a likely contender again in No Case To Answer. The Hertfordshire handler explained that he will weigh up the potential opposition before deciding whether to let the six-year-old - a respectable fourth at Didmarton last time out - take his chance or aim him at Eyton-on-Severn on Monday. Myfanwy's Magic, a neck second to Bollin Special at Cothelstone for Charlie and Hannah Marshall, looks a leading player along with Bradstock's Kingston Blount runner-up, Master Potter, if heading here rather than Lockinge. Hill is unsure of Incitatus's participation, adding: "I think the four 'Ps' by his name at the moment don't quite do him justice on his early runs but his last two runs were very disappointing." This contest has the highest entry of 11 with Glance Away and Breathless Bishop others to consider, while Irish import Kranky Kelly is worth checking in the betting, Hill is set to give a yard debut to last year's runner-up, Westhill, in the opening Hildreth's Garden Centre Conditions Race (Level 2) for Novice Riders. Formerly trained by Francesca Poste, the 11-year-old has moved to Woodway Farm to give owner-rider Anna Mackenzie more opportunity to ride out as she works in London.  Hill said: "He came in late because she wanted to ride more in the spring when there were better opportunities for him. He is in very good order, going nicely at home galloping and schooling." Wright has the choice of Clashhill and Fame And Concrete, while Toss Again is on a hat-trick for Jenny Owen and Hystery Bere, a four-time winner under rules, is an interesting contender on his pointing debut for trainer-rider Joe Neal. Gates open at 10.30am and admission is £15 in advance or £20 on the gate, with 16s and under free. Reserved course-side parking ranging from £35-£65 - not including admission - is available at the Kimblewick Races website together with hospitality at £75 per person. Along with shopping and food and drink outlets, there will be children’s entertainment from 11am plus a family dog show from 11.30am. Entry is £3 per class at the website. Kimble is five miles south of Aylesbury off the B4009, six miles from the A41. HP17 8TB. Racegoers are advised to arrive early.

With seven meetings taking place across the country – including the latest West Mercian Area fixture of the season at Maisemore Park in Gloucestershire – opportunities again abounded for horses, trainers and jockeys from the South Midlands and West Mercia. Chris Barber has his string in fine fettle and took his seasonal tally to 24 with four winners at three meetings. On Saturday, Mount Sinai won at Howick in Wales for Clara Brewitt while Skeeter Rock scored at Larkhill with Ed Doggrell. Barber then had a double at what is now his local track, Maisemore Park, on Sunday. James King rode the progressive Carrillo to win the Restricted and Doggrell was again on board for pointing debutant Jack Black, winner of the older horse Maiden. Connections of Carrillo - Chris Barber is far right - after the race (Tim Sage) The GB Pointing Bonus Young Horse Maiden there saw an eye-catching front-running performance from Tom George’s newcomer Midem De Berce, ridden by Lucas Murphy. The 16-year-old had earlier taken the Area Conditions Race on his father Timmy’s mare We’llgowats and is now in pole position in the national novice riders’ championship. Lucas Murphy and Midem De Berce on their way to winning (Carl Evans)   Gina Andrews is currently top of both the national trainer and female rider standings. She only had one runner, and one ride, this weekend, but it was a successful one, Bateleur taking division one of the bumper at the meeting. Gina Andrews and Bateleur (far side) win the bumper in a close finish (Graham Fisher) Read Andrew King’s review of all the action at Maisemore Park here. Back at Howick on Saturday, Bradley Gibbs won on Practice Run, Will Badlan rode his new mare Bluella Bresil – trained by Jo Priest – to a cosy success, while Huw Edwards picked up a winning last minute spare ride on Welsh-trained Flashy Boy. Edwards also travelled to Cotley in Somerset on Sunday to win on two Luke Price-trained horses – Galudon and Lavorante – and trainer Elen Wylie and rider Aimee Jones teamed up to take the Ladies Open with Shang Tang, a first winner of the season for Wylie. Will Badlan and Bluella Bresil (Alun Sedgmore) Also getting off the mark for the campaign was Tim Underwood, with Garde La Peche at Larkhill, where Nikki Henton tasted victory for the first time ever with Hybery. It was James King’s turn to team up with Luke Price for a double, courtesy of Shareyourbiscuits and Lightning Legs.   Finally, Joe O’Shea and Henry Crow – who had last combined when Barton Snow won the Cheltenham Foxhunters two weeks earlier – travelled up to Tranwell in Northumberland, where Boley Bob scored for the third time on the bounce.

A – to date – season-high eight meetings took place last weekend, and South Midlands and West Mercian participants took full advantage, getting on the scoresheet at least once at all the fixtures, from Overton in Lanarkshire to Kilworthy, on the edge of Dartmoor in Devon. Henry Crow, no doubt still buzzing after his Cheltenham Foxhunters triumph, made the long journey to Overton from his Shropshire base and came back with a double thanks to Phantoms Cave and Eagles Rock, two locally trained horses. Then on the Sunday, he went to Dalton Park near Beverley in Yorkshire and won on Rhiannon Lodge’s progressive Fayrely Fruitful and Tim Garton’s Poncherello. Crow has now had seven winners from his last nine rides. Henry Crow (right) winning on Fayrely Fruitful (Tom Milburn) Gina Andrews went one better than Crow, both training and riding five winners at the weekend. At Garthorpe in Leicestershire, she won on Master Templar, dead-heated on Fumet D’Oudairies with Charlie Case (riding Sambezi) and trained Young Rich, who gave Molly Legg a second victory of the season. Also at Garthorpe, Laura Horsfall’s Maxfly D’Agrostis broke his duck. Then at Norfolk track Fakenham on Sunday, Andrews rode three more winners. She trains Cheytac and No Risk Des Flos herself and won again on the East Anglian-trained Aramax. Ellie Holder got in on the winning act, scoring for the first time since December on Il Padrino. Gina Andrews and Master Templar (Neale Blackburn) Ed Doggrell was another jockey to taste success on both Saturday and Sunday. He travelled to the Wessex fixtures at Milborne St Andrew in Dorset, winning on Go Sacre Go, then had a double at Somerset venue Ston Easton on Sunday with Duc De Bourbon and Far Out West. At the latter meeting, Lucy Pickford got off the mark as both trainer and jockey in her seventh season with Paint The Dream, Martin Wanless trained his first winner of the season with Emotional Roller and the powerful Luca Morgan-James King combination teamed up to take the Maiden with Jewel Of Wisdom. Lucy Pickford wins on Paint The Dream (Tim Holt) Siddington is Britain’s oldest point-to-point course, and the Gloucestershire track hosted the third South Midlands Area meeting of the season on Saturday. Locally qualified horses took full advantage, going through the card. Bradley Gibbs was the chief beneficiary, having a training and riding double with Bluescape (Restricted) and Askafrontman (2m4f Maiden), while trainers James Luck – with Slipway in the Novice Riders Race, ridden by Molly Armytage – and Jo Lang, with Jeu De Pic and Albi Tufnell in the 3m Maiden, had their first wins. Chris Clarke’s Calidad took the Adjacent Hunts Race and Kilfilum Woods scored impressively under Clara Brewitt for Francesca Poste in the Mixed Open. Clara Brewitt on Kilfilum Woods (Graham Fisher) Read the full report of Saturday’s action from Siddington, including interviews with all the winning connections, here.   On the Sunday, Poste’s Short Sell took the Maiden at Dalton Park and – rounding off the weekend’s action, Chris Barber sent debutante Farm Assured down to Kilworthy to win the Mares Maiden.

Cirencester Races – racing under its new name for the second time, having previously been known as the VWH point-to-point – was blessed with fine weather for the usual large crowd, along with plenty of runners. 43 faced the starter in total across the six races – the highest figure of the eight meetings across the country last weekend – and racing saw a homebred double for a stalwart of the sport, while at the other end of the scale, two trainers enjoyed a first winner. Owner-breeders James ‘Chub’ Castle and his wife Sally have been involved in point-to-pointing all their life and enjoyed the first of their two winners when their six-year-old mare Bluescape , trained and ridden by Bradley Gibbs took the ten-runner Craig Fuller Property Search Restricted Race . Always prominent, Bluescape – whose dam Blue Zealot won on the flat and whose half-brother Lanzealot took a Didmarton Maiden for the Castles – and Gibbs went second at the third last, headed leader Farfromaway after two out and ran on well to score by one-and-a-half lengths. O’Halloran’s Castle , running his best race of the season, was five lengths third. “We’ve been breeding horses from this family for five or six generations,” confirmed Chub afterwards, “And we’ve got four pointers with Bradley this season, all home bred. She won easily, didn’t she? She jumped well and I know Bradley didn’t want to hit the front too early. It’s too soon to have a plan for her – you’d have to ask Bradley.” Sally explained how they had chosen Gibbs as their trainer. “I’m related to the Mathiases (former top riders John, his father Phil and Phil’s mother Diana) from Pembrokeshire. Bradley used to ride for them when he was based in Wales, so they suggested him when he moved to his present yard near Hatfield. We’re based at Long Crendon in Buckinghamshire, which isn’t too far away.” The Castle-Gibbs double came in the following race, the Butler Sherborn Maiden Race , the first ever race to be run at the track over the shorter distance of 2m4f. Seven took part and, this time, the Castles’ homebred was debutant Askafrontman , out of Ask Away, placed on all her three starts between the flags for the Castles when trained by Pauline Harkin and a half-brother to dual winning pointer Ask Elli, also trained by Gibbs. The five-year-old may have been somewhat fortunate as fellow debutante, favourite Sainte Crystal , had just taken the lead when falling two out. Gibbs and Askafrontman were left in the lead from the front-running Laudable and stayed on to win by four lengths. Night In Deauville was left in third, 30 lengths away. “I don’t think we’ve had a double before,” said Sally afterwards. “If we have, it would have been a long time ago! I call him ‘The Barger’ – when he was an unbroken two-year-old, I was in his stable topping up his feed, he barged me over and I broke my hip on the concrete floor. He’s forgiven now though.” “That was very good,” confirmed Gibbs. “I thought the only thing that would get him beat was greenness – he’s so babyish that he’s like a two-year-old in his mind and it’s taken me a long time to get him to the track. He’ll come on for that.” As for Bluescape, “She’s a lovely mare. She ran well at Kingston Blount, where she needed the run, and she’d come on massively since then. I was confident today.” It was an eighth training success of the season for Gibbs – six of them ridden by him – but he admitted, “The horses are running well but we keep hitting the crossbar – I had three seconds last week. I’m enjoying the riding more than ever (he’s now had over 250 winners in point-to-points alone) and have no goals other than to keep training and riding as many winners as I can. We don’t have many Open horses, but Fier Jaguen could end up in a Hunter Chase.” The Sotheby’s International Realty Conditions Race (Level 3) for Novice Riders was another contest to have seven runners, and it went to Slipway , a second pointing success (and third overall) for jockey Molly Armytage, but getting James Luck – who is based at Hinton Waldrist near Faringdon – off the mark as a trainer. Always going well, the 11-year-old, under the welter burden of 12st10lbs, took the lead at the 12 th fence, only to be headed by Jorah three out. However, a slow jump at the last did for the latter and Slipway led again close home, winning by three-quarters of a length. Early pacesetter Major Dundee , who pressed the winner for a long way, was seven lengths back in third. “James has been in New Zealand, so I’ve been training him,” said a delighted Claire Luck, James’ wife, afterwards. He came from Ben Pauling, and we’ve only had him a month – Tessa Greatrex found him for us. James is living his lifelong dream of training pointers – we have two, with two more to hopefully come back next season. It’s our second full season training and this is the monkey off our back! We do it for the people – our other horse Aikenbreakinheart is owned by a syndicate in the village – and the horses do all their work at home on the farm. It’s a fun team, and I want to mention Shannon and Ben, who are here today and are so much help.” James’ brother Nick is a well-known racing journalist, and Claire laughed, “There’s no pressure to win unless Nick’s here (he wasn’t on Saturday). People think James is Nick, which is a running joke!” Asked about her choice of jockey, Claire explained, “We like to support novice riders (Hugh Lillingston also rides for them) and we’ve known the Armytages for ages – Molly is great friends with my daughter.” James chipped in to respond to my question about targets with, “We’ll look for something similar in the middle of next month, then there’s a Hunter Chase at Perth on 13 th May – he won the Highland National there when he was trained by Ben.” “He’s so good,” smiled Armytage of Slipway. “He just goes and goes and goes and his jumping’s lovely. I wanted to get in front before the final circuit, which is why I closed on Major Dundee round the bend but, when Jorah came looming up, I thought, ‘Oh no – I’d better get to work!’ I tried to get back up to him and knew jumping the last that I had the race won.” Molly was low key about her ambitions, saying only, “Just keep cracking on, and get my Category B licence (to ride against professionals).” The second trainer to break her duck was Jo Lang, whose Jeu De Pic won the Dubarry of Ireland Maiden Conditions Race , another seven-runner race. Jeu De Pic was the mount of Albi Tufnell, son of owners Jane and Mark, and returning to the race-riding this season after a four-year break. In an incident-packed race in which only two finished, Jeu De Pic was the second winner of the day to make all, being left clear when the only danger – A Mighty King – unseated at the penultimate fence and withholding the late challenge of Chiroqui Princess by two lengths. It was a local success, as the Tufnells are based at Calmsden, just 15 minutes away from the course and Lang trains the horse on their farm. “I’ve worked for Jane and Mark for over 20 years,” confirmed Lang. “I do their hunters and Jeu De Pic is our only pointer. Former jockey Ali Stirling – who also works for Jane and Mark – rides him. She hacks him round the farm, and we take him to Fergal O’Brien’s – we’re lucky that he’s close by – three times a week.” When I mention to Mark that I last talked to Albi when Call Me Vic won (at Barbury in 2019), he recalled with a smile, “I remember when the pair of them won at Sandown a year later. They were both teenagers – Albi was 19 and the horse was 13!” Pressed on plans, the owner said, “We’ll go to Lockinge or Paxford on Easter Monday, have one more run after that, then send him to Fergal’s for a summer rest. He ran well to be third twice before disappointing last time, and I think first time blinkers made a difference today.” Albi - whose last winner before Saturday was Captain Cattistock in the Cheltenham four-miler in 2021 – told me the reasons for his long absence from the saddle… and why he’s come back. “I went to Cambridge to study Arabic, including spending a year in Cairo, and am now a maths teacher in Elephant & Castle in London. My aim was always to ride in the Aintree Foxhunters – we entered Captain Cattistock, but he picked up an injury just before the race. Milo Herbert’s a good friend – he also took a year off but said to me, ‘I’m going round Aintree this year and you need to come too!’ We have A Moments Madness with Fergal – he’s qualified, entered and I think he’s guaranteed a run.” Talking me through his season to date with Jeu De Pic, Albi said, “I was rusty at Cocklebarrow, which wasn’t his track, he ran well at Larkhill, we went off too quick at Kingston Blount and he didn’t stay, and we did the same today, but it worked! It’s nice coming back – there’s no pressure as, if I get it wrong, people say, ‘He’s just a teacher!’ and I think I’ll keep going after this season, as it’s pretty infectious.” Five went to post for the Arkell’s Brewery Mixed Open Race , which was won by Kilfilum Woods , trained by Francesca & Charlie Poste’s Station Yard Racing and ridden by Clara Brewitt. The ten-year-old, getting off the mark for the season after three seconds and who seemed to enjoy the quick ground., made all for his improving young rider, was well clear three out and was eased down after the last to come home by seven lengths from Innisfree Lad – also runner-up in this race last year – with Didero Vallis a never-dangerous 13 lengths third. Kilfilum Woods is owned by a partnership that includes Mark Burgess, David Doolittle and William Welton and they told me, “It’s the second season we’ve had him. We got him when Paul Webber retired from training – Fran spotted him – and he’s tough. He ran ten times last season, winning five, including a Huntingdon Hunter Chase. He’s had seconditis this year but has been running well behind good horses – Noble Blue, Lavorante and Illico De Cotte – and had a wind operation before Christmas. The ground’s been against him until today, and he jumped fabulously.” As for plans, “You’ll have to ask the trainer. He’ll probably go Hunter Chasing, but we may look for something over Easter first. He wants good ground, but it can’t be too quick. Clara’s developed a good relationship with him and she’s got huge potential. She really attacked the fences today and is improving with every ride.” The opening contest was the Earl & Countess Bathurst Adjacent Hunts Conditions Race (Level 1) . This contest was traditionally for horses qualified with the VWH only but, this year, was opened to five more adjacent hunts to increase entries and runners. It was the fourth race of the day to see seven take part, and the winner was outsider Calidad , returning to form for trainer Chris Clarke and given a fine ride by Megan Bevan. Last early, the ten-year-old made smooth progress through the field down the back straight, took the lead five out, and kept going to hold off the challenge of odds-on favourite Learnalot by two lengths. Equinus kept on for four-and-a-half lengths third. After Calidad’s win, I spoke to 21-year-old Ollie Hayes, who trains three horses himself at the same Cutsdean base – near Jonjo O’Neill’s Jackdaws Castle yard – where Clarke trains Calidad. “An enigma is the best way to describe him,” grinned Hayes when I asked about the improvement in form after two pull-ups this season. “He’s got all the ability in the world but doesn’t finish off his races. You’d swear he has a problem, but he doesn’t. He needs good ground and it’s hard to hold him up. He never sees a gallop, we just train him round banks and fields. He’s our best work horse, which makes him even more frustrating! We’ll see how he comes out of the race before making any plans, but we’ll go somewhere flat and quick. Megan’s given him a great ride – she’s a real asset to the yard.” Hayes explained how his association with Clarke came about. “We met in a pub (!) and I started working for him last season. I work for Fergal O’Brien in the morning and ride out for Chris and train my pointers in the afternoon.” Bevan is an under-rated and under-used jockey on the pointing scene, and it was just her eighth victory between the flags, to go with five under rules. “That’s actually my first winner of the season,” she said after the race. “I won at Charing on Kansas Du Berlais for Chris, but we were disqualified for carrying the wrong weight.” Asked why she doesn’t get more rides between the flags, she admitted, “It’s probably because don’t ride out for many pointing trainers – I ride work for rules trainers like Harriet Dickin, Ella Pickard and Syd Hosie. I ride more under rules than in points and have had nearly 75 rides against professionals now, so my aim is to turn conditional – it’s either that or stay pointing. There are courses in the summer, so that’s going to be my focus.”

No local area meetings were among the four that took place nationally last weekend, but participants from the West Mercian and South Midlands areas still managed to get on the scoresheet at all of them, with involvement in every win on the card at Howick in Wales on Saturday. Top of the tree was Herefordshire-based trainer Chris Barber, an across the card double at Howick and Cothelstone in Somerset taking his score for the season to 19. Mount Sinai took the Open and Walkingtheline the Mares Maiden at the former venue, while Aintree Foxhunters and dual Stratford Ladies Final winner Famous Clermont won the Conditions Race and Eileen’s Milan the Restricted at the latter. The last-named was the only one of the four to be ridden by Chris’ regular jockey Ed Doggrell. Famous Clermont with connections after winning at Stratford (Neale Blackburn) Champion jockey James King was in treble form and remains four clear of nearest pursuer Josh Newman in this year’s title race. He took the Howick Restricted for Alan Hill on the progressive The Dancing Tree and his other two winners – one at the Gwent track and one at Buckfastleigh in Devon on Sunday – were for Welsh trainer Luke Price, with whom he generally has a productive relationship in the Spring. The Dancing Tree and James King Jo Priest doubled up at Howick with Members winner Karaktere D’Enfer and Restricted scorer Is Our Otis, both ridden by Zac Baker, while Harvey Barfoot-Saunt – riding this season with a Welsh qualification but very much part of the West Mercian scene – got up close home in the best race of the day in the Conditions Race there, winning on Dragon Rock for John Evans.   Karaktere D'Enfer with Zac Baker and Jo Priest (Graham Fisher) At Cothelstone, Molly Legg got off the mark for the campaign when dead-heating in the Mixed Open on the Gina Andrews-trained Tigerbythetail. She shared the spoils with her “bezzie”, Aimee Jones, also opening her account for the season.   At Saturday’s other meeting, at Hutton Rudby in North Yorkshire, Henry Crow followed up his Cheltenham Foxhunters triumph on Joe O’Shea’s Barton Snow with victory in more prosaic company on a spare ride in the Restricted, while first-season trainer Albertine Barker had her first winner when That’s Where Its At – making his debut over fences – won the Maiden.

On a weekend overshadowed by the tragic death of popular South Midlands jockey Sam Lee, there were a season-high six meetings – including two in the West Mercian Area – giving plenty of opportunities for South Midlands and West Mercian participants to get on the scoresheet, and they took full advantage, being involved in 21 victories at five fixtures, including a clean sweep at Bangor-on-Dee on Sunday. Star performer was again 11-time champion jockey Gina Andrews, who rode six winners – three each at High Easter on Saturday and Guilsborough on Sunday – three of which she trained herself, Fairly Famous and I’m Spellbound at the first-named Essex venue and Arctic Oscar at the Northamptonshire track. For good measure, she also trained the winner of the Flat Race at Bangor-on-Dee, Wise Maiden, ridden by Zac Baker. Another of Gina’s Guilsborough wins was on Cartesien, a first training success of the season for Maxine Filby for her high-profile owners, Christian and Geri Horner. Gina Andrews and Fairly Famous (near side) - High Easter winners (Neale Blackburn) Trainer Alan Hill and jockey Huw Edwards were others to see success at both High Easter and Bangor-on-Dee. They teamed up on Saturday to take the Restricted with Reel Much Fun but went their separate ways at the North Wales course, Alan winning the Restricted with Drayton Flyer and Huw taking the Area Conditions Race with Peaches And Cream, trained by his partner Laura Richardson. Plaudits at Bangor-on-Dee went to popular local trainer Neil Gittins, known to many as “Gitto”. His horses had been out of form earlier in the season, but he got off the mark for the campaign with a vengeance, landing a treble. It was initiated by Mayor Kingston (Felix Barlow) in the Maiden, stable star Great Valley (Guy Sankey) scored easily on his reappearance in the Mixed Open, then Blagthebookies – ridden by Guy’s wife Iola – took the first Conditions Race. The latter two combinations had scored at the same meeting in 2025. Trainer Neil Gittins after his treble (Marilyn Sweet) Read Tricia Newman’s full report of racing at Bangor-on-Dee here. Back at Guilsborough, Joe O’Shea’s Boley Bob followed up his Larkhill win in the Intermediate, again under Henry Crow, while David Dennis’ Just Four Fame gave Dominic Lewis a first pointing win in the Maiden.   At Didmarton in Gloucestershire on Saturday, West Mercian connections won four of the seven races. What A Steal, ridden by Ed Doggrell for trainer Christopher Walker took the Adjacent Hunts Race, Amber Jackson-Fennell gave the Welsh-qualified What’s Up Harry a storming ride to win the Restricted, and Mount Gay Run scored in the Maiden for trainer Nick Pearce and jockey Sean O’Connor, who is having a splendid season. Best finish of the day came in the first Conditions Race, where Angela Slatter’s Alaphilippe and James King and Glancing Hill, trained by Francesca Poste and ridden by Zac Baker dead-heated after duelling all the way up the run-in. Sean O'Connor on Maiden winner Mount Gay Run (Graham Fisher) Read Andrew King’s review of the action at Didmarton here. Finally, down at Charlton Horethorne in Somerset on Sunday, Chris Barber and James King teamed up for a double in the last two races, the Restricted and Intermediate, with Carrillo and the progressive Couer D’Alene respectively.

South Midlands and West Mercian participants again had a successful weekend, with involvement in 15 wins at the meetings at Kingston Blount on Saturday and Ampton and Larkhill on Sunday. Six of those victories were achieved by perennial female champion jockey Gina Andrews, who rode trebles at the Oxfordshire track on Saturday and in Suffolk the day after. She also trained all three Kingston Blount winners – Cheytac in the Conditions Race, Entity of Substanz in the 0-110 Series Race and Master Templar in the four-mile Mixed Open – as well as Call Me Early in the Intermediate at Ampton. Entity of Substanz - joint-leading horse this season (Neale Blackburn) Gina has now ridden 20 winners this season (and trained 18) and looks to have an unassailable lead in the national riders’ championship, which she is bidding to win for a 12 th time. As for Entity Of Substanz, he is now joint-leading horse this season with four wins. Joining him on four wins at the weekend was the legend that is Grace A Vous Enki, again scoring unchallenged at Larkhill and taking his record at the Wiltshire venue to an incredible 11 from 11. Trained by Chris Barber and ridden as always by James King, both keeper and jockey had enjoyed success separately the day before – James teamed up with Alan Hill to take the Restricted at Kingston Blount on The Dancing Tree, while Chris won the Young Horse Maiden there with Hang Out, a first winner as an owner for popular commentator Robbie Scott. Hang Out was ridden by Ed Doggrell, who later completed a double on Francesca Poste’s Farfromaway in the Conditions Maiden. Grace A Vous Enki and connections - 11 from 11 at Larkhill (Tim Holt) Back at Larkhill on Sunday, the Tom Lacey – Sean O’Connor team continued to farm the Maidens with their four-year-olds, following up a double at the last meeting with wins from Seven Kites (Open Maiden) and Madam To You (Mares Maiden). Tom’s assistant Eamonn O’Donnabhain had earlier taken the Conditions Race with Highstakesplayer. Tom Lacey and Sean O'Connor teamed up again successfully (Carl Evans) Concluding Sunday’s action, both divisions of the Flat Race went to South Midlands trainers – Lunar Trix took the first division for Michael Kehoe with Charlie Case on board, while Myles Osborne’s Island Jetaway won division two.

After no racing took place last weekend, Saturday and Sunday again proved successful for West Mercian and South Midlands horses, owners, trainers and riders, with involvement in no fewer than ten winners at three of the four meetings held nationwide. Jeremy Hill (centre) with James King and trainer's son Joe Hill (no relation) after Drayton Flyer's win Star of the show was West Mercian-based owner Jeremy Hill, looking for his first winner. He ran his entire string of three… and all of them were victorious! Drayton Flyer, trained by Alan Hill and ridden by James King, won the Maiden at Lincolnshire track Brocklesby Park on Saturday, while he completed a double at Badbury Rings in Dorset on Sunday with Illico De Cotte in the Ladies Open and Dollanstown in the second division of the Maiden. Dollanstown was part of a treble on the card for Ed Doggrell, while Illico De Cotte was a first ever winner for Molly Armytage, daughter of former leading amateur Marcus. Will she emulate him by going on to win the Grand National? James King and Couer D'Alene won again at Badbury Rings (Marilyn Sweet) Ed had made a much longer trip, up to Alnwick in Northumberland, on Saturday where he teamed up with Chris Barber to take the Young Horse Maiden with Titi Monmartre. Chris himself joined James King in doubling up over the weekend, when the pair combined to win a division of the Restricted with the impressive Couer D’Alene. Bass Rock and Lucas Murphy - completed hat-trick on Sunday (Marilyn Sweet) Also at Badbury Rings, Bass Rock completed a hat-trick for trainer Harry Brown and jockey Lucas Murphy – who is bang in contention for the national novice rider title – and Docket Man, Ledbury-qualified as he was formerly owned and trained by Tom Lacey, took a division of the Maiden. Back to Brocklesby Park, Midnight River won the Mixed Open in the hands of Heidi Palin for trainer Bridget Skelton, following-up his Chaddesley Corbett success in December.

Team Britten - (L-R) Fred, Tom C, Clara, Tom B (all photos Caroline Exelby unless stated) At the young age of 27 and with a string of just six, Tom Britten is already making a name for himself on the pointing scene, having taken big Hunter Chases at Cheltenham and Stratford, including the ‘Horse & Hound Cup’ at the latter venue, with What A Glance in 2024, and training the progressive Ocean Drifter to win four on the bounce in the past two campaigns, most recently scoring in a competitive Mixed Open at Chaddesley Corbett. What’s more, unlike many successful handlers, Tom – who works for Alastair Ralph in the mornings – has to train his horses part-time. Jake Exelby caught up with him on a wet Wednesday at his Highley, Shropshire base, to talk about his background, the secrets behind his success and his plans to train under rules.   Arriving at the yard, I meet Tom (Amidnightstar), reigning female novice champion Clara Brewitt (Ocean Drifter), the current leader in the equivalent male race Fred Philipson-Stow (What A Glance) and work rider Tom Collins (Suttons Hill) as they’re about to make the mile-and-a-half walk to Ralph’s gallops at nearby Billingsley. “We don’t have a walker at home,” Tom tells me, “But the 15 minutes up and down hills to Alastair’s really benefits the horses and strengthens their backs. A scenic view of Alastair Ralph's gallops While none of his family worked in racing, his parents Sue and Paul both used to ride in points – “The thing we have in common is that we all rode just one winner,” laughs Tom – and grandmother Ann Taylor, who bought What A Glance as a foal, has been a fixture on the pointing scene for longer than even I can remember! (Fascinating Fact: Ann trained Behest to win at the Cheltenham Evening Fixture as far back as 1981. The horse was ridden by Helen Hart, mother of my fellow point-to-point correspondent Claire, who used to train Tom’s only winner as a jockey, Orange Nassau). Tom with grandmother Ann (left) after Orange Nassau's win (Pointing WM) Tom explains how he got into the sport of racing. “I’m from Little Comberton, near Pershore in Worcestershire. I grew up with ponies and did a lot of hunting. Mum was a member at Cheltenham, so I used to go with her, and Dad was really into his pointing – Chaddesley Corbett and Upton-on-Severn were our local tracks. I pony raced – I had two winners at point-to-point tracks and one at Cheltenham, riding against the likes of Alice Stevens and Sam Lee. I loved it and thought I wanted to be a jockey.”   Tom is matter of fact about the reason he retired from the saddle aged just 22, after the sole winner (at Woodford in 2019) from about 50 rides. “I wasn’t good enough,” he shrugs. “And only got round twice in my last season. I did it for enjoyment, and weight wasn’t really an issue (Tom must be at least 6’3”), although I struggled to do 11st 2lbs with the allowance in Mixed Opens.” In any case, training was already on the cards.   “I used to ride out for Tony Carroll and went to Philip Hobbs for two summers, as some friends were in a syndicate with him,” recalls Tom. “I was supposed to go to university, the Royal Agricultural College, but never made it. I went to Nicky Henderson’s for the summer and didn’t leave. I was there for two years, when he had the likes of Altior, Santini and Shishkin, then became pupil assistant to Oliver Sherwood, then to David Dennis.”   Tom confirms how the move to Shropshire came about. “Alastair gave me the opportunity to be his assistant, so I moved here in 2022. I kept my pointers there for a year before taking on this place.” However, after three years, working full-time for Ralph didn’t leave Tom enough time to train his own pointers. “I’d go to Alastair’s at 7am, work all morning, rush back here at lunchtime, ride as many lots as I could, then go back to Alastair’s at 4pm for evening stables. There was lots of toing and froing!”   Unsurprisingly, Tom’s gained a lot from his various roles, starting with his time at Seven Barrows. “I’ve learnt to leave room to work on the horses early in the season so they’re ready for the big targets in the spring, and to keep them fresh and well throughout the season. Nicky’s not hard on his horses, but it’s difficult to train like him – there’s a new breed of owner who wants results more quickly.”   Tom expands on his thinking. “French-breds, broken-in as yearlings, have become popular, and don’t seem to have as much longevity as stores coming from pointing, which has more of an effect than people realise. When I started going racing, the likes of Denman and Big Bucks would go to the Festival year after year and perform every time. Lots of horses now have just one good year and we’re breeding horses to become more precocious – many National Hunt horses are flat-bred and not as many want soft ground.”   As Tom admits, he’s been lucky to have two good horses in his care, firstly What A Glance, who had looked more of a two-and-a-half miler who wanted better going, until winning over 3m2f in bottomless ground at Cheltenham! “He’s always worked like an aeroplane at home,” laughs Tom again, “And he’s out of a seven-furlong mare, so I got stuck on the idea that he wouldn’t get three miles. But he was hitting the line strongly over two-and-a-half but not quite getting up. He’d been running well in points against the likes of Ihandaya and Deise Aba, and I didn’t think the Cheltenham race was the strongest of the night.” Tom celebrates as a muddy Murray wins at Cheltenham (Neale Blackburn) However, the soft conditions nearly scuppered Tom’s plans. “Rider Murray Dodd and I walked the course, and it was horrifically wet – I fell out with my girlfriend, who didn’t think he should run – so I told Murray to drop him out and pull up if he hated the ground, but he loved it. We then went to Stratford because he was in great form, and you don’t get many chances at the Horse & Hound. It was over even further and there was still plenty of cut, but he won again.” Before doubling up at Stratford (Neale Blackburn) Last year, What A Glance was never right, and he cracked a splint bone in the Cheltenham Foxhunters. “We’ll see how we go,” says Tom cautiously. “He’s unlikely to go back to the Festival and we’ll work towards the Cheltenham and Stratford evening meetings again. He’ll probably go to Ludlow early next month, (where he was going well when falling four out) then maybe for the Walrus at Haydock. Fred and What A Glance in motion Tom tells me how he obtained Ocean Drifter, his other stable star. “He had good form under rules for Oliver Sherwood but was fragile. Oliver and owner Tim Syder gave him to Cameron Johnstone-Baker – we worked together when I was there – and, when Cameron moved to Emma Lavelle’s, he asked if I’d like him.” Clara and Ocean Drifter gallop through the rain “Clara (Brewitt) gets on well with him,” continues Tom, “And won’t get off him in a hurry! He’s got a non-rules agreement, so we’ll stick to points. Frustratingly, many of the big races are Mens Opens – we can’t run him with Clara in the Lady Dudley Cup – so he’ll keep running in Ladies Opens. Clara and Ocean Drifter win at Chaddesley Corbett (Graham Fisher) Tom talks through his other pointers. Suttons Hill showed good form under rules in Ireland without winning and has been placed, after front-running, on both his British starts. “We may need to change the tactics with him,” admits Tom. (He was held up at Cocklebarrow but was hampered and unseated Clara). Tom C preps Suttons Hill for Cocklebarrow “Amnidnightstar won a hurdle at Hereford but has had two years off. She’s doing things right and seems OK now. She’s owned by Lynn Wallace, another great help to the yard. Impact Player ran in a bumper for Gary Moore. He was green and backwards, is well bred, and will improve for further and fences. And Grass’s Jet came just last week – (owner-rider) Will Badlan sent him to me. He’s a maiden, who’s been in the wilderness, and I’m still figuring him out.” Tom B and Amidnightstar With Murray Dodd, and Toby McCain-Mitchell, who rode What A Glance last year, having turned conditional, Fred Philipson-Stow will ride the horse this year, and Tom confirms how he chooses his jockeys. “People I get on with and people who come in and ride out,” he states firmly. “Both Fred and Clara help out, they listen, and they give good feedback. Fred’s riding with confidence, gets his horses settled and jumping, and is very talented. He probably under-rates himself. It’s the same with Clara – she’s really improved since she started riding Ocean Drifter.”   I ask Tom if he’s thought about going down the young horse sales route so popular at the moment. His response is frank. “Potentially down the line, but you need the time to do them properly and, working at Alastair’s, time is something I don’t have. Older horses are easy – you just tack up and ride them out!”   However, it seems that Tom may soon be lost to pointing. “I’ve done my first two licenced trainer modules, with the third next month,” he tells me. “I’m looking for a yard, then I’ll apply for a licence. While Ocean Drifter will obviously stay pointing, you need plenty of ammunition when you’re starting out under rules, so the others will come with me.”   Tom explains the reasons behind his decision. “I love pointing, it’s not as serious, everyone’s more relaxed, and it’s more fun. But from a business perspective, I have to make money and – while I try to keep the costs down – there’s no incentive to own pointers. Even when you’re buying and selling young horses, it’s hard to make a go of it – you might sell one for £100,000, but you probably need to buy five to find that one. You need a syndicate of backers who can afford to lose money and it’s a gamble at the end of the day, a big gamble. There’s a lot of pressure to deliver and I like to find a consistent horse who can give the owners a fun day out.   As Tom obviously has strong views on pointing, I ask my usual question about what he’d do if he was in charge of the sport. “I don’t know,” he confesses. “It’s a difficult one. The biggest problem facing the sport is if hunting gets banned, as you’d lose a lot of free support and help, and we’d struggle to finance what the hunts do. I’d try to find a big national sponsor – maybe one of the sales companies – but that’s easier said than done.”   He has mixed views on the new social media approach that the PPA is taking. “It certainly appeals to young people,” confirms Tom, “And gets the sport across to a wider audience. But those people can’t afford to have a horse in training and that’s what you need – if you’re struggling to buy a house, you can’t afford a horse!”   So how do you get more young riders into pointing, Tom? “There are lots of them who’d love to ride in a race,” he answers. “So, could you allow, say, a trainer to give some of his horses to his staff, to train and ride in points? You’d have to put a cap on the number of horses, and their level – maybe up to three, rated no higher than 110. I know a lot of pointing people are against professional trainers, but it’s even harder to get a ride under rules and it would be a cheaper way to get people involved.”   Tom’s final word comes in response to my question of what would happen to him in a world without racing. His reply is simple – “I wouldn’t know what to do!”

It was another successful weekend for the two Areas, with participants from West Mercia and the South Midlands involved in all six victories at Higham and seven of the nine successes at Larkhill (including a dead-heat!) To cap it off, Fred Timmis and Henry Bailey made the long journey to Friars Haugh and came back with a win at the Borders course courtesy of Sharing Is Caring in the Restricted. Connections celebrate after Sharing Is Caring's Restricted win (Sean Tasker-Brown) At Higham on Saturday, there was a first win – on just her second ride – for 17-year-old Willow Johnson, daughter of the legendary Richard, one of the greatest jockeys of his generation, on Jimmy The Digger in the Ladies Open. Alan Hill and James King came back from the Essex venue with a double on Senior Citizen (3m4f Conditions) and Reel More Fun (Maiden), while Bradley Gibbs also bagged a brace, training and riding the South Midlands-qualified Practice Run (Restricted) as well as Fier Jaguen (Mens Open). And the Francesca Poste-trained and Cerys Sheehy-ridden Hubrisko took the first Jockey Club Hands & Heels race of the season, a third win of the campaign for this combination. Alan Hill's Reel More Fun and James King before their Maiden win Star of the show at a wet Larkhill on Sunday was Grace A Vous Enki, who took the Coronation Cup classic race – his tenth victory from ten starts at the Wiltshire track – for Chris Barber and James King. James now has a lead of six as he seeks a fifth jockeys championship. James King with owners Clive and Joan Hitchings and the impressive Coronation Cup trophy (Graham Fisher) Fil D’Ariane, owned, trained and ridden by Doug White (older readers will remember his mother Rosemary being a top female jockey in the late 1970s and early 1980s) was an impressive winner of the Novice Riders race, while Boley Bob came out on top in a battle royale for the first division of the Restricted for Joe O’Shea and Henry Crow.   Tom Lacey and Sean O’Connor combined to take both divisions of the Maiden on odds-on shots Gallant Tide and Hive Runner – it’s even longer odds-on that neither will be seen in points again this season as they go racing under rules – while the concluding Flat Race saw a dead-heat for two West Mercian debutants – Dadavic, trained by Justin Brotherton, and Miss Spec, a first success for handler Oliver Hayes. They were ridden by South Midlands jockeys – respectively, Sam Lee and Charlie Case.