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At the age of just 24, Luca Morgan is already a high achiever, both in the saddle and as an up-and-coming trainer of point-to-pointers. Turning professional in 2019, after two seasons riding between the flags, Luca went to work for Ben Pauling and was crowned champion conditional jockey in April 2023 before his sudden retirement that November. Turning immediately to the training game – with his first runners in February 2024 – he has already proved himself a shrewd operator with both older horses and youngsters, with the classy Givega targeting top Hunter Chases this season and Baron Du Brizais, who took the opening GB Pointing Bonus Maiden at Lower Machen last month, making £90,000 when going under the hammer at the recent Goffs Coral Gold Cup sale. Jake Exelby went to see him at his impressive Sandall House base, near Warwick, to find out more about a young man on the rise.   Luca (pictured above holding Givega, with partner Paige Topley and Baron du Brizais - all photos Caroline Exelby except where stated) has a mix of horses in their yard, from pre-trainers for former boss Ben Pauling, to youngsters to run and sell, to established pointers. “The pre-trainers underpin the business,” explains Luca. “They pay for the keep of the stores that I buy to sell on. Then the older horses are mostly owned by The Gambie Gang, comprising Mum and Dad and a group of family friends. I’ve done well for them, with the likes of Givega and On Springs (who Luca rode to five wins under rules, then trained to win three points last season). I also bought a 4yo horse for them – J’Envoievalserenki – who won at Badbury Rings.”   Luca, originally from near Bath – “pretty much where Neil Mulholland trains” – has been at Sandall House since he retired as a jockey and expects to run, “Six three-year-olds, two more 4yos and five older horses,” this season. Surprisingly for one who’s done so well, so young, he’s not from a racing background.   “Mum and Dad weren’t interested in racing and had no idea about the sport,” recalls Luca, “But I wanted to be a jockey since I was about five. The mum of my best mate at primary school had a riding school and I went to have lessons every Saturday morning. Mum and Dad then bought me a New Forest pony – Maisie – who dropped me most days! I had to wait until I was nine to ride her in a race – it was the pony racing day at Wincanton – and I thought she was a rocket… but she wasn’t!”   “My parents were massively supportive,” adds Luca. They used to take me to ride out for Seamus Mullins – I told him I was 12 but I was only ten – then Paul Nicholls, and pony racing at the weekend. It was Matt Hampton who got me into pointing – I met him when we both rode out for Paul – and he taught me so much. We get on really well and he’s a great trainer. I rode a horse called Billy Two Tongues for him and learnt loads… mostly because he was a terrible jumper!”   Luca clarifies why he turned conditional after his second season, in which he rode six winners, along with the PPORA points series. “I was riding almost as much under rules as in points, so thought I might as well get paid for it. Ben Pauling put me up one day in a hands and heels race, then agent Dave Roberts called and said Ben was looking for a 7lb claimer. Two weeks later, I was there and never looked back.”   “I rode my first double at Uttoxeter (in December 2019)”, continues Luca, “And – while I think I had another 50 rides before my next winner for Ben, because he had a bug he couldn’t shift, which prompted him to move yards – I had an amazing time. Ben was brilliant to me. I was claiming, but riding in Grade One races, and on horses like Northern Bound, Shakem Up’Arry and Slipway. I won seven races on Northern Bound, and he was a real darling – you could put your nan on him!””   “I always believed in myself,” says Luca about his championship season, “But didn’t expect to win the title, particularly as I was only claiming 3lb at the start of the season. I remember messaging Ben in August saying I wouldn’t mind giving it a go and it’s all down to the support of Ben, as well as people like Michael Scudamore.”   Luca is honest about the struggles with his weight that forced him to retire just six months after his title. “It was always an issue,” he admits. “Even when I was 17 or 18, I was sweating every day. After I got the trophy at Sandown, I went to Tenerife for a week, but didn’t go overboard, as I knew I had to ride at 11st2lbs when I got back. When I got on the scales, I expected to be 11st5lb but was a stone heavier. I managed to lose it all, but couldn’t see straight, and my ears were popping. While I felt fine on the horse, I drank buckets of water afterwards and put it all back on. I had two rides booked at Ludlow – also at 11st2lbs – for Nicky Henderson, so had to do it all over again.”   “I told Ben I needed a break,” a sombre Luca goes on. “He was very understanding and I was still riding out every day, but – when I came back – I broke my foot and was concussed on my first ride, so had to stop again. I came back one more time but one night, I’d been in the bath two hours and hadn’t lost any weight, so I said to Ben, ‘That’s it.’ I was upset more than anything,” Luca admits. “The hardest part was ringing Ben, as I hate letting people down.”   Younger brother Beau – best known for his association with Twig (trained in points by Matt) – still rides as a conditional but, as Luca explains, didn’t get the bug until he was older. “He didn’t start until he was a teenager,” laughs Luca. “I taught him to ride one evening while Mum was making dinner and had him jumping hurdles by the end of the night!   As for the rapid move into training pointers, “We already had horses at Paige’s Mum and Dad’s place, so thought we’d give it a go. We found the yard and, the day we moved in, Ben sent us four pre-trainers.” Luca’s first runner was Perfect Pirate, who gave him a maiden success at Paxford later in the year. His first full season provided five winners to go with one in each of the first two weekends of the current campaign. So, after such a flying start, how far off is a move into the professional ranks? “It’s an ambition,” confirms Luca, “But it’s a bit of a way off. It depends how the next couple of years go and I’m enjoying training the young horses.”   James King and Ellie Holder on two of Luca's 3yos As we watch a group of unnamed 3yos canter round the indoor school, then up the all-weather gallop, before taking a few schooling hurdles, Luca outlines his plans for the season, starting with Givega, who pulled up at Hexham on his reappearance, but has come out of the race well. “I’d literally die for that horse,” he smiles. “He’ll probably have just three runs this year, going to Leicester for a Hunter Chase at the end of February – first prize was £7,000 last year – then to Punchestown (for the Irish Champion Hunter Chase). He’s better going right-handed than left and is fragile – he’s got feet like poppadoms!” Archie Wilson and Fergus Gillard come up the gallops Other older horses include Just Lucky Sivola – “Who I got from Paul Nicholls, and who’ll go for Conditions Races, then possibly a Novice Hunter Chase” – and another talented but fragile prospect, the mare Rossea. “She won her Irish point-to-point and was then sold for £95,000,” Luca tells me, “Then got a leg. She was going to run last year but I stopped with her when the going got good. She’ll run in a Restricted.”   Obviously, some of our chat focuses on a horse no longer in the yard, Baron Du Brizais. Luca confirms how he came by the 4yo. “I went to Ireland with Dan Astbury and we bought four stores. I sold a filly privately and a Harzand gelding won a schooling race at Chaddesley Corbett and is now with Oliver Greenall. But Baron Du Brizais is the first of mine to run in a Young Horse Maiden, and the first to go through the ring.” Baron Du Brizais takes the Young Horse Maiden (Alun Sedgmore) “I can’t afford pedigrees with my budgets,” explains Luca of how he and Dan select the stores they buy. “For the first group we bought, I looked for up and coming sires – like Capri, Harzand and Nirvana Du Berlais – with black type through the dam.”   “We’re getting towards the Irish model,” states Luca in relation to Young Horse Maidens. “The likes of Fran and Charlie Poste, Gina and Tom Ellis and Jack Teal are among those doing a fantastic job. The more people who have young horses, the greater the depth – it’s not about the publicity but the strength of the racing. At Lower Machen, we beat horses trained by Tom Lacey, Chris Barber, Josh Newman and the Postes, which showed the bonus race was working.”   The sale of Baron Du Brizais was bittersweet for Paige, as she explains. “My Dad, David, broke him in, and I’ve ridden him from the start, since he was a 3yo.” The 2019/2020 leading female novice rider, whose promising career was interrupted by Covid, confirms that she’s retired – “Unless there’s a particular horse that makes me want to come back.” Her time in the saddle was ended abruptly – and tragically – when her best horse, Garrettstown, was killed on the road by an errant driver. “I retired on the spot,” Paige says sadly. “Perfect Pirate was with him at the time, and wouldn’t go on a road again, which was hard, as we didn’t have gallops at home.” James on Hexham second Via Romano One of the 4yos is Hexham second Via Romano, another Luca plans to sell, but the aforementioned J’Envoievalserenki will be staying at Sandall House and targeting the new 0-110 Series Final. “His highest rating in Ireland was 108,” says Luca, “And he’d probably be 6lb or 7lb higher over here. A series with a big final is a good thing as it gives you the chance to win decent prize money.” Paige and J'Envoievalserenki “It would be good to have more finals,” Luca opines, “With higher prize money. Cheltenham and Stratford both come at the end of the season so suit the same horses who are running at that time of year. What about the early season horses? You could have, say, a final for Maiden winners in March, or a big Hunter Chase meeting in December.”   Indeed, Luca is generally positive about the new initiatives being introduced in the sport. “I’m glad that things are changing,” he confirms. “Having a slot on Racing TV is massive, the GB Pointing Bonus series is brilliant, and the social media is going in the right direction. We just need to make it more affordable for owners,” he concludes, before admitting, “But that’s a question to which I don’t know the answer! It’s hard to get owners to buy pointers when you can get £350 for finishing eighth under rules, more than you get for winning a point-to-point. People will spend money at the sales for a dream – winning a point-to-point isn’t a dream!”   My last question to Luca, as so often, is why he loves pointing, especially not having the sport in his blood. “I don’t know,” he confesses. “It’s hard to explain – if you presented a business plan for pointing to the Dragons Den, they’d laugh at you! I just love racing, and pointing’s more relaxed. And I love winning! Winning at the weekend is why I do it. My dream is to buy a horse at the Cheltenham Sales and come back to Cheltenham to win a race with it.” Luca and his riders with his 3yos... and Bean

Two was the magic number at the weekend as several leading protagonists in the South Midlands and West Mercian Areas celebrated doubles.   Saturday saw racing at Alnwick and Charing and Gina Andrews took three horses on the 500-mile return journey from her Marton, Rugby base. She returned home with wins from pointing debutants Azlad and The Dog Thief, both of whom she rode herself. This took her to five for the season – as both trainer and jockey – and continued the splendid record of her yard at the Northumberland venue, where she and husband Tom Ellis have had 22 wins from 42 runs since 2019. The Andrews yard has a great record at Alnwick (Grace Beresford) Another trainer to move on to five wins for the season was Alan Hill, whose Charing double came courtesy of Monrocco Moonlight and pointing debutant Lucky Zebo, formerly trained by Henry de Bromhead. The latter was ridden by Ellie Holder in the absence of Hill’s stable jockey and daughter-in-law Izzie with a broken leg.   Champion jockey James King, bidding for a fifth title in six years, was also on the double at Charing, on horses trained by Luke Price in Wales. The second success was his 300 th between the flags and he quickly embarked on his fourth century when the Chris Barber-trained Grace A Vous Enki made it eight from eight at Larkhill, all in the hands of King. Grace A Vous Enki and James King at their beloved Larkhill (Tim Holt) Barber had initiated his own brace with the Ed Doggrell-partnered Carrillo in the Young Horse Maiden. His yard’s form eclipses even that of Andrews and Hill – this season, he has had seven winners from just nine runners, five ridden by Doggrell, and is joint-top of the national trainer standings. Ed Doggrell (left) and Chris Barber - teamed up to win again Also at Larkhill, current leading national novice rider Fred Philipson-Stow had his fourth win of the season, on Dorset Dazzler, on whom he had scored at the previous fixture at the Wiltshire course. And there was a first success – with just his second runner – for Matthew Gill with the Ledbury-qualified, but Lambourn-trained, Kandor. Both the winning trainer and jockey Daniel Williams – enjoying the fourth win of his career – work for Nicky Henderson.

The Harkaway Club fixture went back to its customary late March / early April date in 1995, which saw a six-race card – the fewest number of races for over 20 years. There were no equine superstars on display, with the exception of the useful former Tim Forster horse Major Match, who gave Candy Thomas a second consecutive win in the Ladies Open. The Mens Open went to Guildway and Mark Rimell. Major Match pictured winning at Andoversford (John Mullen) 1996 saw a fourth and final win in the Ladies Open for the Russki-Alison Dare partnership, as well as a double for 1995 champion jockey Alastair Crow, on Jolly Boat in the Club Members and Korbell in the Confined. A young Polly Gundry, who would of course go on to win multiple championships and break records, won the Restricted and there was a victory for Geoff Barfoot-Saunt, still going strong nearly 30 years later, in a division of the Maiden.   There was another new date – the May Bank Holiday weekend – in 1997, and firm going saw just 20 horses turn up and a walkover. Julian Pritchard and Alison Dare – taking her seventh Ladies Open in ten years – had doubles, and the ground didn’t deter the classy Stag Fight (Mens Open) and Down The Mine (Ladies Open) from turning up and winning.   It’s rare that you see a 66/1 shot in a point-to-point nowadays, let alone one winning at that price in a five-runner race, but Sophie Talbot and Tytherington did just that when left lucky winners of the Confined.   The fixture moved again in 1998, this time to its earliest date, mid-February, and was a much stronger card, with seven races and 94 runners. (It was also the author’s first appearance at the fixture, although not my first visit to Chaddesley Corbett). The racing saw doubles for Andy Dalton and Julian Pritchard, joint-champions that season, and – shock – Alison Dare beaten in the Ladies Open!   The best horses on show were 1997 Aintree Foxhunters hero Blue Cheek, who won the Ladies Open for Teresa Spearing and the prolific Solba, who took the Mens Open with Andy Dalton and went on to win the Lady Dudley Cup in 1999. Dalton’s second winner, Shoon Wind in the Club Members, was another who went on to score multiple times, while future champion Richard Burton had his first winner at the meeting. Solba and Andy Dalton at Chaddesley Corbett (Brian Armstrong) 1999 ran again in February and again saw plenty of runners. The biggest name among winning jockeys was future top professional Tom Scudamore, who took the Novice Riders race (first run in 1998) on Poucher. Among the victorious horses were 20-time winner Whatafellow, for Alastair Crow in the Club Members, and Clive Hitchings’ Better Future, a third victory in the Mens Open for Tim Stephenson. Action from the 1999 Ladies Open (Brian Armstrong) Another move, this time to mid-March, took place in 2000 (was the changing date a peril of being a Club fixture?) and, despite Good to Firm ground and it being a busy time of the year, there were eight races, including three divisions of the Maiden. There was a double for Julian Pritchard, Richard Baimbridge and Alison Dare teamed up to win their eight Ladies Open at the fixture, this time with Split Second, and Richard Burton took the Open with the talented, but wayward-jumping, Lochnomore.   Foot and mouth caused the meeting to be abandoned in 2001 but 2002 saw a nine-race card with nearly 100 runners. The highlight was the notable – and rare – achievement by current West Mercian Area Chair Dave Mansell winning consecutive races in half-brothers Rusty Fellow (Mens Open) and Maggies Brother (Moderate). The latter was on the upgrade and took a Cheltenham Hunter Chase later that season. The Ladies Open went the way of Jill Wormall and the useful Larry’s Lord.   There were again nine races in 2003, which saw a first win at the fixture for Diana Williams, who is the current Chair of the Harkaway Club point-to-point. Her Supreme Citizen won the Ladies Open with daughter, and future champion jockey, Jane in the saddle. On the subject of champions, Richard Burton took a division of the Maiden en route to the first of his four titles that year. Supreme Citizen after winning for Jane Williams (Bill Selwyn) Tim Stephenson had a fourth success in the Mens Open, this time on Fontaine Again, another owned by Clive Hitchings, and there were two up and coming stars on display in the form of Irilut – winning the second of what would be 22 races in the Restricted – and his young jockey Sam Waley-Cohen, whose storied career as an amateur included the Gold Cup and Grand National. Irilut and Sam Waley-Cohen (Bill Selwyn) It was back to February in 2004, a third consecutive year with nine races, and the fixture saw success for a pair of future spouses. Richard Burton rode a double – his Open mount Jemaro kept winning until he was 17, the same age as future jockey Immy Robinson – and wife to be Hannah Kinsey sprung a shock with Pacon in the Ladies Open.   Stuart Morris matched ‘Burty’ with a double in two of the four Maidens on the card, while the other winning couple who would go on to marry were five-time champion Polly Gundry, who took the Conditions on Fertile Valley for Clive Bennett, and Ed Walker, who won the Conditions race on outsider The Campdonian.

With the first West Mercian Area fixture taking place at Chaddesley Corbett on Sunday, it was no surprise that locally qualified, trained and ridden horses were out in force and among the winners.   Star of the show was the Tom Britten-trained Ocean Drifter, who put up a fine front-running performance under last season’s female novice champion Clara Brewitt to take the Mixed Open. A determined Clara Brewitt and Ocean Drifter take the Mixed Open Not far behind in terms of quality was Midnight River, formerly useful under rules for Dan Skelton and now in the care of his sister-in-law Bridget (nee Andrews), a former champion rider between the flags and subsequently a successful professional, making her return to the point-to-point training ranks after a decade’s absence. Despite sweating up in the paddock, he took the PPORA Conditions Race comfortably in the hands of Heidi Palin. Midnight River and Heidi Palin en route to victory The third West Mercian winner on the card was Couer D’Alene (yes, the spelling is correct!) who was an easy winner of what looked like a decent Restricted for trainer Chris Barber, continuing his excellent start to the season, and champion jockey James King.   Another current champion, Gina Andrews, emulated her sister Bridget by training a winner on the card, Entity Of Substanz in the closing Maiden. She also rode the gelding, another who used to be trained by Dan Skelton.   South Midlands raiders had opened their account on the day in the previous contest, the PPORA Novice Riders Conditions Race, where Hubrisko – who made most of the running under a fine ride – gave a first success to Cerys Sheehy, who works for trainer Francesca Poste. Cerys Sheehy returns in triumph after her first win on Hubrisko Read Andrew King’s full meeting report here All photographs c. Graham Fisher

Trainers, jockeys and horses from the West Mercian and South Midlands Areas continued their splendid start to the season with involvement in two wins at Hexham and sharing victory in all five races at Larkhill.   Joe O’Shea made the long journey from his Cheshire base to Hexham on Saturday and was successful with Paul Marvel and St Cuthbert’s Cave in the Mixed and Ladies Opens, the latter following up his Lower Machen success on the first day of the season. Respective jockeys Henry Crow and Amber Jackson-Fennell were opening their account for the season. Joe O'Shea - Hexham double (Carl Evans) Stars of the show at Larkhill were trainer Nickie Sheppard and jockey Fred Philipson-Stow, both of whom came away with doubles. Nickie and Fred teamed up to win a high-quality and exciting Mens Open with A Jet Of Our Own, Nickie completed her brace with Yippee Ki Yay in the Conditions Race, continuing jockey Milo Herbert’s excellent return to the saddle, while Fred’s second win was in the Maiden, on the Dorset-trained (and appropriately named) Dorset Dazzler. Yippee Ki Yay and Milo Herbert win the Conditions Race at Larkhill (Tim Holt) Two South Midlands raiders got on the scoresheet. Trainer-rider Lily Bradstock made up for Badbury Rings disappointment with a fine front-running display on Myth Buster in the Ladies Open while Zac Baker produced an excellent tactical ride to win the Restricted on Glancing Hill for Francesca Poste. All involved were winning for the first time this season. Glancing Hill and Zac Baker (Neale Blackburn)

The years in question saw the emergence of the formidable Dick Baimbridge-Alison Dare trainer-rider partnership, with Russki being the star horse. The Harkaway Club was fortunate with the weather and all ten fixtures during this period took place.   1985 had a nine-race card, with a plethora of leading horses and jockeys among the winners. National champion Peter Greenall had a four-timer, two of which were dead-heats – on Naughty Niece in the Mens Open and Pride Of Tullow in the Maiden. Greenall also took the Adjacent on Sliebemore and the opening Club Members on classy mare National Clover. Another winner from a successful distaff family was Fruit Farm in the Ladies Open, the mount of future champion Lucy Crow. And Alison Dare, who would go on to win six titles and become one of the all-time greats of the sport, took the Restricted on Kiltra Boy, trained – unsurprisingly – by Dick Baimbridge.   Peter Greenall was again champion jockey in 1986 and had three more winners, repeating his 1985 success in the Adjacent on Sliebemore. Indeed, there were several follow-up winners, including Solidity and Luigi Carenza in the Mens Open (they had won the other division the previous year). Ridgeman had dead-heated in the Mens Open in 1985, but took the Ladies equivalent this year and Rockin Berry regained the Club Members crown she had worn in 1983. The Maiden went to Corvedale Corfton and Guy Opperman, who would go on – more than 30 years later – to become the only sitting MP in modern times to win a point-to-point as a jockey.   1987 maybe lacked the quality of horses of recent renewals, but some of the winning names remain familiar to racegoers nearly 40 years on. South Midlands Course Inspector John Pritchard won the Open on Hasty Storm and Steward and former West Mercian joint-Chairman Stuart Dickin scored in the Cub Members on Edged Gold.   The Baimbridge-Dare axis struck again in 1988 with Allen Lad in the Ladies Open, while among the male jockeys to taste success were current National Hunt trainers Gary Hanmer (Tangle Trial in the Restricted) and Matt Sheppard (Deep Prospect in the Adjacent). The latter pair went on to take the John Corbet Cup later that season. Deep Prospect (spots) and Matt Sheppard (Les Hurley) Alison Dare won the Ladies Open again in 1989 with Le Kingdom, while the leading rider on the day was Steve Brookshaw, who had a double with Mount Argus, whose career totalled 21 wins, and the useful mare Cute Pam.   1990’s double scorer was Willie Bryan, on Shannon Castle in the Club Members and Master Spartan in the Adjacent. The Ladies Open went to… you guessed it, Alison Dare for the third year in a row, this time on Russki, taking the first of what would be four wins in this contest, while the Mens Open went the way of 1989 Lady Dudley Cup winner Border Sun and Simon Sweeting. Alison Dare wins on Russki (Tim Sage) There was another nine-race card in 1991, when Border Sun and Simon Sweeting repeated their Mens Open victory, and Dick Baimbridge and Alison Dare helped themselves to a double. Fennelly took the Club Members and Grademount the Restricted, but they didn’t have a runner in the Ladies Open this time – that race was won by Third In Line and Sophie Edwards.   1992 belonged to Baimbridge and Dare again. They notched up a treble through three previous winners at the fixture – Fennelly (Restricted), Grademount (Club Members) and Russki (Ladies Open again). The Mens Open went to the classy Frome Boy and Damien Duggan. Fennelly and Alison Dare (Brian Armstrong) Russki and Alison Dare took their third Ladies Open in four years in 1993, which also saw victories for two talented mares, Fine Lace (Jimmy Tarry) in the Club Members and Ancella (Tim Stephenson) in the Mens Open. Treyford – who was runner-up in the Lady Dudley Cup three years in a row from 1992 to 1994 – and Anthony Steel repeated their Adjacent success, and Alan Phillips had a double with Scallys Choice in the Restricted and Bradford Beau in the Maiden.   In 1994, the Harkaway Club fixture was held in late May, and the new date could be a factor in their being less equine star talent than in recent seasons, but the same could not be said of the jockeys. Four-time champ Julian Pritchard enjoyed his first successes at the meeting with Shadow Walker (Mens Open) and Eddie Kybo (Club Members). There were no Alison Dare victories – or even any rides – for the first time since 1987 and the Ladies Open saw a sad postscript to Pikeman’s success in the Ladies Open under Candy Thomas. As the Mackenzie & Selby Annual put it, “The excitement sadly proved too much for owner John Panniers, as he dropped dead when cheering his horse home (what a glorious way to go!)”. Multiple champions Julian Pritchard (right) and James King have had plenty of success at Chaddesley Corbett (Neale Blackburn)

By the mid-1970s, the Harkaway Club fixture was run in late March or early April. The first year for which the (then) Sale & Mackenzie Annual provides full results was 1974, when the Mens Open was won by Fortification – it was one of three wins for the horse that season, but his first for seven years. Vilacity – ridden by the one-eyed Pat Kerby – took the Ladies Open, the first of four consecutive wins in the same race.   The annual does not list results for 1975, but – in 1976 – Vilacity and Pat Kerby completed their hat-trick and the Mens Open was taken by the classy His Last, owned by subsequent PPORA founder Jim Mahon.   1977 saw wins in the two divisions of the Restricted for Ridware Fox – the first of five consecutive victories – and Melodic Beat, ridden by Robert Chugg. Sparkford, one of the leading pointers of the era – the mount of 1978 champion John Bryan – won the Mens Open and Skittles and John Whittall took the Farmers Race for the second time in a row.   Star of the 1978 fixture was Little Fleur, champion horse that season with 12 wins, still a joint-record. The mare was completing a double for John Bryan, initiated by the consistent 1976 Lady Dudley Cup winner Jim Lad in the Club Race. Terrible Tim and Christine Mason started what became a four-timer in the Ladies Open, and Extra Fine won the Farmers Race. His rider, a young Nigel Twiston-Davies, was described by the annual as ‘progressive’. Little Fleur (right) and John Bryan Extra Fine and his ‘progressive’ young rider The Restricted winner in 1979, Spartella, was embarking on a promising career between the flags, the Ladies Open went to Pat Kerby for the fifth time in six years – this time on Happy Returns and the Club Race went the way of another future Grand National-winning trainer, Major Star scoring in the hands of Steve Brookshaw. Spartella (left) takes the Restricted Pat Kerby and Happy Returns The 1980 fixture was run on a Thursday and Major Star and Steve Brookshaw followed-up in the Members Race. Other repeat victors were the now veteran Jim Lad, who scored in a higher grade – winning the Ladies Open, one of five successes that season – and Extra Fine, another five-time winner, this time ridden by Bob Woolley. Mens Open winner Barleydale was another to enjoy a fine season and Moralist, who had won the Maiden in 1979, upgraded to the Restricted.   After abandonments in 1981 and 1982, the classiest performer on display in 1983 was Brockie Law, who took the Ladies Open with Teresa Webber, while Ladies Members winner Rockin Berry proved to be a horse on the upgrade.   Clear Pride had won the Mens Open on the card in 1979 for Tim Holland-Martin and followed-up five years later, this time ridden by John Weston, who rode a double on the day, his other winner being Le Jour Fortune in the Restricted. Another to win two races was Alastair Ulyet, who took the Adjacent on Tanker – unbeaten in four that season – and one of the Maiden divisions on Soleure.   All photography by Peter Sweet

The second weekend of the 2025-2026 point-to-point season, which saw five races at Badbury Rings (the sixth was declared void due to regulatory issues), was groundhog day as far as two of the successful operations were concerned, with two of the participants reappearing in the winners enclosure a week after they did so at Lower Machen. Racing action at Badbury Rings (Tim Holt) Luca Morgan had taken the Young Horse Maiden with Baron Du Brizais at the season’s opening fixture and repeated the feat in the first race on Sunday with the Warwickshire-qualified and intriguingly named J’Envoievalserenki – which could be translated as “I send a waltz to the Sumerian Lord of the Earth” – again for owners The Gambie Gang and again ridden by James King. The ex-Irish 4yo scored comfortably despite some awkward jumps in the home straight.   The West Mercian winner at Badbury Rings was another for trainer Chris Barber and rider Ed Doggrell. Chris and Ed had won the older horse Maiden at Lower Machen with Western Monkey and took the level-weights Maiden at the Dorset course with the well-backed Samba Mambo, another ex-Irish 4yo to win with ease. Ed (left) and Chris have been friends since their schooldays. And Fred-Philipson Stow, having declined a walkover in the race that became void, got off the mark for the season on the Dorset-trained Finisher in the Conditions Race.

South Midlands and West Mercian Area participants were again to the fore at Dunsmore and Garthorpe last weekend, taking the spoils (or at least a share of them) in eight of the twelve races that took place.   Chris Barber and Ed Doggrell had tasted success at the opening two meetings of the season and combined for a Dunsmore double with the impressive and progressive Jewel In The Park in the Intermediate and ex-rules Mount Sinai in the Mixed Open. The third West Mercian winner down in Devon was another pointing debutant, French Symphony. Trained by Justin Brotherton and ridden by Will Badlan – having his first mount back after injury – the ex-Ben Pauling inmate took the concluding Maiden. Will Badlan (far side) - won on French Symphony (Tim Holt) At Garthorpe in Leicestershire, another in-form team – trainer Alan Hill and his daughter-in-law, jockey Izzie – won their third race of the season when Nice To See You dead-heated in the Maiden that closed the card while the powerful Gina Andrews yard had its first runners of the season and completed a double with Loughan in the Ladies Conditions Race and I’m Spellbound in the 0-110 Rated Race. The trainer was in the saddle for both victories. I’m Spellbound and Gina Andrews (Neale Blackburn) Milo Herbert had missed the 2024/2025 season but has returned to the saddle this year and struck on his first ride with Grandads Cottage, an easy winner of the Mixed Open. The horse is Monmouthshire-qualified but trained in West Mercian territory by Nicky Sheppard at Eastnor. West Mercian operations scored again with Jolie Joue in the Restricted. The 4yo, trained by Fred Timmis and ridden by Huw Edwards, was another to win well and is unbeaten in both pointing starts. Milo Herbert (red and white) - back in the saddle (Tim Holt)

The Harkaway Club was formed in 1902 to promote polo and show jumping, before being changed to a Point-to-Point Club, with the first meeting in 1905. The early races were held at Tuck Hill, Enville, before the fixture moved to Chaddesley Corbett in 1925.   It has been held at the same venue ever since, with the exception of three meetings at Wilbrighton in the 1950s. After a six-year interruption due to World War two, a second course was opened at Chaddesley Corbett, which was used from 1946 to 1954. In 1975, the Harkaway Club returned to another course, on the same site as the original 1925-1939 location.   Not much is known about the early runnings of the Harkaway Club meeting, although we know that, in 1928, the Prince of Wales – who became the Duke of Windsor – rode at the meeting, although he fell at the water jump. The 1926 racecard, the earliest available, lists five races – including one with a base weight of 14st – and most of the races had a first prize of 20 sovereigns. The 1926 Harkaway Club Racecard With information about the early fixtures limited, over the six weeks leading up to the 100 th anniversary fixture on Sunday 28 th December, we will be taking a decade-by-decade look at the highlights of the Harkaway Club fixtures from the mid-1970s to the present day.

The 2025-2026 point-to-point season kicked-off at Lower Machen in South Wales on Sunday 9 th November, and participants from the South Midlands and West Mercian Areas were to the fore, taking five of the six races between them.   Leading trainer Alan Hill and his daughter-in-law, former female champion jockey Izzie – seeking to regain her title this year – were in double form. They took the opening Restricted with the impressive Jongleur D’Ainay, returning from a near two-year absence to score in the fastest time of the day, then followed up with Amron Sage in the Ladies Open, which saw the closest finish on the card. Izzie and Alan Hill (Carl Evans) Luca Morgan’s Baron Du Brizais provided the third South Midlands-trained winner of the afternoon in the Young Horse Maiden and now has a date at the Goffs Coral Gold Cup sale on Saturday 29 th November. Potential purchasers have the new GB Pointing Bonus to target. He was the mount of multiple champion male rider James King, already odds-on to retain his title. Baron Du Brizais takes the Young Horse Maiden (Alun Sedgmore) Though qualified with a Northern Area certificate, St Cuthbert’s Cave – formerly in Gordon Elliott’s yard – who made a successful debut between the flags in the Mens Open, is now trained by Joe O’Shea and the Cheshire-based handler is very much part of the West Mercian Area. His rider Huw Edwards is sure to be able to look forward to another successful season – his mounts include the likes of John Corbet Cup winner Jeux D’Eau.   The second West Mercian winner at Lower Machen was Chris Barber’s Western Monkey in the Older Horse Maiden. Partnered by Ed Doggrell, the six-year-old newcomer won comfortably in a race that saw the biggest field of the day. Muddy connections celebrate with Western Monkey (Alun Sedgmore)

Tim Underwood is one of pointing’s true characters. He rode his last winner aged 63, had his final mount in 2020 at 72 (although he claims not to have officially retired) and still rides out daily – at the age of 77. He remains one of the most successful owner-trainers in the country, having previously been national leading owner and leading trainer (seven horses or fewer). Last year, he won his first South Midlands Area trainers title, taking on and beating the bigger yards. Typically Tim, when we asked him for five horses to follow, he gave us six! Tim posing with prolific winner Tempelpirate (Caroline Exelby) Garde La Peche I bought him via Thoroughbid from Henry de Bromhead’s yard. She cost £170,000 after winning her Irish maiden, and has won under rules, gaining a highest handicap mark of 109. She fits the bill for the new 0-110 rated Conditions Races with a mares allowance, and will run at the end of November at Larkhill. Kedg West A real mystery horse who just couldn’t get home so I asked for him to be given a non-stayers ride at Lockinge – in hindsight, he possibly should have won. He was then second at Kingston Blount, then ran there again in a truly-run race and won. Watch this space? Kedg West and Charlie Marshall win at Kingston Blount (Neale Blackburn)   Minella Laoch Ran three times in Ireland, finishing fourth on each occasion. The form does give me a little bit of hope, as the horse that finished second last time has gone on to win a hurdle. He’s cantering away and will hopefully run in February.   Song For My Father Was unlucky not to win three in a row and had possibly gone off the boil on his last run at Kingston Blount. Another for whom the plan is to run at Larkhill, in the Restricted. Song for My Father and Phil York en route to Kingston Blount success (Neale Blackburn) Stranger Danger Just hasn’t had the rub of the green and did have some very smart form in Ireland. We nearly lost him with colic in his first year, which put him out for the season. Last season, he went lame behind and I thought he had recovered, so we ran at Parham and poor Charlie Marshall was unfairly unseated. He was then a good second at Kingston Blount needing the run, but then a bad second in the Members at Kimble, after which he a bad came home crippled lame with a hairline fracture, which he must have sustained early in the season. Who’s Houdini After his first run at Larkhill, I thought he would go on to win his Maiden and hopefully progress, but he then ran a terrible race at Charing and pulled up. Then, at Penshurst, he looked all over the winner at the second last when he lost Phil York.Hemade a terrible noise after that, so I sent him to Ben Brain’s (veterinary practice) for the works!He’s doinggood work now and will go back to Larkhill in November.

Justin with Molly, Sam, Horizon D'Ainay and French Symphony (all photos Caroline Exelby unless stated otherwise) In the past two seasons, Justin Brotherton has proved that he is a trainer to watch, with multiple successes from the likes of Horizon D’Ainay and Kayf Hernando. The 39-year-old, son of former rules trainer Roy, rents stable space at David Bridgwater’s Wyck Hill Farm yard, near Stow-on-the-Wold in Gloucestershire and has high hopes for the coming season. Jake Exelby paid him a visit in advance of the new campaign to watch some of his string work and school and to find out about his background in the sport, plans for his horses, and his views on point-to-pointing as it strives to attract a new, younger audience. Schooling at scenic Wyck Hill Farm On arrival, I am greeted by Justin and today’s work riders, point-to-point jockeys Sam Lee and Molly Legg. “I normally ride work myself,” laughs Justin, “But Molly and Sam come in on Wednesdays so I can have a day off! Harry Greasby (who is in his final year at university and works part-time for Max Comley) also comes in to ride and is very helpful and enthusiastic. He made me aware that Kayf Hernando was for sale.” Aside from the jockeys, Justin is quick to praise team members Lou Bannister and Scarlett Rogers, saying, “I was struggling for staff when we moved here, but Lou and Scarlett are two really good people. Lou is (professional jump jockey) Harry Bannister’s cousin, and has a great racing background, having worked for Sue and Harvey Smith among others, while Scarlett used to work for Colin Tizzard. I mustn’t forget my wife Abi!” adds Justin. “I couldn’t do it without her. She’s a residential surveyor but does all the paperwork for the yard and becomes a member of staff at the weekend. She rode Horizon D’Ainay in the Newmarket Town Plate in 2023.” The move to Wyck Hill Farm came before the start of the 2024/2025 campaign. “I’ve known David for years,” Justin tells me. “He used to ride for Dad when he trained at Elmley Castle in Worcestershire – I was at school then. When I left, I worked for Dad, then went to Sam Drinkwater’s, then David’s. I was with David for six years, and learnt loads, as it was so different to my old man’s. He chucked me in without any armbands, getting me to drive the lorry, go to the races on my own and talk to owners.” Racehorses have obviously always been in Justin’s blood, and he tells me about his grounding and ambitions. “Dad started with pointers – he won on Vulrory’s Clown, who has a race named after him at Doncaster, as a youngster – then got a licence. Though he started as a National Hunt trainer, he moved into flat racing, and most of his best horses were sprinters. I’d like to go professional, and potentially train flat horses myself, but I’m not saying it’s going to happen, and I’ll only do it when I’m ready.” Justin had 17 rides as a jockey between 2015 and 2019, mostly on his own Gold Duster, getting off the mark in his final campaign. “I wanted to be a jockey, but couldn’t do the weight, so got an amateur licence for the flat. Dad didn’t have the numbers, so I bought Gold Duster from Tim Underwood to go pointing. My Mum, Wendy, who was the glue for Dad’s training operation, was ill – she passed away in 2015 – and I got Gold Duster so she could watch me ride. We were placed several times, but my riding wasn’t as good then! I carry her hunting brooch as a lucky charm – I had it with me in every race I rode and hold it while we have a runner.” “In 2019,” Justin goes on, “I got to ride Accord. David was training him under rules but had chucked him out in a field. His brother suggested I have a go on him, so David said, ‘If you catch him, you can ride him!’ I did and remember the day because it was April 1 st . I thought I’d have a go the next season, but David told me, ‘No, this one!’, so I rode him out twice a day to get us both fit! We were second to my friend Thomas Murray on Gabrial The Great at the first Kingston Blount May meeting, we went back for the next meeting there and I thought I was booked for second again, but he winged two out and we won easily, before going to Garthorpe and winning again. That was my last ride, because Covid came the next season.” Justin winning on Accord at Kingston Blount (Neale Blackburn) “I always wanted a go at training properly myself,” continues Justin, “But couldn’t do it at David’s, as his yard was full. Abi had two horses at livery, so we rented eight boxes from Harry Wheeler – an amazing guy – at Laverton, near Broadway, where we live. One of Dad’s owners gave me a horse, then David sent me two breakers. I was also working for DJ Jeffreys because he trains near Harry’s, so Abi had to do all the mucking out. We trained from there in our first proper season (2023/2024) then moved here as we wanted an all-weather gallop.” Highlight of the season spent at Laverton was Horizon D’Ainay’s Larkhill hat-trick, which got Justin off the mark as a trainer, and Justin explained how and why he came to buy the horse. “I like maidens rated in the mid-90s from big yards, because it shows they have ability, and they’re no good to me if they’ve won! I’ve also always liked quirky horses – I used to ride the problem ones for Dad – my first technique was to work out the problem! I bought Horizon D’Ainay privately and the different way of doing things (in a small yard) suited him – he was buzzy and nervous when he came and I trained him on his own, as he was far too keen.” Horizon D'Ainay and Toby McCain-Mitchell win at Larkhill (Tim Holt) First up, we watch Molly on Horizon D’Ainay and Sam on French Symphony, who fellow rider Will Badlan – “A huge help, an owner who really understands the game, and who comes in every week to school” – bought as a six-times placed, 98-rated maiden from Ben Pauling’s yard, go three times up the all-weather gallop. “The facilities here are great,” confirms Justin. “I also take them to Martin Keighley, Richard Phillips and Fred Hutsby for variety.” (L-R) Sam and Molly canter through the morning mist Between lots, I talk to the two riders about their aims for the season. Molly is in her third year working for Tom Ellis and his wife Gina Andrews and achieved her first successes last year on Young Rich. “Wednesday is my day off, so I come to ride out here and at Fred Hutsby’s,” she explains. “As (Fred’s son) Tom has turned conditional, I’m hoping to have more rides for him this season, as well as for Gina and Tom. I’ve put together a syndicate of my family and friends and got (seven-time winner) Tigerbythetail to ride this year.” Molly and Horizon D'Ainay cool off Sam, who will have the mount on most of Justin’s horses in races, is a more hardened campaigner, with 36 winners to his name, including six last season after a two-year break to run the family farm. “I also hope to ride for Jo Priest, as well as Charlie and Fran Poste,” he confirmed. Asked about one of his mounts to watch, he laughs, “French Symphony – if his owner will let me!” Sam washes down French Symphony after work Second lot sees Molly on a Getaway mare owned by pointing stalwart Sarah Dawson and Sam riding a Jeu St Eloi – the sire of dual Lady Dudley Cup winner Jeux D’Eau – four-year-old owned by the Hobbs family, who have had success in recent seasons with the likes of Tara Storm and Kauto Riko. Molly and Sarah Dawson's Getaway mare Sam schools the Jeu St Eloi 4yo Horizon D’Ainay is owned by the Pitchfork Partnership – which comprises Justin’s sister-in-law Keeley Brain, schoolfriend Paul Smaylen, friends Mike and Emily Parrot and Mike’s mum Madeline Curtis. “They also had Kayf Hernando last season and their only dream was to have one winner,” explained Justin with a smile. “But their strike-rate in points is five from 11 and, as Horizon D’Ainay also won two area awards, all of them got a trophy that year!” His 2023/2024 flag-bearer is one of about half a dozen pointers Justin plans to run this season, although he won’t run, “Until he’s ready and the ground’s safe.” French Symphony may start in the older horse Maiden at Dunsmore, while Crystal Box could take in the bumper at Lower Machen on Sunday. Dadavic is targeting another bumper, at Larkhill in December, while Justin hopes Gladiateddi can build on his Edgcote debut. (L-R) Dadavic, a pre-trainer and Crystal Box Gladiateddi says hello Looking after owners is Justin’s key concern when I put him in the PPA’s hypothetical hot seat. “You have to get to the races early to get a good spot to picnic and watch the racing,” he tells me. “Owners should have dedicated parking with a good view of the action. Some courses are good to the owners – Larkhill give us extra passes when we ask, and Paxford always invite us into the marquee, even though I’ve never had a runner there.” “To get horses,” Justin continues in the same vein, “You’ve got to get owners. Maybe syndicate owners should pay a small annual fee to be guaranteed free entry when they have a runner. Syndicates are a great way to get into the sport, and they may become sole owners in future. It’s important to be honest and truthful with owners – I keep mine involved every step of the way, telling them even if their horse has stepped on a stone and has to miss just one day of work.” Justin has mixed views about the new race conditions for the coming season. “I didn’t think it was a good idea to remove Conditions Races (as the PPA was planning before consulting with participants in the sport) as they provide opportunities for horses who can’t win in a higher grade, but what they’ve done for novice riders, giving them more chances by extending the number of winners they can ride, and allowing them to claim in more races, is good.” Justin is a keen advocate of point-to-point bumpers, saying, “They’re a great idea. Going straight over jumps can be hard, so they give horses experience, and the shorter distance sharpens them up. They’re also good for educating future two-mile hurdlers – not every horse is a three-mile chaser.” He's also a fan of the increased use of video to promote the sport, but cautions, “The videos always seem to focus on young people, but we should also promote people who’ve been in the sport a long time, who have stories to tell and advice to share. Getting youngsters involved is positive, but we also need to cater for the older audience to keep them interested – maybe even reduce entry prices for them! In a nutshell,” concludes Justin, “The game needs to move with the times but include the past!” Asked about other potential innovations, Justin comes up with an interesting idea. “The PPA should have seminars for trainers, like they do for stewards and course officials, and like the modules you take when applying for a licence. It would teach us how to deal with situations and help us with media training – I’m rubbish at that!” Justin sees pointing as, “For young horses coming up, older horses ending their career, and jockeys of the future. Take Toby McCain Mitchell – someone else who was a massive help when I started. I’m delighted he’s doing so well as a conditional. It should be a stepping stone for everyone – trainers, bloodstock agents… even vets. (PPA Chief Veterinary Officer) Graham Potts used to be a farm vet but wanted to get into racing so started out by helping at his local point-to-points.” As I take my leave, I ask Justin the secret of his success. He pauses before admitting, “I love the science. I like finding a way to get the talent out of old monkeys like Kayf Hernando and see them progress. I don’t know what I’d do if I had big numbers, as I like to treat my horses as individuals.”

Team Wylie, with Elen on right next to Max (Caroline Exelby) Elen Wylie’s partner, Max Comley, made his name training pointers before starting to carve out a successful career under rules. 24-year-old Elen is keen to keep the pointing flag flying at their Summerhill Farm, Naunton, base and has nominated a few to watch this season. It goes without saying that she’d welcome more and that her door is always open to new owners!   Au Fleuron Formerly a 137-rated hurdler, but lost his way under rules. He’s had a wind operation this summer, and hopefully the switch back to point-to-points will rejuvenate him. Promising young rider Aimee Jones will ride him this season and he’s owned by Alison Sargeant. Jay Bee Whiskey Joint-second in the national Leading Horse Championship in 2023/2024 having won five consecutive races for Max and I. After a short spell under rules, we’ve bought him back to go pointing and hopefully continue his winning ways. He’ll be targeted at Conditions Races and Ladies Opens and is for sale to stay in the yard. Jay Bee Whiskey (blue colours, right) winning at Alnwick (Grace Beresford) Kaproyale A prolific point-to-point winner who needs no introduction. Nothing went right for him last year under rules, so we’ll map out a spring campaign for him between the flags, where he seems happiest. He gets on very well with James King and is sure to retain his ability after a good break for his brilliant owners Katie and Tim Sunderland. Kaproyale (grey) en route to victory for owners Katie and Tim Sunderland (Neale Blackburn) 3yo by Capri out of Ahoy Delilah A big three-year-old who I’m sweet on and who’ll run after Christmas in a Young Horse Maiden to learn the ropes. From the same family as Ahoy Senor, hopefully he can follow in his relatives’ footsteps. Owned by SW Racing.

This year, The Harkaway Club celebrates 100 years at Chaddesley Corbett. Sunday 28 th December marks the centenary and, to recognise this milestone, the Harkaway Club is giving you the chance to win a pair of tickets to the Cheltenham Festival on Wednesday 11 th March 2026, Ladies Day.   To enter, visit pointingwm.co.uk and complete the form with the answer to the question below and your full name and email address.   WHICH 2021 CHELTENHAM FOXHUNTER WINNER WAS BEATEN INTO SECOND AT THE HARKAWAY CLUB MEETING IN DECEMBER 2021, BY THE 2023 CHELTENHAM FOXHUNTER WINNER?   For details of the West Mercian Area Season Ticket, visit pointingwm.co.uk Action from the Harkaway Club fixture (Graham Fisher) Offer closes midnight 28/11/25. Winner drawn at random and notified w/c 01/12/25. 18yo+, one per household.

Call Me Early   Had a productive first season with us (winning three of his four point-to-points) and is a classy type of horse with a good turn of foot. We ran him in the Aintree bumper but that didn't work out but he’s still eligible for Restricteds with a penalty, and a Hunter Chase towards the end of the season should Hopefully be on his radar. We’re aiming for the first Horseheath meeting. Call Me Early solos to victory at High Easter   Cheytac   Finished the season much better than he started it. He was very sick after travelling over from Ireland, and consequently bled badly first time out at Horseheath. It took him a while to get over that and he really lost his confidence but was then second to (prolific winner) El Capitaine before winning his next two. Needs to brush up his jumping but he's a big scopey horse who can only improve with time.  Cheytac (right) wins at Fakenham   Entity Of Substanz   Bought privately out of Dan Skelton's during the summer. He has some decent form under rules without winning, so he's still eligible for Maidens and is hopefully a horse who can progress through the grades. From the same family as Eva's Oscar and Solomon Grey – his relations have tended to improve for fences and he's not jumped any yet. Another targeting the first Horseheath meeting.    Fumet D'Oudairies   Back from injury. He needs no introduction, having been a phenomenal little horse for us (11 wins from 14 starts in points and Hunter Chases) and, if he never wins another race it won't matter, but the form he's in suggests he still retains all his enthusiasm and hopefully plenty of ability. He will be ready to run around Christmas. Fumet D'Oudairies has won five times at Horseheath The Den Master   A 4yo we thought a hell of a lot of last season. He was big, raw and weak still and – in retrospect – we shouldn’t have run him, but we did, and he was fourth at Buckfastleigh. We still think he has huge potential and the plan is to go to the early Garthorpe meeting. All photography c. Graham Bishop

The Station Yard operation run by Francesca and Charlie Poste is one of the leading point-to-point stables in the country with nearly 100 winners in the last five seasons – and has long struck a successful balance between producing young horses to sell on to the professional game, progressing through the grades with ex-rules maidens and winning with more mature types. With Francesca currently occupied with their newborn, Isaac, Charlie talked through five to watch in the early part of the 2025/2026 campaign. Guseakie   A horse we recruited from Irish points. He’s had four starts and, while the form doesn’t amount to much on the face of it, he was fourth on his third run, getting a rating of 73. He was favourite when disappointing last time, but had four quick runs, having not started until April. We like to buy Irish pointers early and give them a good break and, with Leading Light as his sire, he moves well and has size and scope. We’re looking forward to getting started with him and he’s for sale to stay in the yard (contact Charlie on 07879 452690).   Jasmin Des Blins   Another ex-Irish pointer we picked up in the summer with the help of David Phelan. Had eight starts in points, was unlucky not to win one, and his latest run was third in a Maiden Hurdle – the winner has been second in a listed race since, so the form looks good. He’s a big scopey horse who moves well and has benefitted from a break and we’d like to think a Maiden should be a formality. The plan is to start before Christmas and hopefully progress through the grades to Novice Hunter Chases. He’s been bought for the same owners as Kilfilum Woods, plus Liz Inman, and we hope he’ll give them as much fun as ‘Woody’.   Kilfilum Woods   Had a great first season for us, having been bought out of Paul Webber’s yard. He won five, but also had a couple of bumps in the road and was probably unfortunate not to win more. He did a tremendous job, progressing from a Maiden on the first day of the season to winning a Huntingdon Hunter Chase, before unseating at the first in the John Corbet. He’s come back in good form and we may look at a race in the new 0-110 ratings series before Opens then Hunter Chasing in the spring. I don’t think he’s reached his ceiling yet and, fingers crossed, he can be a flagship horse for us. Kilfilum Woods en route to Restricted success at Larkhill (Tim Holt)   Kneel Diamond   Only six, and had a frustrating start. We bought him as a sales horse and he ran well first time out as a four-year-old, but picked up an injury and had to have a year off. We put him in the Picnic Partnership, nursed him back to full fitness and weren’t sure whether to run him when it was dry last season, but decided to take him to Edgcote, who do a great job watering, in May, where he showed a good attitude and some quality to get up after the last. From what we see at home, he’s capable of going well beyond that, and he’ll start in a Restricted before Christmas – we hope he can progress to Hunter Chases by next spring. He’ll again run for the Picnic Partnership, and we always welcome new members (contact Charlie as above). Kneel Diamond wins at Edgcote (Neale Blackburn)   Major Dundee   A lovely horse to have in the yard. A former Midlands National winner rated 137 at his peak, also placed in the Scottish National and last ran in the Eider Chase. Hemmings Racing manager Michael Meagher suggested to his owners that a spell pointing and Hunter Chasing may rejuvenate him and we’re grateful for their support, having had some luck for them in recent seasons – it’s great to have winners in these famous colours and hopefully this horse can carry on that trend. He’s cantering and would want cut in the ground, but nothing too soft. He’ll start in an Open before Christmas, then maybe the Walrus Hunter Chase at Haydock Park could be a target if he’s back on track.

Leading point-to-point bookmaker Mark Hill has issued the following prices for the forthcoming season:   Champion Male Rider 4/5       James King 2/1       Will Biddick 4/1       Josh Newman 25/1     Bar James King, bidding to retain his title (Carl Evans) Champion Female Rider 2/5       Gina Andrews 2/1       Izzie Hill 25/1     Bar   Gina Andrews, odds-on for a 12th championship (Carl Evans) Mark can be contacted on 07831 293363.

In the first of a mini-series featuring South Midlands trainers, Alan Hill - who leads the way among current keepers nationwide (441 winners and counting) - gives the lowdown on five of his prospects for the coming season. Jongleur D’Ainay   Co-owned by me and your correspondent. We were full of excitement going into last season after his Wadebridge win in 2023/2024 and we got him to the races at Chipley Park, but the meeting was called off with him standing in the lorry park. He then suffered a problem that curtailed his season but he’s been back in training for a while and will be out early, somewhere with cut in the ground. We worked him this morning and he cantered well and is in good order. If we’ve got the horse we had two years ago and are being greedy, we may aim for the Cheltenham Intermediate or Stratford Restricted Final. Learntalot   The pin-up boy of the yard at the moment. Three out of his four runs last year were very good – he’s no good in a match (!) – and we’re over the moon with him. He’ll probably start off at Friars Haugh again, as he’ll be ready by then, before going Hunter Chasing. I’ve been told by co-owner Rodney Mann that we won’t be going for either Foxhunters and that the big aim is Stratford again. He won the Restricted Final there in 2024 and was second in the Horse & Hound last season. Reel Much Fun   A maiden who we’ve bought for the Cranfield family. We got him from Doncaster in July and he’s had two runs in Irish points, finishing fourth and seventh – the second run came too quickly. He’s a nice type of horse, who may run over Christmas or early in the New Year, possibly in East Anglia, if things keep going well with him. Soldier Unknown   We were really excited about him after his form in 2023/2024, and pleased after his win first time out at Wadebridge, where he had Jet Smart in third. However, he had wind issues after that. An operation helped him win at Kimble, but the problems recurred at Edgcote, so he’s had a second operation over the summer. I hope we’ll see the potential we thought he had after his first season with us and he’ll run over Christmas. We’ll be looking for soft ground. Also co-owned by Rodney Mann. The Dancing Tree   Won a bumper and placed over hurdles for Gavin Cromwell, but his form tailed off and (son) Joe bought him at Doncaster in May for the Woodway partnership. He’s another who’s well forward and will start early and may go for the Restricted at Lower Machen on the first day of the season. He should appreciate good ground, which will suit his speed.

WRITTEN BY: JAKE EXELBY Since his move to Buscot, near Faringdon, James Henderson has consistently been one of the leading owner-trainers in the South Midlands Area. Last season, despite running just two horses, he again scooped the area award for the leading trainer with five horses or fewer and son George was overall leading area male jockey – a remarkable feat as he only had six rides (three wins and three placings) all season! Pax   With Bloodstone retired, we only have Pax (who won twice and was second twice from his four starts) to run at the moment. However, George and I are fired up and going to the sales to get another! Pax was a lucky winner of a Maiden (at Siddington) but hopefully he will be a stronger horse this season after his summer break as – last year – he had been on the go for a while in Ireland before coming over. James (second right) and George celebrate after Pax takes his Maiden (Alun Sedgmore)