Latest from Horse & Hound in Point-to-point

‘You couldn’t make it up!’ 75-year-old rider denied charity win owing to broken stirrup raises serious safety concerns

Eleanor Jones — Sun, 12 Apr 2026 16:44:21 +0000

A 75-year-old rider whose stirrup broke during a race at an Easter point-to-point said it was ironic that his first visit to an Injured Jockeys Fund centre was a result of his fundraising for the charity.

Mark Smith joked that “you couldn’t make it up” after his fall from Shot Tower (Bob) in the hunt race at the Old Berks Hunt meeting at Lockinge on Easter Monday (6 April). But he is concerned about the safety of his stirrups, which he bought two weeks before the race. One of them broke with four fences to go, as Mark and Bob came round the corner into the back straight.

“If you come off at a fence, it’s because you’ve come to it wrong or something and you’re prepared, but to hit the ground at 30mph going round the corner, it came out of the bloody blue,” he told H&H.

Mark and Bob had been leading the field, but Mark said his plan was to get a lead from one of the others for a couple of fences, and then pass them on the run-in.

“We came into the back straight – and then we didn’t,” he said. “I’d been unseated, is what the commentator said, but it wasn’t quite as simple as that.

“I suppose it’s far more dramatic if it’s one stirrup than both; you see riders sometimes kick both feet out as you’re better off with none than one. But at least at a fence you’re almost expecting something, not when you’re just coming round a corner.

(Image credit: creditUnknown)

“When you’ve been falling off horses for 70 years, instinctively you tend to do the right thing and once you feel you’re going, you don’t fight it. I daresay 40 years ago, my reactions might have been quicker but I might have tried to hang on round his neck, dropped off and he’d have gone over the top of me.”

Mark said he thought it must have been the leather that gave way, but then saw the stirrup had broken at the thinnest point, on the top. A picture of the other stirrup shows a crack in the same place.

“They’re brightly coloured, so they’re aimed at a child’s market – but they’re dangerous to children,” he said. “I want them off the market.”

The seller of the stirrups told H&H they are unbranded and were only for sale via his platform.

He added: “We were really shocked to see the stirrup had cracked.

“For Mark’s peace of mind, we won’t be selling that item any more until further testing has been done. We have also donated £500 to the charity Mark was racing for, plus gift aid – the amount Mark would have won if he won the race.

“We will ask that the manufacturer do more rigorous tests going forward when making products like this.”

Mark said the seller, as his only point of contact for the product, had done all he could. He would now like a blanket ban on this type of stirrup unless manufacturers can prove products are safe, as there is no safety standard to which stirrups must adhere – which he would like to see changed.

“I can’t let this lie as if it happened to anyone else, I’d never forgive myself,” he said.

Mark said the race, and the winter’s training beforehand, was worth it; it gave him something to aim for as well as raising an estimated total of over £5,000 for the IJF including donations at the meeting.

The fundraising page is still open

“It kept me out of mischief – and that old horse was magic,” he said. “Apparently when he stopped, he looked back and said ‘Oh s***, where’s the old man gone? He was there a minute ago’!”

“I’m a bit sore but I’ve ridden five this morning,” he added, the day after the race. “It’s ironic that the first time I’ve had to go to Oaksey House [to be checked over] was when I was fundraising for the IJF – you couldn’t make it up.

“They’d done a brilliant job of the ground [at Lockinge] – and I said that even before I hit it! – but the more I thought about it, I thought supposing I’d been a kid; there could have been a fatality.”

Mark’s fundraising page for the IJF is still open, and on Friday (10 April) Mark confirmed that he and Bob and going to try again, at the Wales Area Club point-to-point meeting, at Lower Machen, Newport on 19 April, as he said he would rather “finish on a satisfactory note”.

Asked if he was looking forward to it, he said: “Bob is! And in my experience, happy, confident horses make happy, confident riders.”

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‘I’ve never been this fit’: 75-year-old to ride at point-to-point 60 years after his first

Eleanor Jones — Fri, 03 Apr 2026 12:36:13 +0000

A rider and trainer who first rode at a point-to-point 60 years ago is to do so again – at the age of 75.

Mark Smith, who has ridden under Rules, evented and showjumped internationally and team-chased and ridden in hunt races bitless, is taking part in the hunt race at the Old Berks Hunt point-to-point meeting on Easter Monday (6 April).

Mark is riding for the Injured Jockeys Fund; his JustGiving page showed well over £1,500 by 1 April and he hopes the total will increase.

“I’m incredibly lucky never to have needed them in 50-odd years of riding but it’s putting something back into it,” Mark told H&H. “And it’s not just helping the champion jockeys, the people at the top, they help everyone in the business.”

Mark said the idea for this race came last November.

“It was when it got dark,” he said. “I hate riding horses in the peeing rain and the freezing cold, with nothing to aim for, so I thought I’d have a go with this point-to-point job, plus it coincided with it being 60 years since I first did it.

“I needed a challenge to aim for, and I’m incredibly lucky to be able to do it at my age. I’ve never been this age before! So I don’t know what people my age feel like but they’re not doing what I’m doing.

“I know if I stop, I won’t start again at my age; I had a knee op last summer and knew if I sat on a sofa for three months, I’d never get on a horse again. I’m incredibly lucky to be where I am and I can do something silly to raise money.”

Jumping through hoops

Mark Smith said if he were at the British Horseracing Authority, “I’d make me jump through a lot of hoops to do this”.

“And they sure have!” he said, adding that he has had some special silks made, with hoofprints on the front and back.

“When you have a fall racing, it’s the horses coming behind that damage you,” he said. “It’s a bit of fun but obviously I’ve stacked the cards in my favour. I’ve got the right horse, I hope, I’ve done the preparation; I’ve never been this fit in my life. There was a suggestion at one point that I was going to give up drinking but I didn’t go to those kind of extremes!”

The horse Mark will be riding is called Shot Tower, or Bob to his friends, and Mark described him as “the kindest, most lovely horse you could possibly have”.

“He’s a lovely gentleman, and hopefully he’ll be enough of a gentleman to look after me on Monday!” he said.

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‘The family horse of a lifetime’: homebred star who made Aintree dreams come true retired sound and happy

Lucy Elder — Mon, 16 Mar 2026 20:14:37 +0000

Latenightpass, the family horse “in every sense” who made dreams come true, has retired sound and happy aged 13 following a final spin at the Cheltenham Festival.

The gelding, known at home as Bobby, was bred and owned by Pippa Ellis, trained by her son, Tom, and ridden predominantly by her daughter-in-law, record-breaking amateur jockey Gina Andrews.

His 2022 Aintree Foxhunters win was the crowning moment in his lengthy racing career. Two years later, he gave Gina her first spin in the Randox Grand National itself, cruising up among the leaders to the final fence and finishing 12th.

In total, he jumped 120 fences on the Grand National course during his six starts in various races at Aintree, ran at the Cheltenham Festival three times, and won 13 of his 38 races.

“The horse of a lifetime. Bob has run his final race and what a story he’s given us,” said Tom.

“A true family horse in every sense. A career defined by courage and consistency. 120 fences jumped on the Grand National course. A Randox Foxhunters’ Chase and a Glenfarclas Crystal Cup Cross Country Chase [at Cheltenham]. Toughness personified.

“Thank you Bob, for the memories and all at Heath Barn who have been part of your story.”

After success pointing and hunter chasing, Latenightpass spent time with Dan Skelton in the 2023/24 season to run under Rules. His cross-country win at Cheltenham in December opened up the possibility of contending the Grand National that season, so champion point-to-point handler Tom then brought forward plans to take out a professional training licence to saddle the little horse in the world’s most famous race.

“If he were human, he would be very eccentric, quite hyperactive, very happy to be out and would want to say ‘hi’ to everyone. He is just a lovely person. My niece is six years old and she can lead him round the yard after he has schooled, he’s a legend,” said Tom at the time.

Latenightpass, pictured closest to the left (red and white silks), in the 2024 Randox Grand National. (Image credit: Alamy Stock Photo)

Gina rode him in 35 of his races, her sister Bridget won a hunter chase on him at Warwick and finished fourth in the 2021 Foxhunter Chase at Cheltenham during Covid rules and their brother Jack also rode him in the Topham Chase at Aintree last year.

Gina said Latenightpass trained for eight consecutive seasons “without a single lame step”.

“He gave me the best day of my career winning the Aintree Foxhunters’. Made my dreams come true in the Grand National itself. Never failed to complete around Aintree or Cheltenham and only twice came home without me,” she said.

“No words will ever describe what this horse has done for me in my career. A truly special horse. He gave me moments I will cherish for ever. Retired most importantly safe and sound. Thank you Pippa Ellis for breeding him. Thank you my husband Tom for training him so perfectly. Most importantly thank you Bob.”

Latenightpass finished fifth in his final race, the Glenfarclas Cross Country Chase (11 March) at the 2026 Cheltenham Festival.

From the archives: ’A dream come true’

An extract from H&H’s interview with Gina Andrews in summer 2022, following her Foxhunters’ win with Latenightpass…

“The highlight of this season has been the highlight of my entire career, and that was Latenightpass winning the Foxhunters’ at Aintree. That was a dream come true. I used to think I’d rather win at the Cheltenham Festival,” says Gina, who rode Domesday Book to victory in the 2017 Kim Muir.

“But Dad always said to me, ‘Riding a winner at Aintree is better than Cheltenham’. I always thought that’s because he hadn’t ridden a winner at the Cheltenham Festival, and I had.

“If I’d had a Cheltenham Festival win on Latenightpass or one of our own horses, maybe it would have been even more special, but I think the fact that my mother-in-law bred him and we’ve trained him at home, it was just such a family affair.”

Family is the golden thread that weaves through both the horses and humans’ lives at Heath Barn. Gina’s dad, Simon Andrews, won the 1988 Foxhunters’ on Newnham, and Latenightpass was the result of falling into breeding almost “by accident”.

His dam, Latenightdip, won three times with Tom in the saddle. In 2011, she sustained a career-ending injury, so the family decided to put her in foal to Passing Glance. The result was Bobby.

“He’s hilarious – he is very vocal and he likes to go out first. He shouts until he is ridden in the morning,” says Gina, adding that he has a particularly special relationship with Kim Hopley, who does everything with him.

“We keep saying, ‘When did he get so good?’ because he took ages to win a maiden. I think when you’ve bred them, you just sort of don’t let yourself believe that they are going to be as good as he is.”

Bobby was more a Harry Kane – famously released from Arsenal for lack of height and pace – than a youth academy star; and it took six attempts before he finally crossed the line in front.

“Once he started winning, he got his confidence up and he’s turned out to be such a good little horse. I say little, because he is – there isn’t a lot of him. I rode him out the morning of the Foxhunters’ and managed to get an interview on ITV with Luke Harvey, he nearly got me off in the process – he was absolutely wild. I had a good feeling from then on,” said Gina.

“I walked the course quietly with my best friend Charity, she came with me the first year I ever rode there. The race itself just all went to plan. I like to have a bit of daylight on him as he is only little, so you wouldn’t want to get bumped by anything bigger. As soon as we got to the Melling Road, I thought ‘I’m probably going to win now’. It was so surreal. You spend your whole career dreaming of winning a race like that. I don’t think it’s even sunk in now, really.

“An hour after the race I couldn’t even remember my interview with Alice Plunkett on TV. I had no idea what I’d said as there were just so many emotions.”

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‘You made dull mornings seem bright’: shock and sadness after jockey’s sudden death

Eleanor Jones — Mon, 09 Mar 2026 11:59:39 +0000

A minute’s silence was held before racing on Saturday (7 March) in tribute to amateur jockey Sam Lee.

Tributes have been paid to the 27-year-old amateur rider, who died on 6 March.

In a joint statement, the Injured Jockeys Fund and Point-to-Point Authority said: “The point-to-point world is devastated to hear of the sudden death of Sam Lee on Friday, 6 March. Our deepest sympathies go out to Sam’s family and his many friends.

“Sam, 27, was a hugely popular figure on the point-to-point scene and his tragic death is a huge shock for everyone.

“This weekend’s point-to-point race meetings will be holding a minute’s silence ahead of racing in memory of Sam.”

Sam rode four winners under Rules, including a listed handicap hurdle at Cheltenham in November 2019, and many in pointing. He was based with Francesca and Charlie Poste of Station Yard Racing, who said: “Sam, you had become a huge part of our team over the last six months.

“You were a larger than life character; you made the dull mornings seem bright. Always full of energy, immaculately turned out, and impeccably well mannered. You loved the horses, you were kind and generous, and most of all you wanted our team to do well.

“It certainly is going be a very sad place without you.”

British Horseracing Authority chief executive Brant Dunshea said the racing world is shocked and upset.

“Amateur jockeys are an integral part of our sport, its community, and its rich history,” he said. “Every jockey, professional or amateur, will be mourning today the death of a colleague and friend, as will everyone across British racing.

“The sport has services in place to provide care and support to those close to Sam. That support is available to everyone in our sport, and anyone affected by this issue is encouraged to call them. Our thoughts are with his friends and family.”

Whip for safety only in new series designed to improve inexperienced riders’ skills

Lucy Elder — Sat, 10 Jan 2026 10:54:36 +0000

British point-to-pointing will trial a new “hands and heels” series this season with the aim of improving inexperienced jockeys’ riding skills.

Strict whip rules are already in place in point-to-pointing. “Hands and heels” means whips will be carried, but only used for “clear and unequivocal safety purposes”.

The series had been due to start at Larkhill on 4 January, which was frozen off, and will now start at Friars Haugh on 18 January. It is aimed at novice riders and designed to benefit rider education and training, encouraging strong fundamental skills, balance and horsemanship in races.

Point-to-Point Authority (PPA) chief executive Paul Miller told H&H he hopes the series will be well supported.

“It’s a joint initiative between the Jockey Club and PPA and re-enforces pointing’s position as the grass roots of British jump racing,” he said. “We’ve talked a lot about point-to-pointing being the ideal learning ground for riders at the start of their career, and this initiative shows we are serious about it.

“Many new riders struggle with balance when using the whip, as often they are using it for the first time in an actual race, so by removing this option we hope it will improve their riding skills.”

The series conditions state that every rider must carry a whip, although its use is strictly limited. Riders may only use the whip on the horse’s shoulder in the backhand position, with both hands on the reins, when approaching an obstacle, or for clear and unequivocal safety purposes. PPA examples of these safety purposes include when a horse continues to hang significantly although the rider is visibly attempting to straighten it with the reins, or to prevent a horse from running out.

Riders will accumulate points for wins and placings and a national hands and heels champion will be crowned at the PPA national awards in June.

Sanctions for rule-breaking are on a scale and include fines, being stripped of points and not being allowed to continue in the series.

Point-to-point trainer and former jockey Claire Hart told H&H it “is a great initiative”.

“It brings pointing up to speed and in line with National Hunt racing, and [shows that it can] continue to teach and emphasise the importance of developing a skill set before waving the stick around,” she said.

“Pointing is becoming more relevant as the development place for high quality horses and jockeys, so I think the series is fantastic to promote this.”

Jockey coach, trainer and Point to Point Owners and Riders Association chairman Charlie Poste said it “is an excellent new idea”.

He added it is “hopefully going to tie in even greater our relationship with professional National Hunt racing, as an academy providing young riders with a platform to move into the professional ranks and beyond”.

“We hope it’s well supported. It’s trying to promote the core skills and excellent riding, which is what we want to see within pointing,” he said.

New young horse bonus series ‘has a double benefit’

Other new initiatives this season include the GB Pointing bonus young horse maiden series, and the 0-100 rated series.

Mr Miller said the GB Pointing bonus is part of a wider +£4m programme aimed at increasing British foal numbers and improving the quality of British-trained horses running under Rules. Annual funding of £250,000 is provided by the Horserace Betting Levy Board and each race is sponsored by Tattersalls or Goffs auction houses.

“It really solidifies the part pointing plays as a development path for young horses and has a double benefit. While it’s hoped some big future stars will emerge from the series, it should also see an increase in the number of young horses staying in pointing,” he said.

“The scheme will last a number of years to give it momentum and assess its success, but the early signs are way ahead of anything we’d hoped for at this early stage”

To be eligible, horses must win one of 15 GB Pointing Bonus young horse maiden series fixtures held this season, and go on to have success in a qualifying race under Rules during the next two core jump seasons. The bonus payments will be £25,000 for a British-bred horse and £15,000 for a horse bred elsewhere.

The 0-100 series is targeted at horses running under Rules “who might have become a bit uncompetitive due to their handicap mark”.

“The slightly slower pace, smaller fences and different training regime can really revitalise some horses,” he said. “The early signs are good for the series, although we can already see some tweaks are needed for next season. If the series proves successful, we will potentially look at expanding it or making it a race-type in its own right.”

Visit the GB Pointing website for more information on the “hands and heels” series and full criteria for the GB Pointing bonus young horse maiden series

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Britain’s most successful point-to-point rider retires after +700 winners

Stephanie Bateman — Mon, 05 Jan 2026 18:45:59 +0000

Will Biddick, Britain’s most successful point-to-point rider, announced his retirement from the saddle during the Thurlow point-to-point meeting at Horseheath (31 December), bringing an end to a remarkable career spanning almost 23 years.

Cornishman Will rode a total of 705 winners, including a British record 623 point-to-point victories. He was crowned men’s national champion on eight occasions, a record he shares with David Turner, and set the benchmark for wins in a single season when riding 68 winners in 2014/15.

Renowned for his style and consistency, Will enjoyed long-standing associations with the Barber family and achieved major success in hunters’ chases, notably winning the Punchestown Champion Hunters’ Chase twice and the Foxhunters’ Chase at Aintree in 2023. He also recorded a Cheltenham Festival success as a conditional jockey in 2009.

Largely injury-free throughout his career, Will now focuses on training and producing young horses from his base near Yeovil, combining point-to-point training with breaking and pre-training operations.

Will Biddick retires: “Other things have taken over”

Will said: “It was completely my decision. I wasn’t forced to stop – I’m not injured, not crocked, not anything like that. It’s just a natural progression. When I was in my riding heyday, I didn’t have the business, I didn’t have a family – now there are other things in my life that have taken over.

“Point-to-point riding isn’t something you do at 50%; it’s a full-time mental and physical commitment, and as soon as you start questioning that, you’ve no business being out there. I always said to myself that when that moment came, I’d walk away – and I did, while I’m still fit and healthy and on my own terms.

“I’ll always miss certain rides or races, but not enough to want to do it all year round. I’ve had huge satisfaction in recent years training winners ridden by other people, and that still gets the heart going just as much.

“I’m not leaving the sport – I’ve still got the yard, the pointers and the pre-breakers – it’s just a different chapter. I’ve had 23 brilliant years, some absolute glory days, and I’ve come out of it in one piece. It felt like the right time to step aside and move on.”

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‘Young, keen and mad to get going’ vet student and amateur jockey Paddy Barlow on balancing it all – and winning

Alex Robinson — Wed, 31 Dec 2025 09:15:44 +0000

Paddy Barlow is on a roll. The talented amateur jockey has kicked off his 2025/2026 season riding multiple point-to-point winners, posting three victories from six starts by mid-December.

The 24-year-old, who hails from prime pointing stock on both sides of his family, is also in his final year of training to be a vet at Nottingham University. Saying life is busy for him would be an understatement, but Paddy is thoroughly enjoying the ride.

“I’m just trying to make the most of it all; you never know what might happen tomorrow,” said Paddy.

Paddy grew up hunting and attending Pony Club, starting on the racing field aged 12 before progressing into point-to-pointing aged 16. His debut ride was at Eaton Hall aboard Western Promise, a ride he picked up from Gary Hanmer. He finished fourth.

“I had intended to start the season before, but I tore my ACL and then broke a kneecap, so that put me out of action,” Paddy explained. “By the time I got out I was so revved to get going. It took me three years to ride a winner, though!”

Paddy’s first victory came on Irish-bred Cotton Rock at Sheriff Hutton, post-pandemic. On his return from a stint Flat racing in Jersey, Paddy hit it off with the quirky mare Cullin Hills.

He explains: “She is an amazing mare, though no one really wanted to ride her due to her track record; she’d run into the trees at Sheriff Hutton. One day, I got a message from Will Milburn asking if I’d ride her the following day at Duncker Park. He probably thought to ask me as I was young, keen and mad to get going!

“She ended up winning seven or more and finishing as champion horse in 2022/2023. She wasn’t the horse with the most ability, but she tried the hardest; and she was tough as old boots.”

At Cheltenham in April, Cullin Hills was just pipped in the mares’ hunter chase, almost securing a double for Paddy, who headed the intermediate final with Stan Rawlins’ Crawter, the win he notes as his career highlight so far.

Paddy rode I See You Well to win the Betfair Exchange Amateur Jockeys’ Handicap Chase at Sandown Park, but has no desire to turn professional (Image credit: creditUnknown)

This season, Paddy’s first title came at Badbury Rings with Go Sacre Go. He ran in the colours of his late great-aunt Annie Tory, who sadly passed away just days prior to the race.

“It was a very emotional day for everyone involved,” Paddy said.

“Fingers crossed I can keep this run going for as long as I can. I’m a true amateur and have no desire to be a professional so I just want to keep enjoying it while riding nice horses. I’ve had a lot of friends stop due to injury, or even worse things can happen. I try not to overthink it; I tend to ride better. Perhaps I’d like to aim for a Foxhunter at some point.”

Paddy recently passed the finals of his veterinary exams and will qualify in May.

“It’s the perfect role for me as it gives me lots of time to play ponies! I’ve made contacts and met lots of people in both pointing and in the vet world. I juggled it all very badly at first, but I’ve now managed to find the balance; flat out at uni in the week, riding out on spare mornings and racing every weekend.”

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From ‘the worst day’ to victory – fairytale result for connections of Aintree Foxhunters’ winner

Gemma Redrup — Thu, 03 Apr 2025 16:47:25 +0000

The 2025 Randox Aintree Foxhunters’ Open Hunter Chase went the way of one of its most local participants on the opening day of the Grand National meeting at Aintree Racecourse (3 April). This race is a huge goal for many amateur jockeys, trainers and owners of point-to-point horses.

The winner, Gracchus De Balme, is trained in nearby Cheshire by Joe O’Shea and was today ridden by Huw Edwards. Together they put in a stunning display of jumping around one circuit of the famous Grand National fences, virtually leading from start to finish.

“He jumped and travelled; I kept filling him up the whole way and he’s seen it out well – it’s brilliant,” said Huw, who was overcome with emotion following this victory aboard the nine-year-old gelding, owned by Derek Malam.

“The start was a bit messy [a false start] but he travels and jumps well so he took me there, and he was spot-on the rest of the way. I could hear them coming, but I was too scared to have a look, really. He didn’t feel tired and he just kept finding.”

Second-placed Jet Plane, who was ridden by Jack Andrews and trained by Dan Skelton, headed Gracchus De Balme at the Elbow, but the latter bravely fought back to win by a length at odds of 22/1.

Gracchus De Balme started life in Ireland and was trained by Joseph O’Brien under Rules before he was bought for £12,000 in an online auction by Joe in 2024. He won his British pointing debut at Knightwick Races in Worcestershire last November and Joe’s head girl said after that victory that a crack at the Aintree Foxhunters’ was a possible target.

“I ride out for Joe most days and he does so well with his horses,” said Huw. “This horse was cheap and to have come and done this – it’s brilliant.”

Soon after that victory at Knightwick, Hannah suffered a serious fall on the gallops at home, which knocked her out and resulted in a broken back requiring emergency surgery.

“It was the worst day of my life,” said Hannah after Gracchus De Balme’s Aintree Foxhunters’ win. “But this horse winning like that is unbelievable and a great achievement. Honestly it’s so emotional.”

Trainer Joe O’Shea saddled Cousin Pascal to victory in the same race in 2021 when it was held behind closed doors, owing to Covid restrictions, and, echoing Hannah’s thoughts in November, he said this race had been the target for Gracchus De Balme.

“When Hannah had her accident on the gallops, I said to her ‘I’ll win the Foxhunters’ for you, don’t you worry’,” said Joe. “The right horse won and the money was on. Once he went past me at the Grand National start, I said to Hannah, ‘we’ve won this’.

“This is better than four years ago. Where we are in Cheshire, everyone is a hunting person and it was a shame there was nobody here then as it was a Covid year. This is what we missed. We are going to make up for it. We’ve won in front of our home crowd.”

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Horse bought for £1 gives 58-year-old jockey his 408th winner

Alex Robinson — Tue, 01 Apr 2025 11:04:23 +0000

There were celebrations for connections of Definite Dilemma at the Crawley & Horsham point-to-point fixture at Parham in West Sussex (29 March). Trainer Ella Gillings was delighted as the Coveney Carrington family’s 12-year-old by Definite Article finished first past the post in the mixed open with 58-year-old Phil York in the saddle.

Ella paid National Hunt jockey Niall Houlihan £1 for Definite Dilemma four years ago.

“He’d had time off after an injury so I took a chance on him on Niall’s recommendation,” said Ella, of the gelding whose winning tally marks three from four this season. “He’s a proper pointer who loves to gallop. He keeps getting better and better.”

Ella said she was not overly confident heading in, owing to the going.

“He’s a soft-ground horse so I thought it might be a bit quick for him today, but they’d done a good job of getting plenty of water on the course so there was plenty of bounce,” she said. “When Yorkie hit the front, he looked over his shoulder so I knew we were OK! Definite Dilemma and Yorkie are like two peas in a pod.”

Ella added that this horse’s preparation has not been ideal, as she is expecting a baby.

“We’re a tiny team. We train on a sheep farm and don’t have a gallop or even a hot tap. I’m also 20 weeks’ pregnant so he hasn’t done a lot of work since his win at Penshurst a couple of weeks ago – he was quite fresh!”

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‘I never thought she would be a jockey’: rider proves father wrong after completing 100 races

Gemma Redrup — Wed, 12 Feb 2025 16:30:57 +0000

Racehorse trainer Graeme McPherson and his daughter, Eliza McPherson, experienced a full circle moment at Heythrop point-to-point, when Eliza rode in her 100th pony race at Cocklebarrow, Gloucestershire on Sunday, 26 January, before hanging up her pony racing boots.

The talented youngster turns 16 on 20 March and has ambitions to become a professional Flat jockey having clocked 24 winners on ponies.

But rewind to 21 March 2009, the day after Eliza was born, and Graeme was adamant his daughter wouldn’t have a future in the saddle.

“At the time, I was training point-to-pointers and I had just trained a winner at the Siddington meeting called Rein A Pedre, who went on to win at Cheltenham later that year,” he said. “More importantly, my daughter Eliza was born the day before we had the winner and I jokingly said in an interview to Horse & Hound that mother and daughter were doing well, but as a 10lb baby, there was no way Eliza would ever be a jockey. How wrong I was!”

Eliza now has her sights set on securing an amateur jockey licence to ride on the Flat having enjoyed a very successful pony racing career.

“Eliza has always been pony-mad; she won her first pony race aged nine, on a 12.2hh called Crofthill Montague, and has progressed through the ranks since then,” said Graeme. “I’m not sure there are many, if any, other girls out there who have ridden in 100 pony races.

“The boarding school Eliza attends is very good at allowing her out at the weekends to race and Will Kennedy has been a great help at jockey coaching her.”

Graeme admits that he gets “very nervous” watching his daughter race-ride.

“I feel far more nervous watching her racing than I do watching one of my chasers go three miles around Aintree,” he laughs.

In a lovely gesture by organisers to Eliza, they presented her with a commemorative picture containing the names of the ponies who have carried her to various victories – Little Galway Girl, Madame Mimi, She’s A Lady, Mag Earle, Crofthill Montague and Buddys Girl.

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‘He still loves racing’: Grade One winner makes connections proud in new sphere

Gemma Redrup — Tue, 04 Feb 2025 12:04:40 +0000

A 13-year-old gelding who “still loves racing” and who helped his previous trainer through dark times has made a winning point-to-point debut in his new home.

Summerville Boy and Thomas Easterby won the men’s open at the York & Ainsty & West of Yore meeting at Aksham Bryan College in Yorkshire on 2 February.

The horse had enjoyed considerable success under Rules with both Tom George and Henry de Bromhead, including winning the Supreme Novices’ hurdle at the 2018 Cheltenham Festival with the former.

“I’ve had quite a few horses from Roger Brookhouse [the previous owner of Summerville Boy], including Black Op, and have become good friends with him,” said trainer Charles Clark, whose wife Emma now owns this gelding.

“Roger rang me and said “this horse doesn’t owe racing anything” – he’d got too high in the handicap but was still loving racing and Roger didn’t want to put him through the sales, so he came to us last summer.”

Yorkshire arable farmer Charles said he only has three horses so Roger knew he would get weekly updates.

“I introduced myself to Henry de Bromhead at some sales and he said Summerville Boy is one of the kindest horses he’s ever trained – and he shed a tear when he left as he’d helped him get through some difficult times,” he said. “He’s a wonderful horse.”

Charles added that a life of hunting awaits Summerville Boy once he has retired from racing.

“We haven’t taken him yet, but he is showing all of the attributes to make a great hunter,” he said. “The way he hacks around the farm here, coupled with his temperament, I’m sure he will be brilliant.”

Thomas added: “When you ride a horse like him in a point-to-point, you have to look forward to them as they don’t come along very often.”

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‘I definitely cried today’: horse secures emotional victory in full-circle moment

Gemma Redrup — Mon, 27 Jan 2025 17:07:54 +0000

Successful former National Hunt horse Saint Calvados secured an “emotional” victory for his connections, almost three years after his last victory in the Grade Two Oaksey Chase at Sandown.

After training Saint Calvados under Rules, Harry Whittington, who specialises in pre-training these days, has enjoyed the winner’s enclosure once again, this time in point-to-points.

The 12-year-old Saint Calvados, who has won over £400,000 in races including two Grade Two and one Grade Three wins, showed his talent remains when winning the 2m 4f men’ s open under Nick Orpwood at the Percy meeting at Alnwick, Northumberland, yesterday (26 January).

“It was very emotional,” said Harry, who last sent this son of Saint Des Saints out in February 2021 before the horse was moved to Paul Nicholls by his former owners, Kate and Andrew Brooks. “I don’t think I ever cried when he won previously, but I definitely did today. It’s so nice to have him back.

“I said to his owner, David Maxwell, that I’d love to have him in retirement and he sent him to me a year ago. I’ve been hunting him most of this winter and he absolutely loves it.

“My staff call him King Calvados because he is on every supplement going and there’s no stone left unturned to keep him looking great. He looked his old self going through the race and never saw a rival.”

The gelding is Harry’s only pointer, and gets a lot of attention at Harry’s Lambourn base.

“I ride him out first lot and then he goes in the field all day,” added Harry. “He takes the pre-trainers out round the grass gallops and loves it. He is very special to us.”

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The new season is upon us! A beginner’s guide to point-to-point racing

Gemma Redrup — Tue, 12 Nov 2024 13:00:59 +0000

With the 2024/25 season underway, Horse & Hound is here with a helpful guide to the sport of point-to-point racing, which offers an entertaining day out in the fresh air, watching fit equine athletes taking part in exciting amateur racing over fences. If you’re planning to attend for the first time, our useful bluffer’s guide to the sport will help you to understand what is going on…

Point-to-point racing: what you need to know

Point-to-point racing is steeplechasing for amateur riders. The race days are run at local level by a hunt or a recognised club, under the jurisdiction of the Point-to-Point Owners and Riders Association and the Point-to-Point Authority. The sport is overseen by The Jockey Club.

The sport of point-to-point racing, or pointing as it is also known, dates back to 1836 when hunting men used to race their horses from church steeple to church steeple — hence the name “point-to-point”. The undeniable link between these two country sports still exists over 250 years on – all of the jockeys have to be a member or subscriber of a hunt.

Some point-to-points include flat races for ponies, where riders aged between nine and 15 can experience their first experience as race riders. These ponies and their young riders must have proven their competency before being allowed to race.

A local point-to-point is invariably an interesting, sociable day out. Along with the excitement of hotly contested racing and the opportunity of tax free betting, most meetings have trade stands, a licensed bar, refreshments and a hound parade.

Guide to point-to-point races

Most races are run over three miles with a minimum of 18 fences to be jumped. There are a few longer races of up to four miles and some two-mile races for maidens.

A hunt members’ race is for horses qualified with the hunt or hunts promoting the meeting.

A maiden race is open to any horse which has never won a race at a point-to-point meeting or any race under the rules of the Jockey Club or other racing authority. A maiden horse means a maiden at the time of start.

An intermediate race is open to any horse, which has not won any flat race (other than a National Hunt flat race) under the rules of the Jockey Club or other racing authority or any “mens”, “ladies”, “mixed” open or Intermediate Race at a point-to-point meeting.

A confined race is for horses qualified with the hunt or hunts promoting the meeting and not more than 15 hunts actually adjoining it. If insufficient hunts adjoin, the nearest neighbouring hunts must be included.

An open race is open to any horse and is either a “men’s” (to be ridden by male riders), “ladies’” (to be ridden by female riders), or “mixed” (to be ridden by either male or female riders), open steeplechase.

A Hunters’ Chase is a weight-for-age steeplechase under the Jockey Club’s rules of racing confined to point-to-point horses and to amateur riders and these are held under Rules.

The season is now underway and runs through until June. View the full fixture list and find out how to buy tickets.

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New rider crowned champion as 10-year domination comes to an end

Gemma Redrup — Thu, 30 May 2024 10:26:53 +0000

Izzie Marshall has been crowned ladies’ point-to-point jockey champion for the first time, beating 10-time victor Gina Andrews to the title on the final day of the 2023/24 championship, notching 24 victories to Gina’s 21.

“The past few weeks have been really tense – I don’t have any fingernails left,” said 24-year-old Izzie, who is most strongly associated with the yard of Alan and Lawney Hill. “Although Gina is a fellow competitor, she is also one of my best mates in the weighing room. I’ve always looked up to her – she is an incredible horsewoman. In previous years, I’ve had my own championship in my head, where I’ve tried my best to finish second to her, because she is such a formidable jockey.”

Izzie, who was champion novice lady jockey in 2017 and has finished runner-up to Gina in the ladies’ championship four times, added: “I feel overwhelmed by the amount of support I had when I was in with a squeak of winning the title this season. I’m lucky to be given opportunities by so many trainers and I’m in a bit of disbelief, to be honest.”

Speaking of her approach to clinching the championship, Oxfordshire-based Izzie said: “I took every week as it came – I didn’t let myself believe it would be a possibility until we neared the end. I kept my head down and kept going – I just wanted to ride as many winners as possible and come out safe and sound.”

James King now has three men’s jockey championships to his name thanks to an unassailable season in the saddle. He scored on 49 occasions, with his nearest rival and last year’s champion Will Biddick, clocking 34 winners.

“All the horses I was riding were firing this season and very few were hitting the crossbar,”said 27-year-old James. “It’s been great from start to finish. I’ve ridden for some great trainers, who between them have travelled the length and breadth of the country.”

Joshua Newman fought off Alan Hill and Max Comley to claim the championship for trainers with 15 or more horses in their care. Jockey/trainer Joshua, who is based in Somerset, notched 27 winners compared to Hill’s 25 and Comley’s 22.

“It feels great to get it over the line,” explained Josh, 32, who took the trainers championship for those with six to 14 horses last year. “In the latter stages of the season, we were only one, two, or a maximum of three winners in front – we had an awful lot of placings and mainly seconds, which meant we couldn’t get a firm handle of the championship, even though we never really had a bad weekend.

“We weren’t aiming to win this championship at the beginning of this season – we just wanted to build on last year. We started off a bit slow with horses needing their first runs, and then from the middle part of the season onwards, we started thinking about winning it. I’m so pleased for my staff, who work so hard, and the owners who have supported us – we really try to make it a team thing.”

Edward Vaughan, whose father Tim Vaughan is leading owner for the 2023/24 season, has enjoyed a wonderful start to his pointing career, picking up 28 winners en-route to clinching the novice mens’ jockey title, while Anna Johnston is champion novice female jockey with four winners.

Twelve months ago, Devon trainer Dean Summersby had endured a tough season with horses that were running below par, but they returned to form to help the trainer to the championship for those with six to 14 horses in their care.

Robert Varnham is champion trainer for those with five or fewer horses, while the highly consistent Grace A Vous Enki is champion horse with six wins from seven runs this season for trainer Nicky Sheppard and owner Mrs J. Hitchings.

The JRL Group point-to-point Flat series was taken by trainer William Easterby and jockey Jack Andrews.