GINA Andrews will be looking to boost her ladies' championship hopes on home territory at the Warwickshire Point-to-Point meeting at Mollington, near Banbury, on Bank Holiday Monday, May 6 (2pm).

Going into the weekend one winner behind Izzie Marshall, the 10-time champion rider, who trains at Marton, near Rugby, under her married name, Gina Ellis, is set to field a strong team at her local track with 15 entries.

She said: "I have got a challenger for the first time in God knows how many years. Izzie is giving it a hell of a go. I am one behind and it is everything to play for. Hopefully, I will get plenty of chances."

With four of the eight entries in the opening Butler Sherborn Warwickshire Hunt Members, Subscribers & Farmers Race, she is set to partner Captain Biggles, who has found just Law of Gold and Clara Sorrento too good on his last two starts.

Andrews, who reeled off a fantastic five-timer at this fixture in 2017, said: "He has had a really good season. He won well first time and then has been beaten by some good horses."

Clerk of the course Fred Hutsby reported the going to be Good, Good to Soft in places on Monday evening, and he is set to saddle Shoal Bay, winner of his last two starts at Ampton and Lockinge under his son, Tom.

The Wellesbourne trainer said: "He is a class horse on his day. I think he will take a bit of beating. He is our best chance."

Muckamore has the option of running here or in the veteran and novice riders' race for Francesca Poste's Ettington stables, near Stratford.

The 10-year-old was third to One For Rosie at Garthorpe last time and Poste's husband, Charlie, said: "It will be nice to run somewhere where he is not carrying a penalty. I see no reason why he would not run very well."

The meeting has attracted 119 entries, and Hutsby is hoping Drop Him In can bounce back in the Ray Randerson Carpets Mixed Open after being pulled up at Lockinge.

"He had puss in his foot and was sore in his shoulder," said the trainer. "He was not right that day. He is a lot better than that."

Russian Diamond, purchased by the Postes to help members of their team learn the ropes, is set to be a first ride for Flora Lindsay.

Charlie explained: "His job is to look after them and give them a nice experience. He will win races in the spring."

Ellis has the option of running Dundrum Wood, a close fourth at High Easter last time, here or in the veteran and novice riders' race with Martha Reeve on board.

"He is very consistent and is a good schoolmaster for Martha," she said. "The ground was too firm for him last time."

Grace A Vous Enki, whose winning streak ended when third in the Lady Dudley Cup at Chaddesley Corbett, is top-rated, but also holds an entry at Eyton-On-Severn.

Hutsby is expecting a bold showing from Drakes Well in the HFN Landscapes Conditions (Level 2) Race over 2m 4f.

The 11-year-old chased home Loughan at Kingston Blount, and the trainer said: "He should run well. He ran well last time, and this is his trip."

Ellis has the choice of three entries. I'm Spellbound is top-rated but will be on a recovery mission after finishing sixth at Chaddesley Corbett, Benefaktor ran a cracker to be third to Pym at Kingston Blount, while Lunar Contact was a comfortable winner at Fakenham.

The Marton trainer-rider said of the latter: "He had been very disappointing until last time. I think the sharper track and better ground played to his strengths."

Bradley Gibbs is leaning towards running My Little Toni here rather than the mixed open and said of her last run when pulled up at Kingston Blount: "She was in season and is out the other side of that now, so it's fingers crossed."

Janika, a close second to Bothwell Bridge at Garthorpe last time, holds the same two entries and Ed Turner's 11-year-old also comes into the reckoning.

Hopping Mad Wife, beaten a head by Premier Fantasy at Kimble, is worth noting in the Tattersalls Cheltenham Four and Five Years Old Maiden Young Horse Series Race as David Kemp's only entry this weekend.

Line Em Up is an interesting contender in the 2m 4f contest for Dale Peters, having finished second in an Irish point-to-point.

The Postes have entered three unraced geldings with Charlie saying: "Kirsch de Cotte is a really tough horse with a great constitution. He is probably the most likely to run. There is no reason why he shouldn't run well."

Gibbs plans to run two of his three entries with Ask Elli, described as a 'nice, big filly', and Avril Star more likely starters than Pluto's Gate.

Ellis will assess the going before deciding whether to give a debut to Soldier's Leap or Codetalker. "Soldier's Leap needs better ground than Codetalker," she said.

Hutsby is hoping for an improved show from Gallyhill in the F N Pile & Sons PPORA Club Members Conditions Race (Level 3), for Veteran & Novice Riders.

The 2019 Tattersalls Cheltenham December sales topper at a whopping £450,000, the nine-year-old joined the Wellesbourne trainer this season after failing to fulfil his potential under rules with Nicky Henderson and Gordon Elliott.

However, he has yet to shine between the flags, and Hutsby said: "He has been a most disappointing horse. We will see if Tom can get a tune out of him. He had a huge price tag on his head and has never shown it on the racecourse."

The consistent Imperial Esprit is joint top-rated with Muckamore, while Port of Mars, a neck second at Kimble for Dale Peters, also holds strong claims.

Peters made no secret of the high regard he holds Cash Or Card in following his impressive win at Brafield-on-the-Green, and the six-year-old could bid for a hat-trick in the Sir James Shuckburgh Bt. Restricted Race.

Court Cian is also chasing a third straight win after scoring at Kingston Blount and Garthorpe for Michael Kehoe, while Gibbs said of his Garthorpe maiden winner Tiger Tobin: "I think he is a nice horse. He is the obvious one from our entries on the day."

High Easter runner-up Main Stage or Kingston Blount second For One Night Only could represent Ellis.

She said: "Main Stage won a maiden at Horseheath. The ground was too quick for her last time, but she looks progressive. For One Night Only just bumped into a better horse on the day."

The Postes are set to run Culverwell, with Charlie non-plussed why the 13-year-old has a rating of just 7.

"I think it is unjust on what he has shown at home," he said. "He deserves a higher rating than that."

Capparattin finished fourth for the Postes in the restricted 12 months ago and is set to tackle the Walnut Hill Equine Veterinary Clinic PPORA Club Members Maiden Conditions Race.

Charlie said: "The ground was too quick when he ran at High Easter last time. He was always in top gear and did well to keep galloping. I'd be hopeful of a good showing."

Occupied Territory could bid to make it third time lucky for Ellis after finishing second at Alnwick and Garthorpe.

She commented: "He is just getting the hang of it. He needs a nice cut in the ground."

Graveside Lad will be fancied to go one better after finishing second at Fakenham for Ed Turner, while Myles Osbornes's Just A Mystery has claims on his Higham third.

Given that the Bicester with Whaddon Chase point-to-point has been postponed by a fortnight from its original scheduled date, organisers will be pleased with a total entry of 103 horses across the seven races, which start at 2.00pm. Clerk of the Course Graham Tawell reported on Monday morning that the going is Good, Good to Soft in places.

Centrepiece of the card is the Equine Bio Genie Edgcote Gold Cup Mixed Open Race, over the extended distance of three miles five furlongs with £1,000 total prize money and £500 to the winner. 11 have been entered, including evergreen Shantou Flyer, sixth in the Cheltenham Foxhunters, the super-consistent Go Go Geronimo and Encounter A Giant, winner of last year’s Lady Dudley Cup. Also worthy of mention are last time out winners Boss Man Fred – for Max Comley – and Perfect Pirate, and Gran Paradiso, who ran well on his seasonal debut and whose stable is in good form.

Kelly Morgan would not commit to plans for Go Go Geronimo, who is also entered at Sheriff Hutton, saying, “It depends on the ground. He likes proper good going. Although it doesn’t have to be rattling, I’d rather not run him on soft. I’m also not convinced about the longer trip.”

Novice races are usually competitive events and 16 entries have been received for the Barwood Novice Riders Race, which is a PPORA Level 1 Conditions Race. Five have already visited the winners enclosure this year, two of whom – Olive Nicholls’ All Loved Up and Beyond Redemption – also ran well at Lockinge recently. Runwiththetide, 15-year-old Sametegal and The Composeur all scored on their seasonal debut but have disappointed since.

Rider Hugh Lillingston said of All Loved Up, "We felt that her run at Lockinge (second to Southfield Theatre) was a step forward from her win at Larkhill, despite her being beaten. She has done well since then and hasn’t missed a beat. On ratings, it looks like it should be a competitive race but some of the protagonists may have questionmarks about the trip and we know we will stay. I'm really looking forward to getting her out on the racecourse again".

Station Yard Racing’s Russian Diamond will be a first ride for 25-year-old Flora Lindsay, and Charlie Poste said of the horse, “He ran well at Larkhill and should be suited by the drying conditions.” Kelly Morgan may well run both of hers, admitting, “I’ve got quite a few left to run so they may have to take each other on.” Asked about jockey bookings, she explained, “I don’t have a novice rider myself this season so wanted to book the best for Francesco Du Clos and Ed Vaughan is exceptional for a novice. Runwiththetide has been slightly frustrating but goes well for a female jockey. I’ve watched Aimee Jones ride a few times and been impressed with her.”

The TJ Sunderland Restricted Race – over two miles five furlongs – has 19 entries, the joint-highest of the day, and looks another hard to call event. Three share joint-top rating – Dawn Ball’s Well P, a good second on both his last two starts and who may find this easier than the Members race, Phillippa Taylor’s Ultra Viers, who has form in Hunter Chases, and Chabichou Dupoitou, who has been consistent until disappointing last time. Seasonal debutant Marton Abbey has a chance on last season’s form, while Julie Wadland’s Bushtucker Park, Olly Bowd’s Imperial Pride and Soldier Unknown are all stepping up on a last time out Maiden success.

Alan Hill, trainer of the latter, confirmed, “I’m keen to run him. He’s one from one since coming from Ireland, the stiff 2m5f will suit and he’s come out of Paxford well. The better ground should help. I’ll also run Serenisa with Walter Barnett. She was in season last time.” Culverwell is a pointing debutant for Station Yard Racing, who has come from Martin Keighley, Charlie Poste saying, “The owners – an enthusiastic syndicate run by Katie Frisby – are new to the yard. He’s been going nicely at home, and we’ve been waiting for the better ground for him.”

Gina Ellis said of her Tiger’s Song (also entered at Overton on Saturday), “She’s always been talented, but incredibly fragile.” (The mare has run just six times in seven campaigns). She’s had two foals but lost the second, so we put her back in training and she ran well last time considering she’d been off for three years.”

The card opens with the Towcester Vets Hunt Members Race, which has attracted ten entries and – on paper at least – looks tailormade for Station Yard Racing’s Trevada, already twice a winner this season. However, there are several contenders, including 2023 Paxford winner Rizzardo for Phillippa Taylor and Richard Harper’s pointing newcomer Wee Willie Nail, who won a Gowran Park hurdle in September 2022.

Local trainer Ben Case runs two and his son Charlie gave me the lowdown, saying, “My brother George rides Wisecracker – as always – and Kilbrew Boy will be a first ride for Charlie Hewitt, who works for the yard and is a good friend of mine. Trevada will be hard to beat, but I like to think Kilbrew Boy will go well, and Charlie rides him every day and knows him well.” Alan Hill’s Knight Bachelor will give another rider their debut, in this case Luci Lloyd. The trainer said, “She’s been Master of the Bicester for several years and it’s always been her ambition to ride in her Members race. She’s been riding out here since October and he’s a good horse for teaching novices.”

Trevada was confirmed a runner, Charlie Poste telling me of his charge, “He’s been fantastic this year, ran well in defeat last time at High Easter, where it was a bit quick for him. We’ve decided he prefers softer ground. We’ll also run Nasee with one of our novice riders.”

The card features three Maiden races, including the Tattersalls Jockey Club Sales Young Horse Maiden Series Race, for four- and five-year-olds only over the shorter trip of two miles five furlongs, to encourage youngsters – some of whom will go on to star in the professional arena – to race against their peers. It has attracted an impressive 19 entries – ten of whom are unraced – representing some of the leading trainers in the country. Of the entries, one belongs to a pop princess and one to a royal princess! Former Spice Girl Geri Horner owns Mi Chico Latino (named after one of her songs), while Zara Tindall owns A Little Something. With so little form to go on, advice would be to take your pick of the paddock and watch the market. Of those who have run, the best form has been shown by Hopping Mad Wife, a close second at Kimble earlier in the month, and Wake Up Hadley, third on the same card in a similar race to this.

Bradley Gibbs has entered four and will definitely run one, but admitted, “I couldn’t tell you at this stage which of them it while be,” but Gina Ellis’ Soldier’s Leap is an intended runner. “She’s a homebred, owned by my uncle Angus,” confirmed Gina. “We trained his half-sister Ingeborg Zilling to win at Barbury Castle and I rode his dam, which makes me feel old! He’s a handy sort, who’s shown speed at home, and (her brother) Jack Andrews will ride.” Another probable runner is Peace Pact – one of two entries for Station Yard racing. Charlie Poste told me, “He’s been ready to run for a while and has an interesting pedigree, with a flat page. He’s a lovely scopey horse, who does everything nicely at home.”

The Spratt Endicott Maiden Race for six-year-olds and upwards and over the full three-mile trip, has 15 entries and – as so often in this type of race – the dilemma is whether to stick with recent form or take a chance on a promising newcomer from a top yard. Barrington John and Station Yard Racing’s Tinker Two fit the latter bill, while Imperial Cloud (whose in-form trainer took the prestigious Lady Dudley Cup last weekend), Our John, James Luck’s Sound Of Music and Tim Underwood’s Windgap Hill have all shown useful placed form this season. Validation is an interesting newcomer to British points, having been a runner-up in Ireland last spring.

Six-year-old Tinker Two is likely to start, with Charlie Poste noting, “His owner-breeder Peter Taylor’s a long-standing supporter of pointing. He’s got a future but will benefit from the run.” They may also run Capparattin, whose jockey Charlie Case told me, “Edgcote should suit him perfectly and more rain would also help. It all happened a bit quickly for him at High Easter last time.” Seven-year-old Barrington John is bred in the purple, being out of Welsh National winner L’Aventure. Trainer Bradley Gibbs advised him a probable runner, as is his half-sister L’Aventara in the closing Mares Maiden, saying, “She’s a nice filly with a good page.”

That race, the latest in the series of Jockey Club Mares Maidens is the third Maiden on the card, is sponsored by Walnut Hill Vets and has 13 entries. Six are also entered in one of the other maidens and four – including L’Aventara – are making their debut, so it will definitely pay to wait until runners are declared before finalizing your selection. The best form this season has been shown by dual runner-up Iconic Rock and Gina Ellis’ Schiapars Magern, who shaped well on her Kimble debut.

Gina Ellis will take the mount herself on the latter and admitted, “She’s still quite raw and it took a circuit for her to really start jumping, but she warmed to the task, kept on well and should improve for the run.” Kelly Morgan is inclining towards this race rather than the young horse maiden for Just Our Milly, although is not sure about the longer trip. “She’s not very big,” said her trainer, “And we’ve been getting her confidence back since she took a tumble at Higham – we want her jumping to be 110%. Her ultimate target is the end of season bumper at Stratford.”

The Laura Richardson-trained Jeux D'Eau added his name to the iconic roll-call for the historic Lady Dudley Cup with a no-nonsense victory in the Classic when providing his Shropshire-based trainer with by far the biggest victory of her fledgling career.

 

Only six-years-old, the gelding partnered by Richardson's partner Huw Edwards showed great tenacity up the long Chaddesley Corbett home straight to thwart the persistent attentions of Looksnowtlikebrian by a couple of lengths with odds-on favourite Grace A Vous Enki a further three lengths back in third.

An emotional Richardson was finding it difficult to hold back tears of joy and said: "I cannot believe it as we have always thought he was a nice horse ever since we had him as a two-year-old -- but to win a prestigious race like this is beyond my wildest dreams.

"We had been struggling to find suitable races with him as many of our local meetings have been rained off, so we took the plunge and decided to come here and let him take his chance. It might just sink in at some stage just what he has just done but for now we will savour the moment."

Looking ahead, Richardson added: "We will have to look at all the options for him but there is only just over a month left of the season - I suppose we will have to consider hunter chases after a success like that."

The victory of Jeux D'eau proved the middle leg of a treble for Edwards as he had earlier taken the opening Maiden for 4&5yo aboard Philip Rowley's newcomer Jacques Clouseau and completed the three-timer when pushing out Call Her Clever for the Maiden mares and fillies contest.

Not surprisingly, Rowley was quick to announce that Jacques Clouseau was for sale after the good-looking five-year-old had lowered the colours of Old Cowboy by a length in a driving finish.

He said: "We think he is a very smart horse with loads of scope and is so straightforward. If someone wants him to stay in the yard that is fine, otherwise he will be off the sales as that is what he was purchased for in the first place."

There was plenty of daylight between Call Her Clever and her rivals as she passed the post with 16 lengths to spare over Penelope Ann in a race that was run in memory of the late Robert Chugg.

Winning trainer Niel Turner, who was celebrating his first winner, said: "It's an honour to win the race named in honour of Robert as I worked for him for many years and he taught me so much - so this is all down to him."

The Grace A Vous Enki team of owners Clive and Joan Hitchings along with trainer Nicky Sheppard did not go away empty handed as Ihandaya, ridden by Natalie Parker, stretched his winning sequence to three since switching to his current trainer.

Although Ihandaya faced only one other rival in the shape of Tigerbythetail, the race turned out to be a bit of cat and mouse played out by Parker and Gina Ellis with the former electing to make the running and that ploy paid off with a comfortable 8 lengths call.

Sheppard commented: "He keeps going the right way but there is no real plan with him as we will take it one step at a time and where he runs next will be decided by Clive and Joan." The winning trainer had earlier initiated a double when A Jet Of Our Own got the better of a protracted tussle with Hidor De Bersy to take the spoils in the 2m 4f Conditions contest.

Winning rider Freddie Philipson-Stow said: "We fitted him with cheekpieces for the first time and the plan was to be very positive on him as he stays three miles. I suspect he will have at least one more run before the season ends in five weeks or so."

Kauto No Risk made a belated winning return when posting a battling half-length verdict over the rallying Perryville when lifting the Members race for trainer Jo Priest, rider Zak Baker and owner John Hargreaves. Priest explained the eight-year-old's absence by saying: "it has simply been a waiting game for some better conditions as it has been bottomless everywhere this winter and he must have goodish ground."

It proved a red letter day for rider Patsy Page as she celebrated her first ever winner after Rockhamtom made it fifth time lucky this season with a victory over You And Me Too for the 2m Maiden.

 

"Quality will out" is a watchword for racing at Aintree nowadays, where the era of long-priced unfancied horses has largely been put to bed by changes to race conditions and the shape of the fences. And perhaps the racing over the National fences is better for that. 

That quality was proven yesterday when 3/1 favourite It's On The Line, trained by Emmet Mullins, and ridden by Derek O'Connor, outstayed the other 9 finishers in the 22 runner field that faced the starter in the Randox Foxhunter Chase. 

Rated 140, It's On The Line was rated 6lb higher than any other horse in the field bar third placed Annamix, a contender from Closutton. Second, Benny's Hill, trained by Dan Skelton, took up the running 5 out, but was run out of it on the elbow and finished 4 1/4l adrift, Annamix a further length behind. 

Time Leader, prominent throughout, briefly disputed the lead on the lead-in, but couldn't maintain the advantage for Huw Edwards, and was the only amateur-trained runner to finish in the money.

Not everyone is pleased to see the sport's biggest owner scooping up a prize designed for the amateur division. Whilst there is much to admire about the contribution J P McManus has made to the sport at every level, the amateur ethos of this type of race, and the Cheltenham Foxhunter last month, is being eroded by horses trained by licensed trainers attracted by the relatively large prize funds. The £50,000 on offer here compares to £5,000 or less for an ordinary hunter chase, £1,000 or less for a point-to-point.

It seems manifestly unfair that of the 22 runners, only three truly amateur -ridden horses finished the race, outpointed by better quality animals that could as equally be running in proper Rules races. This is one reason why Sine Nomine's victory at Cheltenham, and Premier Magic's the previous year, were so well received. Fiona Needham's horse represents the true grass roots of the sport.

The counter-argument is of course, that the quality of the races has improved overall. that is not in dispute, but the number of horses rated 130+ in hunter chases and point-to-points is modest, and these potential competitors are being crowded out by professionals - trainers and riders too in all but name. Perhaps a rating cap is required to allow more point-to-pointers to take part without feeling over-faced, but this approach is also counter-intuitive.

In the much smaller US steeplechasing scene, the programme for point-to-point and mainstream Jump fixtures is now largely combined, but this is not currently the case in the UK or Ireland, although fixtures like the Barbury International tried to achieve it.

No easy answers, but surely an issue race planners might seek to address.

Time Leader and Spyglass offer the best chance of continued home-grown success on the Randox Foxhunter Chase, the second of the three "classics" of the amateur season tomorrow at Aintree. 

Twenty-two runners line up for the thrill of a lifetime - a circuit of Aintree's Grand National fences, but rarely nowadays, the ground will be soft or heavy, which always throws up some imponderables.

Time Leader has enjoyed a successful season to date for trainer Hannah Roach and his owners from the North Staffordshire. A faacile win at the Portman in mid-November was followed by an uncharacteristic pull up at Chaddesley in the Wheatland 3 weeks later. He prepped neatly for Cheltenham with a bloodless 7l win at Hereford before running an excellent race to finish 6 1/4l behind Sine Nomine, 5l adrift of It's on The Line, who re-opposes. 

Spyglass, a product of the de Bromhead yard, is now trained by Regan Pallas in Bridgend. His 1/2l beating of Iskander Pecos in the Walrus Hunters Chase at Haydock in February has been paid a compliment by the latter horse's recent Hereford win. Leading rider James King takes the ride.

Both, however, will have their work cut out to match the quality of the two leading Irish candidates in It's On The Line from Emmet Mullins, and Annamix, from Willie Mullins Closutton winner machine.

It's On The Line was touched off by Sine Nomine in the Cheltenham Foxhunter and is a justifibale favourite to go one better. Barring that Cheltenham second, he is unbeaten in three runs this season at Drumahane, Dromore and Naas. Emmet Mullins is of course no stranger to Aintree success, having farmed the Grand National with Noble Yeats.

Annamix was pulled up behind It's On The Line at Naas but has won since at Gowran Park. The younger It's On The Line may have the legs on him though.

Emmet Mullins also saddles Romeo Magico, a winner at Limerick and Dromore this term. However, the Limerick race was a maiden; this is an altogether tougher ask. 

Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero saddles Gaboriot, a winner at Catterick. Formerly owned by Peter Daresbury, who is no stranger to Aintree, that sales may in itself give an answer. I can't see Daresbury giving up an opportunity to win a Foxhunter at the racecourse he chaired for so long. Gaboriot has 18lb to find on the ratings with the top-rated It's on The Line.

Paul Nicholls always relishes this race, and the prize money is sufficiently large to keep him interested to sustain his Trainers' Championship claims. French-bred Cap de Methan has had a sparing campaign, with just one winning run at Leicester in March. Daughter Olive Nicholls will be in the plate.

Championship rival Dan Skelton fields Bennys King, also a Leicester winner but well beaten behind Sine Nomine at Wetherby in February. He has something to find, unless Aintree's fences bring out something extra. That Leicester win should rule out Gordon Elliott's Hardline, 23l behind that day.

A satellite yard of Ditcheat, Sam Loxton has entered Espoir de Guye. A winner at Wincanton when beating Famous Clermont, a previous winner of this race, he was more recently behind Captain Tommy at Ludlow and reopposes. Both have something to find to be in the finish.Also from the Loxton yard is Drop Flight, an Exeter winner.

Lieutenant Rocco was behind Espoir de Guye at Wincanton, and there's no reason to suggest he can reverse that form for trainer Syd Hosie.

Given a clear run, Time Leader is preferred to keep the race at home