TEENAGE jockey Tom Hutsby was thrilled to notch his first double on Shoal Bay and Drakes Well in front of a big crowd at the Warwickshire Point-to-Point meeting at Mollington, near Banbury, on Bank Holiday Monday.

Having taken his tally for the campaign to five on the pair, trained by his father, Fred, at Wellesbourne, near Stratford, the 16-year-old called time on race-riding for this term to retain his novice status and keep his allowance.

Setting out to make all the running on Shoal Bay in the opening Butler Sherborn Warwickshire Hunt Members, Subscribers & Farmers Race, Tom was joined by Captain Biggles and Gina Andrews at the third-last.

However, his mount pulled out more over the last two fences to win going away, with Harriet Richardson, on her first ride aboard Bawnmore, third.

The Hutsbys made it a quickfire double with the young rider again excelling on Drakes Well in the HFN Landscapes Conditions Race (Level 2) over 2m 4f.

Sending his mount into the lead on the final circuit, Tom drove the 11-year-old out to score by a neck from I'm Spellbound and Andrews, with Calidad and Peter Mason three-quarters of a length back in third.

Tom said: "It is amazing to have my first double especially on home ground. That is me done for the season. I want to keep my claim. I will focus on my GCSEs now and after that I am going to college to get my farm licence."

Proud dad Fred, who is also clerk of the course, added: "We want to keep him as a novice for next season. It is brilliant for him to have a double in front of his home crowd."

Drakes Well, who could now go for the handicap hunters' chase at Stratford on May 31, is owned by Fred's brother-in-law, Stephen Corbett, who said: "Tom is my nephew. It was a great ride, and it makes it a real family affair."

Shoal Bay was completing a hat-trick after winning at Ampton and Lockinge for owner Marcine Marshall. She said: "He hunts with the Warwickshire with my son-in-law, Adam Botham, who is a showjumper. It means an awful lot to win this race because my grandson, Henry Marshall, is the second whipper-in."

James King kept up his charge towards the men's championship with a double on Pluto's Gate and Grace A Vous Enki.

Stepping in to partner Pluto's Gate in the Tattersalls Cheltenham Four and Five Years Old Maiden Young Horse Series Race with Hertfordshire-based trainer-rider Bradley Gibbs at Eyton-on-Severn, King powered the five-year-old home by a head from Soldier's Leap and Jack Andrews.

The son of Cloudings, owned by Andrew Leyshon, was dismounted after the line in the 2m 4f contest before being loaded into a horsebox with the rider reporting his mount to be a 'bit sore'.

King finished the day 12 winners ahead of Will Biddick after completing his double on Grace A Vous Enki in the Ray Randerson Carpets Mixed Open.

Taking charge on the final circuit, the Nickie Sheppard-trained eight-year-old galloped on relentlessly to hold off Drop Him In and Gina Andrews by four lengths for his sixth win of the season and go one clear in the champion horse standings.

The gelding, owned by Joan and Clive Hitchings, was regaining the winning thread after finishing third in the Lady Dudley Cup last month, and his latest success put Sheppard three clear in the race to be the leading trainer with six to 14 horses.

The Eastnor handler said: "We are delighted to see him back in the winner's enclosure. James gets on very well with him and has ridden him to all his wins."

King commented: "He has been an absolute star and a pleasure to be part of. He has achieved more than we expected. All credit to the Hitchings and the Sheppards because he was in the last chance saloon."

The late Keagan Kirkby was in the thoughts of trainer Robert Varnham and jockey Seb Mead after Imperial Esprit ran out an easy winner of the F N Pile & Sons PPORA Club Members Conditions Race (Level 1), for Veteran and Novice Riders.

Kirkby, who died in February aged 25 while riding in a race at Charing, won twice on the 10-year-old, with the plan to go for the PPORA Novice Riders Championship Final at Edgcote on May 19.

"We ran here because of Keagan," explained Varnham, who trains the gelding at Bramley, near Guildford. "We wanted to be the top horse in the PPORA race and now we want to do it under his name. He won the first points on him."

Mead, who was partnering the gelding for the first time for owners the Gunshot Paddocks Racing Club, consisting of Dave Young, Chris Knotek, Clive Penfold, Sally Marks, Alan Wilson and Andy Gallagher, took up the running after the third last, before storming home five lengths ahead of Premier d'Troice and James Earnshaw.

Mead, 22, works for David Phelan, and was riding his second winner. He said: "I knew Keagan very well. He was the last person to win on the horse. It means a lot to ride the horse and he will always be in our memory."

The Sir James Shuckburgh Bt. Restricted Race was run in a rainstorm, but trainer Dawn Ball was all smiles after Well P gave her a first winner for nine years in game fashion.

Ellie Holder made much of the running on the seven-year-old before Chabichou Dupoitou struck the front after the third-last, but Well P rallied in great style to take the honours by two-and-three-quarter lengths from King's mount.

Ball, who rents 22 boxes at Paul Webber's nearby Cropredy Lawn stables, was enjoying her first success since Gotoyourplay scored at Brampton Bryan in 2015.

She said: "He has been knocking on the door for a win. He was bought off a photo and he came from Ireland. He had Its On The Line back in fourth when he won his maiden race (for Mary Ellen Doyle at Ballycrystal in February 2022)."

Ball owns the gelding as part of the Paddy Pea Club, with her mother, Joyce Ball, James Stride and Mick and Harriet Curran, and she added: "I have been praying for rain and it came at the right time. He is only seven, so there is a lot ahead of us. It is exciting."

Holder commented: "He got outpaced coming down the hill. I knew he was a strong stayer and he saw it out better than the others."

The downpour made the ground very testing for the closing Walnut Hill PPORA Club Members Maiden Conditions Race.

It held no fears for Capparattin, though, as Charlie Case made all the running on the nine-year-old, trained by Francesca Poste at Ettington, near Stratford, to grind out a three-and-a-half length victory over Whatchagotder and Toby McCain-Mitchell - the only other finisher from the seven starters.

Owners the Bumble Bee Racing Partnership, headed by Jane Burton and made up of her daughters, Lucy and Annabel, Trudy Gleed, Mark Styles and Mark Pugh, were buzzing after the win.

Jane said: "We trained this horse last season after getting him from the late John O'Neill. He bred and owned him and named him after his farm in Ireland. I think John would have been really excited."

Charlie Poste, representing his wife who was at Eyton-on-Severn where Power of The Sea made it an across-the-card double for the yard, said: "He was sixth at High Easter with a hood on. We took it off and I think that has made the difference. Charlie Case gave him a brilliant ride."

Case added: "He stays all day. The ground was too quick for him at High Easter. He likes a bit of cut in the ground."

It's On The Line asserted his credentials to be the best hunter chaser in Britain & Ireland in another narrowly won victory in the Event Power Champion Hunters' Chase at the Punchestown Festival on Friday. 

The J P McManus owned gelding is, to all intents and purposes, a professionally trained horse, in the care of Emmet Mullins, and ridden by Derek O'Connor, the leading Irish amateur. However, he's a horse that makes life hard for himself, and is aptly named.

Re-opposing from Cheltenham in this race were Ferns Hill, Billaway and Samcro, with Famous Clermont the sole British contender. Second only to Sine Nomine in the Cheltenham Foxhunters, It's On The Line had gone one better at Aintree, only asserting over Benny's Hill in the last half furlong, enough to be sent off 6/4 favourite here. 

In murky conditions and in demanding ground that encouraged 5 of the 14 runners to pull up, Samcro led largely unchallenged for the first two-thirds of the race, before being joined by Famous Clermont, under James King from the 9th fence. It's On The Line remained in touch, some 5l adrift as the two leaders slugged it out in front.

Samcro was first to crack, allowing Famous Clermont to take up the running, but as they turned in, Lifetime Ambition hoved into view with the favourite, and two out, any one of the three might have won. Lifetime Ambition got away from the last in front, but Derek O'Connor showed why he is the leading amateur, conjuring up a tremendous burst of finishing speed to assert 100 yards from the post. the winning distance of 1 3/4l was growing with every stride.

Emmet Mullins told RTE, “He doesn't make life easy but Derek has the trick to him. Early doors it wasn't great as Derek had to make a move to get him off the inside and get him travelling.

“I was very happy the whole way around until the third last and there was a bit of a panic when Lifetime Ambition went on. Once he got over the second last I was always fairly confident he was going to get him back."

O'Connor added, "He's an amazing horse. He's just doing enough to stay alive all the time but every time you ask him, he brings a little bit more for you.

"To be fair, I never really got serious with him until after I jumped the last, I just wanted that company. Susie Doyle rode a brilliant race (on Lifetime Ambition) and she's unlucky in defeat."

A damp Friday evening did nothing to dispel the thrill of riding round Cheltenham for riders of the 59 runners during the 7 race Hunters' Evening, one of just two hunter chase only cards in the British calendar nowadays. 

David Kemp and Dale Peters make a good partnership to follow at this annual fixture, so punters latched on to Law of Gold in the 4 miler for the United Hunts Challenge Cup. Winner of this race in 2023, he has been campaigned entirely between the flags this season to date, with a brace of victories at High Easter. However, his effort ceased after the fourth last, although he's likely to reappear in the Pertemps Network Stratford Foxhunter at the end of the month, where a sounder surface will suit better.

Meantime, the business end of the race saw Gabiorot, trained by Henry Oliver and Josh Guerriero for a Haydock Park Jockey Club partnership, correct the unseat in last month's Randox Foxhunter at Liverpool, by winning this marathon under Harry Myddleton by 3 1/4l from Master Templar from the Ellis yard. 

The United Hunts was once a most prestigious race, and whilst it retains popularity among the amateur division, its importance is much diminished nowadays. 

Jumping ability is crucial at Cheltenham where the fences are less forgiving than your average Point-to-Point, so it comes as no surprise that the same set of winners continue to figure year on year. Where Kemp and Dale had failed in the four miler, they didn't go home empty-handed, when Rebel Dawn Rising  stayed on to be just a length too good for Cat Tiger under David Maxwell in the Royal Gloucestershire Hussars Chase over 2m4f. He may well join Law of Gold at Stratford.

The Ellis name is rarely without a winner at this fixture, and they maintained their impressive record in the 3m2f Midlands Air Ambulance Mixed open Hunters Chase, where 2023 Foxhunter winner Premier Magic had to give way to the Ellis-trained Fairly Famous, ridden by Gina Andrews. At 11, Premier Magic's best days may perhaps be behind him, but that hadn't stopped punters sending off Deise Aba, another 11 year old, as 3/1 favourite. Although prominent for a long while, when pressure was applied four out, the ground appeared to find him out. 

The Ellis team had to give second best to Iskander Pecos in the Intermediate Chase over the same distance. Ridden by Huw Edwards, enjoying an excellent season, and trained by Hannah Roach, Iskander Pecos has done little wrong this Spring, with hunter chase victories at Ludlow, Leicester and a half length second to Spyglass Hill in the Walrus Hunters at Haydock in mid-February. He's most definitely on the upgrade, and hopefully to be seen in open company next winter.

It was a day of seconds for Bradley Gibbs, and the tone of the evening was set in the opener, when Fier Jaguen was edged out of it by A Jet Of Our Own, trained by Nicky Sheppard for the Philipson-Stows and ridden by son Frederick. Nicky is another from the West Mercian circuit enjoying a terrific season, and this was a neat staying performance from the seven year old, even over the minimum trip.

Nicky was back in the Winner's Enclosure an hour later, albeit a distant 11l second to winner What A Glance, who has bit the bar on three separate occasions this Spring. Second at Didmarton, then second again both at Lockinge and Stratford to Deise Aba, this was an overdue moment to get his head in front. Murray Dodd was in the plate for the 3m1f junior Jumpers Hunters Chase.

Winner Will Biddick may disagree, but it's difficult to make the case for the continued inclusion of a mares hunters races on this card after Regatta de Blanc finished a distance clear of her only surviving rival in a 4 runner field. This race has never had more than 7 runners in the past 5 years, and the mares could readily be accommodated within several other races on the card. As competitive racing goes, this left much to be desired. 

 

 

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.”