If there is an award for outstanding achievement by an amateur rider in 2024, then Charlie Marshall (above) deserves to win.
This article first appeared in the Racing Post on Friday 3rd May
His victory in the Maryland Hunt Cup on Saturday 27th April, the first by a Briton since the four-mile timber race was inaugurated 130 years ago, involved great skill and nerves of steel. Arriving in the States just over a week before the race gave him some hope of acclimatising, but his preparation for such a stern test was like warming up on a bouncy castle before taking a space-walk.
Yet with advice from trainer Joe Davies – dubbed the Willie Mullins of timber racing – Marshall placed on one side the skills he has honed in riding over steeplechase fences, and revamped the method to suit the challenge. The primary element is to let the fence come to you, do not ask the horse to reach for the fence.
Winning on Blackhall, the outsider of 11 runners and a horse who had won just a maiden point-to-point in Ireland in 2020, was amazing, but Marshall’s rapid adaption to timber racing and his overall horsemanship was brilliant.
Now back in the ranks he has been mowing, strimming and electric fencing at the Dorset yard run by fiancée Hannah Clarke. This weekend he has two booked rides and is hoping to build on his 57 point-to-point successes.
Pipe deserves credit
High-fives for David Pipe for being a thoughtful boss and giving young riders racing experience.
By leasing two horses for staff members Lukke Morris and Conal Kavanagh to ride in point-to-points he is giving something back to a sport where he enjoyed success as a rider and trainer, and he should benefit from the experience and confidence they gain through race riding. Both Morris and Kavanagh are involved in training the two pointers.
On Friday 26th April, Pipe gained a small return on his investment when Kavanagh – on his first ride under rules – won Chepstow’s Dunraven Bowl hunter chase on Castle Daragh, while the following Sunday Morris gained his initial point-to-point success when dead-heating in a race at Stafford Cross in Devon.
David Pipe with Lukke Morris, groom Gemma Edwards and Moodofthemoment
With support from licensed trainers like Pipe, more young people can try point-to-pointing as a way of improving their knowledge of racing.
