Zac Baker couldn't believe what he was hearing after taking a call from agent Gordy Clarkson on Sunday morning.
Baker (pictured above with Al Shahir at Kingston Blount in February) said: "Gordy rang me while I was on the way to Garthorpe and said 'Take a look at the declarations for Exeter on Tuesday. It's given me the biggest buzz of the week'."
It transpired Clarkson had spotted that Nicky Henderson had entered a runner – Park Hill Dancer – in the Exeter Supports Point-to-Point Maiden NH Flat Race (4.46pm), so he rang the Lambourn trainer and managed to secure Baker the ride.
The race is not typical of bumpers, in that it is restricted to horses that have run in a point-to-point this season and unlicensed trainers can run horses in the race. Only amateur riders can take part.
Park Hill Dancer won a point-to-point Flat race at Barbury Racecourse in December when trained by Leslie Jefford for owner Hannah Bourton. Then a four-year-old he was subsequently sold to Middleham Park Racing and moved to Henderson's yard.
Park Hill Dancer (Martin McIntyre) after winning a Point-to-Point flat race at Barbury Racecourse *Photo - Carl Evans
Baker said: "I was at Barbury and saw the horse win. I didn't have a ride in the race, but I rode in the second division. I'm chuffed to get the ride."
Six horses are set to line up for the race, including the Clive Boultbee-Brooks-trained Black Of The Glade, who was third to Park Hill Dancer at Barbury, and who subsequently won a similar race at Buckfastleigh. Hilltown won nicely at Larkhill under Paddy Barlow, who takes a handy 7lb allowance off his horse's back today, while In Exell and Gingerbred, who are also in the line-up, finished second and third in a Flat race at Great Trethew. In Exell represents Leslie Jefford the former trainer of Park Hill Dancer.
In Excell and Gingerbred finishing second and third to Valereum Bridge at Great Trethew * Photo - Carl Evans
My Little Toni is the only runner to have jumped fences at a point-to-point. A four-year-old filly, she won a TBA Early Initiative race restricted to her age group at Larkhill.
Several riders in the Flat race will have lined up in the novices' hunters' chase which precedes it (4.11pm), including Baker who rides Supreme Commander for trainer Syd Hosie.
Supreme Commander finished second in an Irish point-to-point at Dromohane in December, and the winner, Weveallbeencaught, was subsequently sold for £210,000 at Tattersalls Cheltenham January Sale. Earlier this month he won a bumper for trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies.