Summer jobs have come early to Britain's point-to-point trainers following the Coronavirus shutdown of the sport.
A sample agreed there has never been a better time to live in the countryside, they would like to see an earlier start to next season, and while largely optimistic about the sport they are concerned at the impact of financial recession.
It has been a frustrating few months for trainers in Wales, where just one meeting was possible due to waterlogging, and that was in December. Glamorgan-based David Gibbs says: "We had one winner and four seconds from eight runners, and some lovely horses to run that didn't reach the track. They have all gone back to their owners."
A service engineer to the pub and hotel industry, Gibbs has joined nine colleagues in being laid off, but his wife Amanda is busy as a care worker calling on the elderly. Gibbs says: "I'm in the back garden repointing the patio, I've mended an airing cupboard door which had been broken for three years, I've painted all the stables and pressure washed the yard. I've been busy with little jobs."
David Gibbs, whose horses run faster than his cupboard mending skills
Gibbs' son Bradley, a key contender for the men's championship before rain stopped play, is working at Dunraven Stud. His father said: "Normally we would expect to get one or two young horses from Ireland in the summer, but that won't happen because they haven't been able to run their horses to assess them. I would be in favour of an earlier start to next season, and would get the horses in accordingly if it happens. Lighter evenings would be one bonus to an October start."
Bruiser will be the fittest 14-year-old Jack Russell in Shropshire given the amount of walking he is getting with trainer Heidi Brookshaw, who says: "I've got three pre-trainers in, which I'm doing with my dad [Steve], but everyone who worked for me has been laid off. One was full-time the rest self-employed riders.
"I'm walking the dog a lot and catching up with things to watch on Netflix. I'm not seeing my partner, David Ellis who owns Bletchley Castle, because he runs a pub which provides accommodation to key workers.
"We've power-washed the lorry because that won't be used for a while and once I've found a home for some straw we'll be cleaning the stables. I'm definitely in favour of an earlier start, which would be very good for my business because it would mean the horses would come in earlier. I was in Ireland in 2001 when they launched an autumn season, and it worked so well they have retained it."
In Pembrokeshire Amber Mathias and husband John are on maximum lockdown due to concerns around their 18-month old twins, who were born prematurely by several months and are susceptible to lung issues. John says: "Amber and I have been tested for Covid-19 and we are negative, but one of our twins is currently in hospital and it has been a real eye-opener to be there with her and realising how lucky we are to live where we do. With lots of land around us there is no better place to be self-isolating."
His father, Phil Mathias, was preparing to uncover the course at Lydstep for a couple of meetings, but apart from the purchase of some birch he had incurred "a bit of expense, but not too much". Phil says: "I'm fully isolated at home, while Jan [his wife] is the Gofer. She is getting all the food for John and Amber – but only sees the grandchildren through the window – and also for other people in the area, including her father who is 99 and my mother who is 84.
Phil Mathias, whose wife Jan has taken on the role of Gofer during the lockdown period
"In theory I'm in favour of an earlier start to next season, but the jury's out. Will there be enough horses to run and will landowners be in favour? It's one thing getting licensed racing going, but it's another when we're racing for £150. I do worry that some courses won't come back, and that a syndicate of five people in a horse could become three if two are feeling the financial pinch.
"We're just sitting at home by the fire holding hands in the evenings – something like that – and missing the racing."
Northumberland-based rider and trainer Nick Orpwood was enjoying a superb season with ten wins from 19 rides and two from five with horses he trains. He says: "The whole thing's been turned upsides down and no one knows what's going on, but I would be keen to support an earlier start if it happens.
"At the moment I'm doing jobs I would normally do in June and July – I'm working with some breakers and the schooling fences need a bit of attention, but I realise we were lucky to at least get some of the season in. My partner, Emily, is an eventer who only managed to attend one competition.
"It was all going so well, and I had just about got the hang of riding Friars Haugh. Targeting meetings there and at Alnwick paid off – it's all about horses for courses and identifying which horse will suit a certain track. Rio Des Echanault [owned and trained by Tocky McKie] would be my highlight of the season. He was second to a good horse [Dynamite Kentucky] of Jack Teal's at Alnwick and then won twice there. He also fell and would probably have won that too, but he's one to look forward to next season.
Nick Orpwood with owner/trainer Tocky McKie after an Alnwick win with Rio Des Echanault
"I'm optimistic about the future because there is always going to be a hard core of point-to-point people who will want a horse. It might take a year or two to get over this, but I can't see out-and-out pointing people caving in."
Julie Wadland trains pointers in the winter and runs a boarding kennel in summer, so she is enduring a double whammy to her business. She and husband Charlie live on a Warwickshire farm and he is busy catching up after several wet months. Julie says: "We are blessed to live in the countryside. God help the medical workers, and let's hope Boris gets better."
She adds: "We kept the horses ticking over for a while because it was too cold to rough them off, but that is starting now.
"Last season showed there were runners for the early meetings, and I would be in favour of starting earlier next season if that's possible. Owners have different opinions, but if the ground is right, the finances are right and the volunteers are there I would like an October start.
"The horses were in flying form and they are all good now. Golden Rebel won twice for us and was going to Ascot sales but it was called off. He'll race in Roger Freeman's colours next season, unless we get a big-money offer.
"I was delighted with my 50 per cent strike rate [three winners from six runners], but the biggest thrill was having a small part in helping Jack Andrews to win the [men's] title. He's such an incredibly talented rider, and he's been a big help to us.
"Living where we do life in many ways goes on as normal – the worst part is going to the supermarket; it all seems so surreal. Luckily my nephew is staying with us, and he handles the supermarket run most of the time."