Point-to-pointing’s well documented role as a stepping stone to a professional career in racing is about to gain another example.
Toby McCain-Mitchell (pictured above) has announced he is about to take out a conditional jockeys’ licence after gaining a wealth of experience in five seasons on the point-to-point circuit, although he has also expanded his skills’ base with a number of rides under rules. A grandson of the late Ginger ‘Red Rum’ McCain, McCain-Mitchell is based in Gloucestershire with father-and-son trainers Nigel and Willy Twiston-Davies.
Recognising that at 24 he is at a now-or-never time to try his hand at riding professionally, but echoing the views of Jack Andrews, who recently left the amateur ranks, he says: “Without a shadow of doubt point-to-pointing has played a huge part in my career so far, and I’m glad of the experience I have gained, but I’ve seen others who have turned [to conditional status] a season or two too early. I’d rather turn too late than too early.
“In point-to-points you can learn while out of the glare of television cameras and scrutiny from people. You can make mistakes and avoid getting abuse on social media.”
McCain-Mitchell rode in his first point-to-point at Dingley in April 2021 when partnering Slievegar, who at that time was owned and trained by his mother, Joanne, sister of leading trainer Donald McCain. Next time out Slievegar gave the novice rider his initial taste of success when winning a maiden race at Hornby Castle, and he has since gone on to partner a total of 28 point-to-point winners from 179 rides. He has also added three hunters’ chase victories to his CV and a further 15 in other races under rules. He can claim 7lb against senior professionals until riding another two winners.
A win in an amateur riders’ chase at Cheltenham in October last year on the Twiston-Davies-trained The Newest One and a victory in Ascot’s Berkshire National on the stable’s good handicap chaser Beauport have been opportunities to advertise his talents under rules. He has ridden in “both Foxhunter Chases and a Kim Muir”, but the amateur sport has been good to him too.
McCain-Mitchell riding What A Glance (no.19) at Buckfastleigh in February this year (Ce)
Of highlights on the point-to-point circuit, he says: “The first win was special, and so was a treble at Sandon at Easter. I also rode a winner in the colours of the late Trevor Hemmings. Sadly the horse [Best Life] was later disqualified, but it felt very special on the day because it took me back to the likes of [Hemmings’s Grand National winners] Ballabriggs [trained by uncle Donald] and Many Clouds.”
Best Life was trained by Philip Rowley, whose stable near Bridgnorth provided McCain-Mitchell with a wealth of schooling experience and plenty of race rides after he decided to switch from a two-year stint working in showjumping stables to one involving racing.
He says he recognises he will be down the pecking order in his new role with the Twiston-Davies family, but says: “Nigel and Willy are very loyal, and if stable jockey Sam [Twiston-Davies] is not available they use lads based in the yard. I’m on a two-week conditional jockeys’ course in Newmarket at the moment, and I cannot accept rides while on the course. When the course finishes the annual two-week shutdown of jump racing will be starting, so I don’t expect to gain my first ride until the middle or end of August.”