Ellie Holder, 27, is in her third season between the flags and rode her first winner – Bawnmore (pictured above, on left) – at Horseheath on New Year’s Eve, part of a six-timer for trainer Tom Ellis, for whom Ellie works as a novice rider. Four more wins have followed, including two on her own Champagne Noir, and she is in obvious contention to be National Ladies Novice Champion this season. Jake Exelby talked to her recently to understand why this late developer is suddenly blooming as a jockey.
How did you get into point-to-pointing?
I grew up near Sherborne in Dorset and come from a horsey family on my mum’s side. My grandparents farmed and had horses at home – my grandmother, Susan Stretton, used to have a permit and her runners were ridden by my aunt Claire. I started riding when I was four or five, hunted and did pony club, first sat on a racehorse aged 13 and rode out for Colin Tizzard during the school holidays.
After school, I went to Hartpury University to study Equine Sciences and rode out for Sophie Leech and worked for Tweenhills Stud in my spare time. After university, I got a proper job (!) working for a horse nutrition company called Science Supplements. I used to ride out for Stuart Edmunds before work and decided that working with horses was what I wanted to do.
Covid came along and I then decided to have a crack at race-riding, even though I’m older than most novices. I went to work for Alex Hales and he gave me my first ride on the flat at Windsor in summer 2021, on a horse called Say Nothing, who’d won a two-and-a-half mile hurdle on his previous start! We were stone cold last, but it was good fun.
I’d bought my first horse – Bricks and Beams – by then and had four spins on her in points after Covid, then Alex gave me Jonjoela. I enjoyed pointing and wanted more rides, so I went to work for Tom and Gina (Andrews, Tom’s wife). I trained Jonjoela myself from their bottom yard last season – they gave me lots of help – and we were placed on all our six starts.
Ellie on Bricks and Beams (left) at Edgcote
Ellie on Jonjoela at Edgcote
This season, I wanted to take the next step up and wanted a maiden, but couldn’t find one within my budget, so Tom and Gina bought Champagne Noir at the sales from Charlie Longsdon, who said he’d be the perfect horse for a novice rider. I’d obviously love to be champion novice this season, but it’s not something we’ve spoken about yet.
How did you feel when Jonjoela won at Revesby Park earlier this season?
(Note to readers: Ellie was riding Champagne Noir, who was favourite, in the race but the pair unseated when in the lead). Talk about rubbing salt in the wound, particularly as he trod on me, so I was pretty sore! Seriously, I was really pleased with her, as she deserved it. She was so consistent for me last year, always ran and jumped well and was ideal for a novice rider. She just kept coming up against stiff competition – when we were fourth at Cocklebarrow, we were only beaten a short-head by a horse who was rated over 150 under rules.
Who’s inspired you most in racing?
As I’m not from a pointing background, I didn’t have idols within the sport. When I was younger, it was Nina Carberry and Katie Walsh in racing – now it’s Rachael Blackmore, obviously.
Which pointing jockeys do you most admire and why?
Obviously Gina, her brother Jack and Zac Baker, who also now works in the yard. Then there’s Alice Stevens, Amber Jackson-Fennell and Molly Landau – who are my main rivals for the novice title – and Ellie Callwood, who also works for Tom and Gina. We get on very well, help each other out, and push each other forward.
Ellie schooling multiple winner General Arrow for the Ellis yard
What’s your favourite course?
Horseheath of course, as I had my first two wins there on Bawnmore and Koyote. And I had a lovely spin round Garthorpe with Champagne Noir.
Ellie with connections after her first winner on Bawnmore at Horseheath
Ellie (left) winning on Koyote at High Easter (Graham Bishop)
What do you love most about pointing?
It’s a much better way to get started in the sport than scratching around for rides under rules. Even though it’s an individual sport, it feels like a team one, particularly with Tom and Gina. There are normally two or three of us riding for the yard on the same day, so we go racing together, walk the course together – it’s invaluable having their input – and picnic at the lorry with the owners. Everyone mixes together and gets on well – we’re treated as equals.
Do you have a personal funniest moment? You must have some stories about (“Team Ellis” cheerleaders) Lennie Owen and Clive Price.
Lennie and Clive are horrific! (Laughs). Those two have always got something to say, mostly too crude to put in this article!
Cheerleaders Clive and Lenny (Caroline Exelby)
What are your ambitions in the sport?
Other than being leading female novice this year, to take my riding as far as I can and see how good I can get. I never thought I’d be good enough – nobody ever told me I would be – but, now I’ve ridden a couple of winners, I know I’m not completely sh*t! I’d like to ride round Cheltenham and, now I’ve got my Category A licence, I’d like to have a go in Hunter Chases and amateurs races.
What would you do if you were in charge of the sport?
I’d find a way of making it easier to see replays instantly when there’s a tight finish – I was just pipped for third the other week and I’d like to have been able to see that again. And you can have such a range of horses running against each other, especially in novice riders races – maybe there could be races specifically for horses with lower ratings.
Also, once you have five winners, you lose your claim. People like that may not have had much experience, so why would they put them up rather than the likes of Gina, Alice or Izzie Marshall? Could you, say, go down to a 3lb claim from five to ten winners?
What would you do to encourage more horses?
It’s a tricky one, as a lot of people don’t want to race-ride but do eventing, hunting and team chasing instead. A lot of it comes down to confidence and the way you ride. In team chases, you ride your own horse, you’re not surrounded by a big field, you ride much longer and you don’t go as fast.
Pony racing offers a natural progression to pointing. And I’d encourage big yards to push their talented riders to become jockeys. It would have been great if that had happened at Alex’s and I think stable staff would be more interested in their work if they’re given opportunities to race.
What would you be doing if you weren’t working with horses?
Probably something involving my degree. I’ve been down the equine nutrition route so have got that to fall back on… Or I’d just travel the world!
Do you have any hobbies outside racing?
I’ve always been sporty and still play hockey once a week. I used to play competitively for Banbury.
Where is your dream holiday destination?
I’d love to go on a horseback safari.
Have you got a nickname you’re willing to share?
Sort of. At university, people used to call me Nibbles because I was always snacking. It’s the same now, as we have biscuits in the tack room.
What’s your favourite biscuit?
Caramel digestive!