With the 2021/2022 season starting next week, this will be the last “Pointing People” – for this year at least. And, to bring the series to a suitable close, Jake Exelby spoke to a true all-time great of the sport. Four-time champion Julian Pritchard rode 384 winners between the flags – breaking David Turner’s all-time record on Royal Jake at Maisemore Park in 2005 – and counts the Aintree Foxhunters and Horse & Hound Cup among his successes under rules. Now a farmer based near Ledbury in Herefordshire, he reflects on his illustrious career.
How did you get into point-to-pointing?
I did pony club, loved hunting and evented, although I didn’t like dressage. When I was younger, I had no inclination to race-ride. I wanted to play rugby – (ex-Gloucester and England prop forward) Phil Blakeway was a relative – so I ate and drunk too much, which I regretted later, wasting away in the sauna!
I hurt my back playing rugby, so started riding out for local trainer Bob Brazington, schooling with the likes of Ronnie Beggan. I loved going up the gallops – I used to get b*llockings for going too fast, but I felt like Steve Cauthen!
Then my parents bought Pensham’s Son from Pat Tollit for my brother to ride. I got the bug and decided to have a go too. We got him fit doing hill work and I had my first ride when fourth in a 17-runner Restricted at Whitwick Manor in 1985, then my first winner later that same season at Andoversford.
How did your career progress?
I don’t know – when I started, it was just for fun and I probably got lucky. Alison Dare always said, “You got bad horses to win races,” and she rode all of Dick Baimbridge’s horses… apart from the bad ones! Dick asked me to ride a horse for him one day, I started riding more and I suppose it changed people’s outlooks. Maybe they thought, “If he’s good enough for Dick, I’ll ask him to ride for me too.” But I was never after Alison’s job – if I’d tried, she’d have assassinated me! We’re both very competitive and became good friends.
Julian riding for Dick Baimbridge
Alison Dare: competitive
Who have been your favourite horses?
Nether Gobions was one who I clicked with straightaway. He wasn’t the biggest but he’d go flat out and was a thrilling jumper. I had the reputation that, if I saw a stride, it would be a long one, but there were some hairy moments! Double Handfull was another – a tiny mare that Alison didn’t get on with, but I thrived on her.
Mounthenry Star was bought by Vanessa Ramm to help me win the championship in 1998. The first time I rode him, I think we broke the track record at Garthorpe. We won three races in nine days and set the fastest time of the day in all three. He was small, ridiculously quick and could be guessy at his fences, but had real attitude.
And the best you rode?
Toureen Prince would be the best for Henrietta Knight. He was one of my easiest winners on his pointing debut at Tweseldown in 1993 and didn’t quite get the extra two furlongs at Cheltenham that year – we’d been travelling so well three out. The association with Henrietta came out of the blue. She phoned me and asked me to ride Dromin Leader, but I thought it was my mates taking the mickey so was a bit offish with her and had to phone back to apologise! We won, and she asked me to be her assistant. She’s got a wicked sense of humour and used to call me ‘Jules’.
Henrietta Knight: wicked sense of humour
Castle Mane, on who I won at the Cheltenham evening meeting, was my easiest winner under rules and – of course – I won at Aintree on Gunner Welburn for his trainer Caroline Bailey.
Which jockeys have you most admired?
We had some fabulous ones in the period I was riding, many in the West Country. Shirley Vickery and Polly Curling were so competitive – you wouldn’t want to get on Polly’s wrong side! And Tim Mitchell was an unbelievable jockey for a tall lad and I got on so well with him. It’s a real shame he never won the title.
Who’s inspired you most in pointing?
Someone who really helped me when I was younger was Harry Wheeler, a good jockey himself. I’d had a hard fall at Upton-on-Severn and he said to me, “Pritch, I need a word. I have to educate you.” He taught me that race-riding wasn’t just about going flat out in front. I used to be gung-ho and Harry made a huge difference – I started riding with more confidence.
What are your favourite courses and why?
Garthorpe is a proper track with big fences, fantastic ground and competitive racing, which I love. I also like Chaddesley Corbett, although I could never ride a winner there until Harry told me to stop going so quickly! And Andoversford with its downhill fences – you used to see jockeys sitting back like John Wayne. Of those that have gone, I used to enjoy riding at Cursneh Hill, which was a whizzy little up and down track.
Julian in action at Garthorpe
What's been the highlight of your time in the sport?
It was great to break the winners’ record but I knew that was coming, so it has to be winning at Liverpool, which was so emotional that I had tears in my eyes – everyone was talking the p*ss! My phone didn’t stop ringing all the way home.
Julian riding Gunner Welburn to victory in the Aintree Foxhunters
And your funniest moment?
One was when I was riding Belmont King for Andrew Dalton in as match for the four-mile classic at the Heythrop against Dave Mansell on Rusty Fellow. As he came upsides me, I said, “Go on Manse, you’ve got me beat,” but he must have forgotten it was four miles as he jumped the last fence that he should have bypassed and was disqualified!
Another also involves Dalts, who’s so laid-back. He was riding one for Dick Baimbridge at Garnons one day, went a circuit and a bit, pulled up next to where I was watching and got off. Dick came over and said, “Why did you pull up there?” and Dalts replied, “Because it’s the quickest way back to the changing room.” I burst out laughing but Dick didn’t find it so funny.
The late, great Dick Baimbridge
Do you have any regrets?
I made a lot of mistakes and may have upset people and cost myself championships with some of my decisions but no – apart from eating and drinking too much when I played rugby. Warren Marston used to call me “Ox”.
What changes have you seen during your time, for better and worse?
The medical side has improved and jockeys are looked after better. I lost all my teeth once in a fall at Chaddesley Corbett and was quoted more than the cost of a bungalow for a replacement set! Nowadays that would be paid for – can you ask the Injured Jockeys Fund to backdate it?
On the downside, I don’t think it’s as competitive as it was, especially among the jockeys. I was riding against the likes of Dalts, Gary Hanmer and Polly Gundry. Now, lads come into the sport, go under rules and don’t come back.
What would you do if you were in charge of the sport?
I don’t think there’s a lot you can do – people have tried a lot of things - and I don’t agree that prize money makes a difference. We’ve got to keep the link with hunting – if it goes, pointing might go too, because you wouldn’t get the volunteers. We need to get more young people involved.
What do you think the effect of lockdown on pointing will be?
I enjoyed going to Kingston Blount as the end of last season (Julian presented the champion jockey award to James King) and it was fantastic to meet old friends. So I actually think Covid will bring people back to pointing, as they’ll realise what they’ve been missing.
What is your involvement with pointing these days?
I steward at Bredwardine and Chaddesley Corbett – although I didn’t last season – and go to my local track Maisemore Park when I can, but I’m a farmer now and lambing takes up my time in the spring. I spent almost 25 years riding, so now I’ve got to work to pay for those years of laziness!
Where is your dream holiday destination?
The Maldives, where I went on honeymoon. It was the most wonderful place but will probably be gone by the time I get round to going back.
Who would be your ideal dinner party guests?
Johnny Vegas and Michael Palin. I took my riding seriously, but like to have a laugh.
What do you love most about pointing?
The amount of friends I’ve made – although I’ve probably made some enemies too! I don’t keep in contact as much as I should but it’s brilliant when I do see the likes of Matt Sheppard. You can’t fault the loyalty of people you meet in the sport.