34-year-old Nick Orpwood (right), who trains pointers from the family farm (“a cracking little spot”) at Cornhill-on-Tweed in Northumberland, close to the Scottish border, is currently the most successful jockey from the Northern Area – last season, he achieved his 100th victory when Dream Over scored at Alnwick in January and his career total now stands at 106, nine of which have been achieved in Hunter Chases. Jake Exelby spoke to Nick in advance of the new season about his background, the highlight of his time in the saddle and the ambition he hopes to achieve next season.
by Jake Exelby, South Midlands Area PRO
Nick after his 100th career victory
Tell me about your background and your pointing career
I’m Northumberland through-and-through, although the nearest town is Kelso, just over the border! I started off riding Shetland ponies before being dragged out hunting, then doing pony club. As I got older, I’d go charging around fields and up and down hills with my two older brothers and would go hunting with mates – my parents were on the College Valley point-to-point committee and I remember doing the number board at Alnwick with my brothers.
When I turned 16, race-riding was a natural progression and (former Grand National winning trainer) John Leadbetter – who’s been a great help – put me on Musical Socks as a schoolmaster in 2005. He was no world-beater, but a great conveyance. Then Mum and Dad had a couple of horses and I had my first win, for them, on Dere Street at Friars Haugh in April 2006, which was pretty special – he’d also given Rose Dobbin and Morag Neill their first winner.
Things moved slowly and it was a tough first couple of years. I was at school at Sedbergh so could only ride at the weekends – I played rugby there with the likes of (Newcastle Falcons back-rower) Carl Fearns and we hardly ever lost so I thought racing would be like rugby and that I’d win all the time! I made a lot of mistakes.
I was at university at the Royal Agricultural College in Cirencester and rode out a bit for Tom George, went travelling, then went to work for Tony and Rose Dobbin before becoming assistant trainer to Lucinda Russell. I was there for four years and rode Grand National winner One For Arthur at home in his novice chasing days. After a while, everything just started to go right, for a combination of reasons – I rode four or five good horses in the 2014-2015 season and doing plenty of schooling for Lucinda helped my riding.
Did you ever think about turning professional?
When I’d got school and university done, I went to Australia with my friend “DJ”, fellow jockey David Jeffreys. I was 21 by then, so I didn’t really get going until I went to Tony and Rose’s. I was a slow learner, so always knew pointing was my game!
Who have been your favourite horses?
The first really good one I rode was Splendid Blue, who was champion novice mare in 2013/2014 and won three races the next season.
Nick on Splendid Blue
Eco Warrior, owned by ‘Snippet’ Maclay who also had Houblon des Obeaux with Venetia Williams, was one I trained myself. He wasn’t straightforward – it took a year to get inside his head – but he was a lovely horse who jumped and travelled brilliantly and was a thrill to ride. We went to Friars Haugh whenever we could – he always seemed to win there (he won seven of his nine starts at the track).
Eco Warrior winning at Friars Haugh
I’ve ridden a lot of good ones for the McKies. Crazy Diamond started off as an eventer for Jess McKie but couldn’t cope with the dressage so went pointing and racked up a sequence. The Falklander was a strapping grey horse – a real stayer who won several Mens Opens. Hunting was the key to him.
Nick on Crazy Diamond
Nick on The Falklander
Which jockeys have you most admired?
When I first got going, it was a hell of a changing room and a lot of fun. The brothers Luke and Ran Morgan were great boys, then there was Tom Oates, Clive Storey and Rose Dobbin among the lady riders. My two closest mates were Charlie Shirley-Beavan and David Jeffreys, who were both good riders. Latterly, we’ve had the likes of Kit Alexander and Tom Hamilton – we’d have a proper ding-dong and all three of us have won the Northern Area championship.
What are your favourite courses?
We’re lucky to have Friars Haugh and Alnwick. I’m pretty sweet on Friars Haugh, having ridden my first winner, double, treble and four-timer there! (Nick has ridden over one-third of his pointing winners at the track) and it’s just 15 minutes down the road. You’ve got to know how to ride it – despite the steep hill, you don’t need an out-and-out stayer. It’s generally flat and, after you get to the top of the hill, you’re freewheeling down to the finish.
Alnwick is always freezing cold, though on a nice day it’s beautiful. I remember one day during Covid, it rained all day and there was no shelter, as we had to change in our cars. By race one fence three I was already three pairs of goggles down and I swear Jack Teal had pneumonia – he was shaking like a leaf! But I also remember smiling and laughing as I warmed up with a whisky mac afterwards!
Action from Alnwick
Who's inspired you most in the world of pointing?
John Leadbetter has been brilliant. And Ian and Tocky McKie, for whom I ride out two or three times a week – they’re only about ten minutes away. They’ve been there, done it and got the T-shirt and it’s great sitting with them in their kitchen putting the world to rights as they reel of stories about the likes of Nostradamus (their 1981 champion horse).
John Leadbetter - brilliant
What do you love most about pointing?
The people are great, everyone’s on the same side and anyone can come to the car boot for a good time, win, lose or draw. Given the choice of Alnwick or Friars Haugh at the weekend or a rules course during the week, it’s a no-brainer!
What’s been the highlight of your time in the sport?
Riding in the Anglo-Irish Challenge the year after I finished fourth in the national title (in 2014/2015). I was pretty chuffed about that, especially as a Northern rider. Riding a four-timer at Friars Haugh was also pretty memorable.
Nick (second left) taking part in the Anglo-Irish Challenge
What are your ambitions in the saddle?
I haven’t ridden round Cheltenham yet – while I’ve had a couple of horses who’ve been good enough, I’ve tended to keep them pointing. Hopefully the McKies have one up their sleeve – I won Hunter Chases on Rio Des Echanault and Takethepunishment for them last season and neither would be out of place at the evening meeting there.
What have been your personal funniest moments in the sport?
One is when you ride in a big field Maiden – everyone’s sheepish and there are a few thrills and spills. And watching my friends Charlie and DJ, who both struggled with their weight, try to weigh in and out could be priceless – they were both at Cirencester with me, so we’d travel up to the races together talking about their non-existent diets!
What do you think about the increase in Southern raiders to the Northern tracks?
I bloody love it when Tom and Gina (Ellis) come up! Everyone says they have fun and no-one begrudges them winning even though it makes it harder for us to win a race. It’s a hell of a round trip and reflects well on the tracks who are trying to open up their races. We’d sometimes struggle for runners if they didn’t come, so we’d like them to bring a boxful!
With horse numbers at their lowest ever level, what are your concerns about the future?
We’ve just come out of Covid and now we have a cost-of-living crisis! If we can get through that as well, we can get through anything. As long as we can rely on people turning up and doing their bit, I think the future’s bright.
What would you do to encourage more horses to the sport?
It all boils down to money and we need to push costs down, but there’s a lot of red tape in place. Numbers are down, both for horses and courses, which is concerning and field sizes are also poor under rules. A mares programme could be beneficial and we need to cater for all types of owner, as owner-breeders are declining and syndicates are on the up. It’s a big outlay, but we need to push the angle that pointing gives you the chance to have a great time with a few mates. If there are ten in a syndicate, they should get ten passes – pointing needs to be accessible.
What are your plans for next season?
I had a clear-out at the end of last season so hopefully we’ll be in a better place this year. I’ve got about eight in the yard, that I’ll ride myself, and am looking forward to Hexham, where I plan to run three.
What are your non-horsey hobbies?
I go fishing on the River Tweed, which is a great way to push the reset button – I managed to catch 12 salmon the other day. I also play five-a-side football, “Farmers Football”, at Jedburgh. I’m a Newcastle supporter and it’s great at the moment – we’ve been in the championship more often than we’d like recently and should be a top ten club.
What’s your favourite TV programme?
Only Fools and Horses is a brilliant comedy and Del Boy is hilarious. It’s my little guilty pleasure.
Where is your dream holiday destination?
I married Emily, who events at a high level, in September and we only had a mini honeymoon. So we need to do a proper one at some stage, but it will have to be a surprise!
Is there anything else you wanted to say?
I can’t wait to get going! The season is only a few weeks away now.