A fair-sized crowd enjoyed the Saturday sunshine at the Kimblewick (February) point-to-point at the weekend and were treated to 49 runners – including three double-figure fields. Despite the mild weather, the ground – officially described as Soft – was tacky, and horses were finishing tired. The fence under the wood before the open ditch was omitted in all races.
The feature race was the six-runner Philip Scouller Memorial Home Counties Grand National Mixed Open, and it went the way of second favourite Amrons Sage, locally trained by Alan Hill for owners The Sunday Night Partnership. The eight-year-old, ridden by reigning champion jockey Izzie Hill (daughter-in-law of the trainer) quickened to lead five out, was two lengths clear at the penultimate fence and scored by a comfortable ten lengths from Ballyadam Destiny, with Who’s In The Box 12 lengths third.
It was an amazing ninth success in the race for the Hill family, and a delighted Joe – son of Alan and husband of Izzie, beamed afterwards, “It was a great win for a local syndicate, most of whom have had horses with us for many years – I bought him well! Seriously, I couldn’t believe we picked him up for only £5,000 as I knew he’d be the perfect, fun syndicate horse. Izzie was determined to run him here and gave him a great ride. Four miles on soft ground suited him and he jumped brilliantly.” Asked about plans, Joe laughed, “That was his Grand National! We may target the four-miler at Cheltenham.”
The winning rider professed herself, “Really happy. He ran well at Chaddesley Corbett last time on soft ground against good opposition and we knew he’d stay all day, so targeted this race a while ago.” Izzie echoed Joe’s words, telling me, “He was a pleasure to ride and jumped fantastically,” but wouldn’t be drawn on the chances of retaining her title (she’s four behind perennial rival Gina Andrews after the weekend’s action), saying only, “I’m not even thinking about that. I’m just happy that the yard is healthy, and the horses are running well.”
At the other end of the distance scale was the Field Seymour Parkes Restricted Race, supported by the PPORA and for which ten faced the starter, over two miles five furlongs, which was won by champion trainer Josh Newman, riding El Capitaine, the favourite, who was scoring for the third time this season. Always prominent, he took up the running five out and – while challenged by market rival Cheytac at the second last – found another gear and coasted home by an easy five lengths, with Mount Anglesby third, four lengths further back.
It was only Josh’s second visit – and first for 12 years – to Kingston Blount from his Woolminstone, Somerset base. Not only is he one clear in the trainers title again this year, he is eight ahead in the male jockey’s championship after the weekend results, so my obvious first question was: can he do anything wrong at the moment? Josh smiled wryly, admitting, “I hit the front too soon and he idled and, though he winged the next, it was scary to see Cheytac coming back at me! It was a good performance with a penalty, particularly on that ground, so I wanted to conserve his energy.” The pair had won at Chipley Park a fortnight earlier and Josh confirmed that coming here was only planned after they won so impressively there. “He’ll more than likely go for the Intermediate at Charlton Horethorne in two weeks,” he added, “And hopefully pick up a few more this season.” As for title hopes, Josh was coy. “I need to still be there in April,” he said. “And if I am, I’ll have to start getting on the phone (for outside rides) as our horses can’t last forever and they’ll stop when they’ve had enough.”
It was a third win from four starts this season for seven-year-old El Capitaine and owner Ivan Thompson explained how he came by the horse. “He was up for sale privately, I looked at his form in Ireland and liked the look of him. He’s the first horse to run in my colours with Josh. He was still learning first time out at Knightwick, his Wadebridge race has worked out well and he won easily at Chipley Park, which is why we came here. We may aim for the Stratford Restricted Final, which is why we ran him over 2m5f here, and may give him a break before that – it’s up to Josh.”
That race went to a trainer-rider, while the Print Concern Conditions Race (Level 2), sponsored by evergreen trainer Tim Underwood, was won by an owner-rider, in the shape of Alex Ingram, riding her own Everything Now, trained by Jo Priest at the historic Caradoc Court stables in Herefordshire. This saw a field of 11, the joint-highest of the day. The 11-year-old attempted to make all but looked beaten when headed by All Loved Up three out and was not making any headway round the final bend. However, Everything Now and his determined rider rallied after the last and got up in the last 50 yards, the winning distance being half a length. Very slow to start, Gateau De Miel made good late progress, but his effort petered out and he was a further 20 lengths behind in third.
“Wasn’t Alex brilliant?” exclaimed the winning trainer. “I’m so proud of her – I thought they were beaten coming round the bend, but she did well to get him back up. She knows the horse inside out and told me she’d go from the front.” Alex and Everything Now had been third at Milborne St Andrew recently after 14 months off and Jo confirmed, “She was easy on him there after they made a mistake – we came here because we knew the ground would be beautiful. It’s my first winner at Kingston Blount, although we haven’t had many runners here, and second of the season.”
It was Alex’s sixth career success, five of which have come on Everything Now – including a Maiden win at Edgcote and two in Ireland. She talked me briefly through her career so far “My first winner was Kaki De La Pree, who came – like this horse – from Tom Symonds. I went to Ireland to work for Gordon Elliott and took Everything Now with me. I now work for Venetia Williams and ride him at Jo’s in my lunchbreak. It helps working for professional trainers as the advice I get is great – Charlie Deutsch has been especially helpful.” Of her winning ride, she smiled, “I adore this horse. I knew he’d stay, so hoped he’d be able to get back to the runner-up.”
The Jockey Club Opportunity Conditions Race (Level 3) for Grass Roots Riders is part of a new series for the 2024-2025 season, designed to reward the less high-profile participants in the sport, being for horses who have not won any race since September 2022 and for jockeys who have ridden 20 winners or fewer. Only three went to post, and just two finished, odds-on favourite Cooldine Bog in the hands of owner-trainer-rider Amber Jackson-Fennell making most to beat Nasee by two lengths in a very slowly run race in which neither finisher jumped well.
“He deserved to win something,” admitted Amber of her 12-year-old. “He’s coming to the end of his career but loves it as much as ever. You’re right, his jumping can be ‘interesting’ – he likes to clip the boards!” After a stellar 2022/2023 season, when she was champion novice rider and finished second in the female jockeys table, nothing went right for Amber – who has seven in her yard near Chipping Norton – last year, but her runners are going well now, and she explained the possible reasons for her change of fortune. “We’re doing more with the horses, and we’ve changed their feed to Spillers. Last season, the ground didn’t suit them, and the racing was so competitive.”
It was a day of highs and lows for Amber, her afternoon concluding with a horrible-looking fall on Bobbarelli in the Restricted. She was taken to hospital after a long delay, but I spoke to her on Monday, and she gave me this upbeat report on her progress. “I was discharged from hospital after an overnight stay and am worse for wear but had a lucky escape and, fingers crossed, I’ll be back in action in a couple of weeks. Apparently ‘Bob’ used me as a cushion (the horse, who is also OK, fell on her) but luckily, I have no recollection as I didn’t wake up until 7 o’clock!” We all wish this resilient jockey a speedy recovery.
The afternoon’s racing opened with The Luck Family Four- and Five-Years Old Maiden Race, over two miles five furlongs and sponsored by broadcaster Nick Luck, who is doing so much to promote pointing, including through his co-sponsorship of the Pointing Pointers Hunter Chase series. It had eight runners and was won by Couer D’Alene and champion jockey James King. The five-year-old, on his third start this season, took up the running from debutant Sogna In Grande three out and – despite a bad mistake at the penultimate – used his experience to stay on for a comfortable 12-length victory. Favourite Another Notion was ten lengths further back in third.
“It’s been hard work with him,” said Couer D’Alene’s relieved trainer Chris Barber in the winners enclosure. “He’s been green and babyish – he was very weak last year – and his jumping’s taken a lot of work, but the penny’s finally dropped and he’s a nice horse for the future.” The horse is co-owned by Chris and well-known consignors Paul and Sara Thorman and the trainer confirmed, “I first met Paul when I was very young and they’re fantastic people – it’s great to have them involved in the yard. I’ll talk to them about plans – he was bought to sell and, while he has a lot of ability, he’s a bit exposed now, so may stay pointing.”
Winning jockey James King, whose landmark 250th pointing success this was, told me, “I’ve ridden him a couple of times already this season, so knew he’d keep galloping. The plan (which obviously worked) was to make use of him and take it up three out.” The reigning champion was guarded on his chances of winning a fourth jockeys title, saying only, “We’ll have to see. I’ve still got a lot of horses to ride that haven’t been out yet.”
The second Maiden on the card was the Ashley Wilde Group Conditions Maiden, this time over the full three-mile trip, and was the second race of the day to attract 11 runners. It was taken by Bradley Gibbs’ seasonal debutante Ask Elli, ridden by Ed Vaughan and owned by pointing stalwart Chub Castle, who helped design the Kingston Blount course prior to its opening in 1971. The five-year-old mare was always prominent behind leader Glancing Hill, took it up two out, and kept on gamely to repel the persistent challenge of the market leader. Occupied Territory, another making their first appearance this year, was a never dangerous 17 lengths third.
“I knew she’d be fit and expected her to run well,” smiled Bradley in response to my cheeky question about whether he thought Ask Elli would need the run. “She ran well last season, especially when slipping up in the Mares Maiden Final, although she was big and backward. We’ll see how she comes out of the race before discussing plans with Chub and his wife Sally. She’s a nice filly.” As for the owner, “I can’t remember when I last had a runner here, let alone a winner! We’ve got three homebreds with Bradley – Bluescape (who ran in the opener) and a 5yo mare by Pethers Moon, from the same family as Ask Elli. He’s a brilliant trainer.”
“She jumped fantastically,” confirmed Ed. “I didn’t want to hit the front too soon as she saves a bit for herself and was coming on and off the bridle. She was still a bit green, but I knew she’d pick up when I asked her.” It was a second pointing win of the season for last year’s champion novice, and he admitted that – after such a stellar campaign, “Finding my own way is harder, but Dad gave me a base and hopefully things will click, and people will notice I’m also riding winners under rules – I’ve had five so far this season.”