After several decades, the double history maker Caroline Robinson weighed out once again when riding at Bangor-on-Dee on Sunday.
This article first appeared in the Racing Post on Friday 8th March.
In 1983, Robinson became the first woman to ride a winner at the Cheltenham Festival when partnering Eliogarty to victory in Cheltenham’s Foxhunter Chase and – three years later – she teamed up with the same horse and became the first of her sex to win over Aintree’s Grand National fences. Her win in the Foxhunters’ Chase was gained when the jumps and drop landings had an air of mystique which today’s modified versions have never quite achieved.
With those famous successes on her CV, Sunday’s one-mile Flat race held before the day’s point-to-point appeared a straightforward assignment and she was probably able to skip one of the conditions of the race, which stated: ‘Training day at Greenall Guerriero Racing essential unless proof of previous experience’. Yes, we think Robinson ticked that box.
A trainer of pointers from a yard in Cheshire, she said her daughter Immy volunteered her for the race, and added: “Apart from having a year out when I fractured my femur, I’ve ridden out nearly every day since I was in single figures. These days that is usually two or three lots and I still enjoy it.”
Robinson rode ‘Del Boy’, aka The Dellercheckout, of whom she said: “He’s a lovely horse to ride and so well balanced.”
Oliver Greenall, who is chairman of the meeting, said of the race: “We’re trying to make it more of a family day out. Our head lad Cai Williams and travelling head groom Rachael Lytham are riding in the race.”
[Note to readers: Caroline and 'Del Boy' were third to Rachel Lytham on Lucky Lover Boy].
Rachel Lytham winning on Lucky Lover Boy with Caroline Robinson (red cap) in third (Sweet Photography)
Ellis a true gent
Point-to-pointing’s loss is racing’s gain if Tom Ellis becomes fully engaged in racing under rules.
A Warwickshire farmer’s son, he announced last week that he is taking out a licence, ostensibly to saddle his mother’s horse Latenightpass in the Randox Grand National, but without hiding the fact that he has the facilities and horsepower to make his mark in Jump racing. Handling some 60 pointers might seem like an easy way to win races, but finding them opportunities to run – especially in this horribly wet winter when many meetings have been called off – presents challenges. Racing under rules will provide more opportunities.
Hopefully he and his wife Gina Andrews will find a formula that enables them to spread their wings while still retaining a good foothold in point-to-pointing. The yard – or rather its clients – recently spent some £1,100 in entry fees for one weekend. Last weekend it had runners at five meetings from Somerset to Kent and Yorkshire. That money and those runners will be a loss.
Wherever the road takes Ellis, I wish him nothing but good luck, because he has been an asset to the sport and an absolute gentleman who has been so helpful with enquiries about running and riding plans.
Tom Ellis flanked by his wife Gina Andrews and her brother Jack at his owners' day earlier this season
