Charlie Sprake won the Highflyer Bloodstock novice men’s championship with a final-day double when the 2021/22 season ended at Umberleigh on Saturday...
Sprake, 19, who has been based in Somerset at the yard of Will Biddick, moved onto the 13-winner mark, one ahead of Hampshire’s Freddie Gordon, when riding Benny’s Miracle to victory for trainer Teresa Clark in the restricted race. He sealed the championship in the following race, the men’s open, which was a match between himself and Gordon who had travelled to the meeting for one ride.
Gordon made the bulk of the running on Highway One O One, but Sprake had moved to the lead on I’m Wiser Now (pictured above) as they headed up the hill for the final time and good jumps at the final two fences kept the door shut on his opponent. Sprake will start work for Barbury Castle trainer Alan King next month and plans to become a conditional jockey.
Charlie Sprake (right) and Freddy Gordon before the men's open race which was won by Sprake
One other national championship – for the Foran Equine leading trainer with seven or fewer horses – was concluded at Umberleigh. Gordon’s mother, Jenny, takes that title with 11 winners, the same score as Sam Loxton who did not have a runner at the meeting, but with a greater number of places.
Full report from the meeting will be posted on pointtopoint.co.uk.