Established jumps trainers only want to help the pointing scene and their runners should be welcomed

A winner for Anthony Honeyball at Larkhill on Saturday fed into a familiar debate about professional participation in point-to-points.

Honeyball had two runners on the card. Hard Stare, a five-year-old Passing Glance gelding, won the Flat race under Will Biddick, while Acey Milan finished a head second in the novice riders’ race for Will Higgs, who works in the yard.

The rules allow a licensed trainer to run a horse in a point-to-point if it is in their ownership, and Honeyball, whose wife Rachael was an accomplished point-to-point jockey herself before turning professional, explained his reasons for going down that route with Hard Stare.

“Rachael bought him privately as a yearling and the plan was to sell him as a store,” he said. “He didn’t make the money to make that worthwhile so we kept him. He is qualified for the sales bumper this spring having been through the ring. Being ours and both having historical pointing roots, we just couldn’t see any reason not to run in a point-to-point bumper first. 

"It is a little boost to his profile without getting to the bottom of him, Rachael has been schooling him lots and there is the possibility he will run in a maiden next.”

On Acey Milan, Honeyball added: “Will was having only his third ride ever, he didn’t pony-race. I started in the same way and didn’t have an Acey Milan to ride so he will have learned loads from it. Hopefully he will have a lot of fun on Acey – Chad Bament had a great time on him previously and this now gives Will a great opportunity.

“We both enjoyed our day at Larkhill, it was a no-pressure day and lovely to support the point-to-point.”   

Licensed trainers have been linked to British point-to-pointing over the years and these links continue to get stronger. Over the last few decades we have seen Paul Nicholls support daughters Megan and Olive in their riding careers and Nicholls can regularly be seen enjoying a day at a point-to-point. 

Olive Nicholls: has enjoyed success as a point-to-point rider

Katherine and Diana Hobbs, daughters of Philip, were also successful in the saddle on the point-to-point circuit and as amateurs under rules, while point-to-pointing also celebrates the likes of Callum Pritchard, Jack Tudor, Bryony Frost, Lily Pinchin, Sean Bowen, Harry Cobden; the list of successful National Hunt jockeys who cut their teeth in the grassroots sport is endless.

The ever-changing economy and affordability has affected participants within point-to-pointing in recent times, but encouragement and support from our licensed trainers can have a positive effect. Some trainers have a senior staff member to train a string of horses to run in point-to-points for stable staff to ride such as Nick Pearce, a former amateur jockey who had trained point-to-pointers before he joined the Dan Skelton team.

Pearce says: “I trained a few and we had some fun – it was a great way to help and encourage the staff in the yard. I trained the horses up at the stud, separate from the main yard, and the lads and lasses used to come and ride them in their lunch breaks. Sean O’Connor and Heidi Palin both benefited from this system.”

Fergal O’Brien and his partner Sally Randell both have a background in point-to-point riding and training, and before they became such a big yard a handful of pointers were trained by Randell for staff to ride. She explains: “Myles Osbourne now trains the pointers for us that are syndicate-owned. We have St Patricks Bridge and Ask A Honey Bee for Harry O’Dwyer, our amateur to ride. We like to help and support the young lads where we can.” 

Like Honeyball, David Pipe has been among the winners pointing this season, with Fighter Allen scoring at Wadebridge recently under Rian Corcoran, and Pipe says: “Pointing is a brilliant place to give young jockeys an opportunity to fulfil ambitions – pointing and National Hunt racing need each other.” 

Corcoran, who rides out for Pipe three days a week, looks a talent to watch in the future and he isn’t the only jockey to receive the trainer’s support, as Pipe adds: “Mia Holmes works for me and she is having her first ride on Sunday at Chipley Park for her grandmother Mary Sanderson. I hope to give her some rides too.” 

David Pipe: "Pointing and National Hunt racing need each other” Credit: Alex Davidson

Pipe trains a handful of his own pointers, some exposed horses and some young maidens, ridden by staff in the yard or Martin Mcintyre.

Not everyone in the point-to-point sphere is happy with the inclusion of licensed trainers, but for human and equine participants allowing further involvement from the professionals can only be positive. 

Pointing is at heart an amateur sport, but none of those mentioned above are trying to take it away from its roots, instead wanting to support its amateur ethos. 

What shines through is their passion for helping pointing and doing what’s best for the sport rather than any personal gain. These are people who only want to help British point-to-pointing thrive.

Weekend fixtures

Saturday
Sheriff Hutton, Yorkshire YO60 7TN. First race 11.45. 6 races, 90 entries

Sunday
Horseheath, Cambridgeshire, CB9 7LG. 12.00. 6 races, 58 entries.
Chipley Park, Somerset, TA21 0QU. 12.00, 7 races, 103 entries.
Cocklebarrow, Gloucestershire, GL54 3PP. 12.00, 7 races, 78 entries.
Alnwick, Northumberland, NE66 3AE. 12.00, 7 races, 62 entries.

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