'It was great to get that monkey off my back' - James King among first-time Cheltenham winners at the 47th attempt

Cheltenham’s hunter-chase evening, which took place last Friday, is always a highlight of the point-to-point season, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for many and a chance to prove that dreams really can come true.

While some of the winners last week are veterans of the Prestbury Park winner’s enclosure – not least Gina Andrews, whose double took her tally at the track to 12 – others were experiencing the joy of a Cheltenham winner for the first time, and in the case of James King it was particularly long overdue.

King, a leading men’s amateur and currently top of the point-to-point championship, had drawn a blank from 46 rides at Cheltenham coming into last week, but he immediately put that right when landing the opening two-miler aboard Joe O’Shea’s Barton Snow.

“It was great to finally ride a winner around Cheltenham and get that monkey off my back,” he said this week. “It was very plain sailing through the race and he won comfortably. Joe has done a fantastic job with him and you can’t go wrong when riding for a trainer like him.”

Hung Jury was a surprise winner of the four-mile contest but jumped well and stayed on up the hill under Jack Wilmot, another jockey enjoying his first Cheltenham winner for local trainer Martin Keighley.

Wilmot, who works for Max Comley, said: “Winning there was a childhood dream and it was my first winner under rules for three years, so it was brilliant. I had won on Hung Jury at Paxford last season and I owe him a lot. And Martin now too!”

Hung Jury had been previously handled by Keighley’s travelling head girl Sian Brooke but is now in the ownership of the Martin Keighley Racing Club.

Keighley said: “I started off training pointers and we love to go to local ones when we can. This syndicate had the time of their lives on Friday night, many saying it was the biggest thrill of their ownership experience so far. That is what it's all about. It is great to have given Jack his first winner there too.”

Martin Keighley: racing club had good night out thanks to Hung JuryCredit: Edward Whitaker

Paddy Barlow had never even got round at Cheltenham before winning the intermediate final on Crawter, who certainly made his rider work for it, jumping out to the right on numerous occasions before getting up on the run-in.

“It was brilliant to get the call to ride him,” said Barlow, “and it was such a thrill to ride a winner there – I had never got round before! He must have some engine to win after doing it the hard way like that.” 

Crawter is trained by Harriet Waight, who also owns him in partnership with point-to-point stalwart Stan Rawlings, and she said: “His jumping was better than it has been but still going to the right – I think he wanted to go the longest way possible! We live right next to Larkhill so he has run there regularly going right-handed – we did go to Bitterley to have a practice left-handed but that wasn’t very pretty.

“We're on cloud nine – to have a winner at Cheltenham is just amazing. Stan is like a father to me and is thrilled. He spent all weekend pointing being congratulated, which is what it is all about. I only train two, we farm and have three children, so it’s a team effort.”

Barlow was a short head away from a double later on the card when just denied by ten-time women’s point-to-point champion Andrews, who was completing a double of her own.

She was at her brilliant best to win on Latenightfumble, a half-sister to Latenightpass who had not been seen on a racecourse for more than two years, during which time she had produced a foal by Passing Glance. Keen throughout and jumping slickly, she delighted connections, with owner Pippa Ellis saying: “I was speechless, this family are just amazing. 

"It was a brilliant return to the track after such a long time off and an even more brilliant effort by the team at home. She has come out of the race well and we are all absolutely delighted.”

Andrews had earlier partnered Music Drive to win the Jonathan Neesom Memorial Hunters' Chase, named after the well-known racing analyst and pundit who loved his pointing.

Music Drive, trained by Kelly Morgan in Leicestershire, has been a revelation since being switched to the grassroots sport for the Foxfield Stud Syndicate, on whose behalf syndicate member Ali Wheeler explained: “Kelly and her team are just brilliant; this horse has been wonderful to us winning three now and finishing fourth at the festival in March. 

"We were so sad not to have Ellie Callwood on board as she was banned but are very grateful Gina stepped in to ride him in her absence; there is no better person.

“We're a 14-strong syndicate and love to support Kelly. She is all about the team and appreciates the hard work that goes into the whole process. We have had so much fun with her over the past few years.” 

The double kicked off a fine weekend for Andrews, who added four more winners pointing after a dry spell that dated back to March. 

“I love this meeting,” she said, “and I was thrilled with Latenightfumble, that one meant a lot. She pulled hard and made it difficult for herself but was brilliant.”

Gina Andrews: at her brilliant best on LatenightfumbleCredit: Edward Whitaker

Will Biddick is another more used than some to winners on the biggest stage, although his festival victory on Something Wells in 2009 was his only one at Cheltenham until the Bea Coward-trained Douglas Longbottom won the junior hunter chase, with Biddick deputising for regular rider Martin McIntyre.

Coward said: “It was such a shame for Martin to miss out but as soon as he was injured we needed to get the best we could get. Douglas needed someone with a cool head to give him confidence over bigger fences. He and his owners really deserved the win on the big stage, he hasn't put a foot wrong all season. We're very excited about him.”

Rebel Dawn Rising was the final winner on the card for Norfolk trainer David Kemp and jockey Dale Peters, who was enjoying his third course win.

Kemp said: “He's just a very good horse. I was worried under the penalty he wouldn't win but he powered up the hill and was in a different league. He's lightly raced because we struggle with his feet. He was ready for Garthorpe in early February this time, then had a hold-up. He pulled up first time, then won well at Newbury. He's as good as ever and it's taken me until now to prove how good he is. I am certain he'd be competitive in the big handicaps.”

Peters added: “This horse has been so good to me, he's a superstar. Winners at Cheltenham are hard to come by and I feel very lucky to ride this one.”

Presenters boost marketing push

This season, the Point-to-Point Authority has been hard at work developing and delivering a fresh marketing strategy, which has been met with an overwhelmingly positive response.

The GB Pointing presenting team of (left to right) Tiggy Vale-Titterton, Alan Johns and Claire Hart

The GB Pointing Blue Mic team has travelled the country, capturing the excitement and atmosphere of meetings nationwide, including unprecedented coverage of the Cheltenham hunter-chase evening. As a result, digital engagement and reach has surged over the past two months, helping the sport reach a broader and more diverse audience.

The presenting team has also now been joined by retired jockey Alan Johns. After starting his career in point-to-pointing before making a name for himself under rules, Johns’s new role means he has come full circle.

Weekend fixtures

Saturday
Holnicote, Devon. First race 2pm, 7 races.

Sunday
Kingston Blount, Oxfordshire, OX39 4SG. 2pm, 6 races.
Charm Park, Yorkshire, YO13 9QU. 1.30pm, 6 races.
Upcott Cross, Devon, EX21 5AE. 2pm, 6 races.

Read these next:

'I'll keep my head down trying' - championships heating up as season enters final straight 

Meet the Dorset duo heading to the US in bid for historic Maryland Hunt Cup double 

Want to pay £9.99 a month for a Cheltenham runner? How point-to-point syndicates are making a splash 

The Front Runner is our unmissable email newsletter available exclusively to Racing Post+ subscribers. Chris Cook provides his take on the day's biggest stories and tips for the upcoming racing every morning from Monday to Friday. Not a Racing Post+ subscriber? Join today