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Like father, like daughter as Molly Armytage uses her initiative to boost syndicate membership

Claire Hart with her weekly round-up from the point-to-point world

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Point-to-point correspondent
Molly Armytage: has some well-known names involved in her syndicate
Molly Armytage: has some well-known names involved in her syndicate

Young jockey Molly Armytage has made the most of a surname that is well known in racing to attract a who’s who of the professional game to join her in a point-to-point syndicate.

Armytage, the 18-year-old daughter of Grand National-winning jockey and leading racing journalist Marcus, recently rode Baunmore Jet into second spot at Larkhill in Wiltshire on his debut in Britain for Berkshire trainer Katie Croft.

Among the seven-year-old’s owners are top trainer Ralph Beckett and presenter Nick Luck, while syndicate members in attendance at Larkhill included Eve Johnson Houghton, Christina Dunlop, who was joined by husband Harry, and the Daily Mirror’s Dave Yates. Marcus Armytage, who famously rode Mr Frisk to National glory in 1990 in record time, was also there to give moral support, although Molly reveals that he has “yet to put his hand in his pocket” and join the group.

Baunmore Jet won a maiden point-to-point in Ireland in April and four days later was bought for €6,500 at a sale of pointers.

Molly says: “We set up the syndicate to help with the running costs. Journalists Dave Yates, Cornelius Lysaght and Marcus Townend are supporting me, and Richard Phillips and Ralph Beckett have recently got involved alongside Nick Luck.”

Baunmore Jet has not been entered at Larkhill on Sunday but is set to return there on January 5.

Weekend preview

One knock-on effect of last week’s Storm Darragh forcing the late cancellation of the meeting at Chaddesley Corbett in Worcestershire is a bumper number of entries this weekend, with more than 200 horses entered at Larkhill and Alnwick on Sunday.

Racegoers could be in for a treat, with a number of point-to-point’s hottest prospects and some highly rated ex-rules stars involved. With Christmas almost here, and a near two-week gap until the next fixture – which is at Chaddesley Corbett on December 29 – it could be a great way to head towards the festive break.

Will Biddick’s 600th point-to-point winner in Britain is surely on the cards at Larkhill, where he is set for a full book of eight rides, needing just one more to break the landmark.

“It would be lovely to get there this weekend,” he said. “This is my 22nd season and touch wood I have had a clear run. I've had a few ups and downs and times where I haven’t enjoyed the sport, but right now I love it. The body works and the weight is good. 

"A glass or two will be raised if I ride my 600th, but it soon goes back to normal. Six hundred and counting because I want to keep adding to that tally.”

Among Biddick’s mounts is former Grade 1-winning hurdler My Drogo, now trained by Ed Walker. “He has been a very good horse under rules and hopefully going pointing will help him to regain his confidence,” he said.

Biddick also has a good word for some of those he trains himself. “I really like Sienna Earth from our yard," he said. "She's a four-year-old debutante who we broke in and produced, and she will run in the four- and five-year-old maiden race. 

My Drogo on his way to a first chase success
My Drogo: could make his point-to-point debutCredit: John Grossick (racingpost.com/photos)

"Il Pino, who will run in the mixed open, won a maiden for us on debut, then went to Paul Nicholls and won a hurdle race before rejoining our yard.

“I ride Green Bonnet and Five Bar Gate in the two divisions of the Flat race and both have chances.”

Britain’s leading St James’s Place Festival Hunter Chase hope Ihandaya and course specialist Grace A Vous Enki both hold an entry in the mixed open. Nicky Sheppard trains both, and said: “Grace A Vous Enki is likely to run. He has won at Larkhill six times and it would be lovely to see him make it seven. If that was the case Ihandaya would head to Chaddesley after Christmas.” 

At Alnwick Dusart, who retains a handicap mark of 150 from his time with Nicky Henderson and whose three most recent runs were in the Coral Gold Cup, Scottish Grand National and Cotswold Chase, may take his place in the mixed open. 

Now handled in Leicestershire by Kelly Morgan and owned by John Chatfield-Roberts, he will be partnered by Chatfield-Roberts’ son Tom. 

Morgan said: “We are looking forward to running him, he's a lovely horse. We bought him at the sales in May and the main aim would be to qualify for the Festival Hunters’ Chase at Cheltenham in March.”

Opposition could include Bardenstown Lad, a useful ex-Irish recruit who will be a first point-to-point runner for Sarah Loughnane, wife of trainer Dave, and four-time course winner Dundrum Wood, trained in Warwickshire by Gina Andrews and ridden by Martha Reeve.

Sunday  

Larkhill, Wiltshire, SP4 8QR. First race 11.00. 8 races. 127 entries.

Alnwick, Northumberland, NE66 3AE. 12.00. 6 races. 83 entries.

More information at pointtopoint.co.uk and gopointing.com


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