Williams steps up to conditional ranks – while Prichard makes most of move back

Point-to-pointing’s latest export to the professional ranks should make his mark as a conditional jockey.

Lorcan Williams, 18, looked set to be last season’s outstanding novice until James Bowen turned 16 – and the season on its head – and knocked up a rapid and remarkable 30 winners. Williams’ score of 19 was highly commendable and he has built on that since, primarily through successes under rules. On Monday he signed off from the pointing ranks with a winner for trainer Sally Alner.

Williams will be hoping to join the growing list of ex-point-to-point riders (and often pony racers) who converted a spell in the amateur sport into a successful career under rules, but there are no guarantees. Will Biddick and John Dawson, two of the season’s top four male riders, started in pointing, tried the paid ranks and then reverted back to the amateur sport.