Permit holder Berwick hoping to go Phar after second success

Jumping’s big guns will be firing from the hip all week but it was a relative minnow in the shape of Devon permit holder, John Berwick, who took the training honours with Phar Away Island in the second division of the 2m7½f handicap hurdle.

It has been a long time between drinks for Berwick as he saddled his first winner, Mungo Jerry, at Exeter nine years ago and Phar Away Island’s success in the hands of conditional Harry Teal, was only his second under rules.

He explained: “After Mungo Jerry won I took time off from training and had a go at point-to-pointing but it was not to be and in the end I decided I liked racing under rules better. I have just the two horses – this one and Kilrush – at the yard in North Bovey in Devon.