Point-to-point column: champion the achievements of these 'amateurs'

Six meetings last weekend gave us three memorable doubles for participants who fit in perfectly to the ‘professional amateur’ division of the sport, and ironically all hail from the South-East

The achievements of the top ‘performers’ who week in, week out ride and train winners and make the headlines will always be appreciated, but it is also important to champion the achievements of the ones who compete within the sport as their ‘hobby.’ 

Guildford-based trainer Robert Varnham runs a commercial cleaning company and has been enjoying point-to-pointing since training his first winner with his first runner, Sentimental Journey at Barbury Castle in November 2017.

The training of his string takes place mainly in the afternoons following a busy morning doing the ‘proper job.’ Varnham, who I am yet to meet, has a presence on social media where he is open and honest about where and when his horses run. One then can’t help but follow him with interest and I was thrilled to see him train a double last weekend at Parham in the South-East.

Varnham trains four horses, one of which, a young maiden, hasn't made his debut yet and with the ground drying, will now wait until next season. Empire De Maulde and Imperial Esprit were the weekend winners and both head to Warwick hunter-chase evening on Friday. Varnham said: “They both won nicely on Saturday and we could say it was good preparation for Warwick on Friday evening where they will both run. Empire in the two-and-a-half-miler and Imperial in the three-mile-one Open race.”

He added: “I think they both have big chances and I am delighted Seb Mead rides both. They will be Seb’s first hunter-chase rides and we are looking forward to the evening.”

Varnham’s horses all run in the name of ‘Gunshot Paddocks Racing Club’ and he continued: “There is a gang of us, all friends, they all put a bit in the pot and it contributes towards the horses running. We have nice days out. We did go to Aintree, though sadly he couldn't run because he knocked himself, but we aim to enjoy it all. I would love more horses and owners in the future.”

Mead will be looking forward to his first two hunter-chase rides and watching on will be his partner, 30-year-old Katie Featherstone, who rode Imperial Esprit to victory on Saturday and also doubled up when riding her own Petite Mike. She has enjoyed a fantastic season and is leading the Highflyer Bloodstock-sponsored Leading Ladies’ Novice Riders Championship on six winners and is making winning this a goal.

Having won five races on her two own horses in addition to Imperial Esprit on Saturday, she said: “I am very lucky to have my boys, Commander Of Ten and Petite Mike, who have both been brilliant this season. David Phelan found them in IreIand for me, both had won a maiden and they are heading through the grades.” 

To fund this expensive hobby, Featherstone is no stranger to hard work and said: “I juggle three jobs to make this work, I work all hours but I love it.” Featherstone will be in action at her local track, Godstone on Saturday aboard Commander Of Ten, who looks well placed in the last of the Jockey Club and PPA sponsored ‘Hands and Heels’ race for Novice Riders. 

Featherstone concluded by saying: “My goals for the future would be to ride around the Aintree Foxhunters' and looking beyond that I would really love to train more horses and attempt to make a living from it. Seb is brilliant with the youngsters, so between us I hope to get recognised and increase the numbers.”

Hard work pays off and being rewarded with a double at Woodford was jockey Dan Cherriman who admitted it was a much needed result.  

Cherriman, who grew up in Sussex, now lives in Shropshire and is Huntsman to the Shropshire Hunt. Riding in point-to-points is very much a hobby, but one he loves and does well and he said: “I was a late starter, I rode in my first point-to-point 11 years ago and I have had a lot of fun. I have ridden 21 winners, one in a hunter-chase and the rest pointing.”

The first leg of his Saturday double at Woodford was for Rhiannon Lodge on Galileo Silver - a horse on whom Cherriman was winning for the fourth time. I noted that on the one occasion Cherriman had not ridden him he had pulled-up, this being testament to Cherriman’s ability.

He told me about his second winner who ran in his own colours. “Hugo’s New Horse did belong to Gordon Miller who also rode him and when he decided to sell him I jumped at the chance. So I went to see him last Friday, rode him Saturday and paid for him Sunday; so to come here and win six days later was wonderful.”

This is what it is all about, taking a chance and reaping the rewards. He added: “I hadn't yet had a winner this season so I was beginning to wonder if it was time to pack up, but now definitely not!”

Cherriman shared his sentiments about the sport and said: “I am a huge advocate of the big, commercial yards, I totally understand we need them. However for the likes of me who train one from home and have one in training in shares with Dad it feels like we are becoming the minority. It would be brilliant to have more like me!

"The loss of the grassroots and veteran rider races, which I do understand made sense since the increase of number of wins to ten for novice rider eligibility, but it has limited race options for us ‘corinthians’. In any sport if you can’t be successful you give up.” 

It is clear for Cherriman that whilst it is all about having fun, the need to be competitive is imperative. He concluded: “For me if I wasn’t riding I wouldn't be just an owner. I am an owner/trainer/rider with two or three horses who luckily has some mates in Shropshire just the same, we can get together to work the horses and have some fun but we want to win too!”

Over last weekend, we saw the continued rise to the top for jockey Ed Doggrell, who rode a four-timer at Woodford. Three for Herefordshire’s Chris Barber and one for Warwickshire-based Fran Poste. Doggrell has ridden 28 winners so far this season, bettering last season by an outstanding 22 winners to this point. 

He said: “I was very lucky to be sat on four nice horses, three of which I barely had to move on. When one wins, then the next confidence is high and on it goes. It has been a brilliant season.” 

Another key Landmark was landed on Friday evening at Chestow when Zac Baker rode his 200th overall career winner aboard Stumps Or Slips for Ed Walker in the Dunraven Bowl Grassroots’ Open Hunter’s Chase.

Baker, who has been a top amateur over the past 15 seasons, now has his sights set on reaching 150 winners in the point-to-point field, a target he is six winners away from achieving.

Dorset’s Charlie Marshall made a flying visit to America a successful one when winning the Maryland Hunt Cup for the second time. In 2024 he was victorious aboard the Joe Davies-trained Blackhall, and this time he joined forces with the same trainer and rode Mr Fine Threads.

The heavens opened shortly before the off and Marshall said: “The ground was then firm and slippery! The horses are unbelievable, they know exactly what they are doing over the huge upright timber rails. It is an honour to have won such an historical race.”

Marshall was back in the winners' enclosure on Sunday at Stafford’s Cross on Follow My Order for trainer Mike Felton. The winning jockey admitted: “I got about an hour-and-a-half sleep on the plane and got here just in time for declarations!” Marshall should be used to a lack of sleep - he and his wife Hannah have recently welcomed their first child, a baby boy.

Flete Park, Devon, PL21 9NU, 6 races, first race 2pm

Godstone, Surrey, RH9 8DB. 6 races, first race 2.15pm

South Hill, Somerset, TA22 9PT. 6 races, first race 2pm

Dingley, Leicestershire, LE16 8PJ. 6 races, first race 2pm

Eyton-on-severn, Shropshire, SY5 6PW. 6 races, first race 1.30pm

Mollington, Oxfordshire, OX17 1QE. 6 races, first race 2pm

Vaulterhill, Devon, EX37 9BT. 6 races, first race 2pm.

Witton Castle, County Durham, DL14 0DE. 6 races, first race 2pm.