Point-to-point column: Newman achieves landmark at Charing

Charing Point-to-Point in Kent once again proved what a fantastic venue it is on Saturday, with the committee doing a superb job to ensure racing went ahead for the second of two fixtures at the course after heavy rain. 

Retired jockey Paul Townsley, who rode almost 100 winners across point-to-points and under Rules, is now a BHA course inspector for the South East. He highlighted why Charing is such a reliable early-season venue. 

He said: “The chalk ground helps hold the rain in the winter but drains well and then dries up in the summer, which is why it’s well suited to holding fixtures at Charing early in the point-to-point calendar.” 

South East Area Chairman David Rhys-Jones also paid tribute to the long-standing history of the venue and the community spirit behind the meeting. 

He says: “We’ve been racing here at Charing for several decades - I’ve been coming since I was 15. 

“We have some good fun racing here. Saturday’s fixture, Charing Races, is an amalgamation of support from all the different South East point-to-point meetings, with everyone from around the region coming together to volunteer and help free of charge to support the fixture.” 

Thanks to their hard work and preparation, the fixture was able to run successfully, attracting a strong turnout of 52 runners across seven races, including a divided maiden. 

It’s a meeting that is always well supported, including several well-known names such as Alan Hill and Gina Andrews. 

Joe Hill, son of Alan Hill says: “We like heading down to Charing and are always a fan of supporting the track. We’ve been very lucky there and had a lot of very good days. 

“We would have normally had more runners but with having so much rain it was wetter than it usually is so couldn’t support as much as we would have liked. We did however, run The Dancing Tree who was very good and James King was very happy with him, winning the restricted nicely.” 

Charing  has long been a track capable of producing quality horses. A great example is Latenightpass, who won his restricted at the course and has gone on to be a top-rated horse, as high as 149 when he ran in the 2024 Grand National. 

The latest meeting also marked a landmark moment for Foran Equine National Point-to-Point Champion Trainer Josh Newman, whose double on the card saw him register his 100th trained winner in point-to-points. 

Newman trained his first winner, Valereum Bridge, back in February 2022 and has since enjoyed a rapid rise through the training ranks, landing the National Champion Trainer title (15 winners or more) in both the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons. 

His two winners on the day, Al Gasparo in the mens’ open and Noble Blue in the PPORA Club Members Conditions (Level 3), added another major milestone to an already glittering pointing career. 

Reflecting on the achievement, Newman said: “This is a fantastic landmark to get to so quickly in my training career. I’m only really entering my fourth proper season training and am very fortunate to have such a fantastic team around me. 

“I dipped my toe in my first season with four runners and two winners and was lucky to have inherited such a large string moving forward. We don’t work from huge budgets; we make the most of the facilities we have, using them to optimal level. 

“I’m lucky to have the support of Kayley [Newman’s wife] and Lauren [Reed, Secretary and Yard Manager], who are excellent when sourcing horses from the sales.” 

Charing also provided another notable milestone on the day, as trainer Hannah Marshall recorded the first trained double of her career after landing both divisions of the maiden race. 

Luther and Protect The Future were both steered to victory by her husband, Charlie Marshall, rounding off a memorable afternoon for the yard. 

With a loyal following, strong support and a committed team behind the scenes, Charing continues to be a valuable and much-loved part of the British point-to-point calendar. 

Following a spell of wet weather and the loss of several fixtures, the new Hands and Heels Novice Rider Series, jointly sponsored by the Point-to-Point Authority and The Jockey Club, will now begin next weekend at Higham on Saturday, with an additional race also added to the Friars Haugh fixture on Sunday. 

Aimed at supporting the next generation of riders in the grassroots sport and designed specifically for novice riders, the series is intended to encourage strong fundamentals, balance and horsemanship under race conditions. 

Riders will accumulate points for placed rides, with a National Hands & Heels Champion Rider to be crowned and presented with the award at the PPA National Awards at Cheltenham in June 2026. 

Jockey coach and former jump jockey Charlie Postewelcomes the initiative and said: “It’s an excellent idea. I’m a real advocate for trying new things, and this is a brilliant addition. It prioritises young riders to focus on the key skills like balance and a strong pushing technique, supported by a stable base. This can then develop the right lessons and the ability to learn that the whip is the last resort.” 

As part of the series conditions, riders must carry a whip, but its use is strictly limited to down the shoulder in the backhand position when approaching an obstacle, or for clear safety purposes, including to prevent a horse running out or where it continues to hang significantly despite visible rein correction.