Point-to-point: talents of young jockeys continue to be advertised

Advertising the talents of young jockeys is a regular occurrence within British point-to-pointing and over last weekend three sixteen-year-olds demonstrated their skills in riding winners. 

Wales can be particularly proud of top professionals to have emerged over the past few years, Sean and James Bowen, Jack Tudor, Ben Jones, they all learned their trade within the grass-roots sport and on Saturday at Howick,  who had his first ride on the opening day of the season rode his first winner and within half-an-hour had secured his second. 

Riding Up For Appeal and On Springs, both of which he owns and trains himself with the help of Mum, Sara, he says: 

“It was a brilliant day, I had my first ride at Lower Machen on the opening day of the season and I have learned lots and to finally gain the first wins was great. I am above the clouds!” 

Haddock who turned 16 last may chose to wait until the autumn to start pointing so as he could continue pony-racing last summer and he says: 

“I had my last pony-racing ride in October, it gave me invaluable experience and was hugely beneficial.” 

Haddock is based full-time with Christian Williams and has wanted to be a jockey since he was five, firstly on the flat but his attentions have now turned to national-hunt. 

“Growing up Frankie Dettori was my idol and I was keen to ride on the flat but since Jack Tudor and Potters Corner won the welsh national that was it for me- I changed my mind and decided I wanted to be a jump jockey.” He adds. 

Haddock’s first winner Up For Appeal was previously in the ownership of Foxtrot Racing and Syndicate manager Dan Abraham says: 

“For horses that still enjoy racing but are struggling to be competitive of a handicap mark, point-to-pointing offers a fantastic opportunity to continue to do something they enjoy, giving his previous owners great satisfaction and giving Dewi fantastic experience.” 

Christian Williams rode in point-to-points for five seasons before turning professional and says: 

“We try to support these young staff and to encourage them to go pointing as much as we can. It is such a great place to learn, lots of people for them to gain advice from, to look up toand to offer guidance. In the yard we have Dewi, Ella Stone, Jimmy Munro who had his first winner for Chris Barber a few weeks ago, and Jonjo Murphy-Knight who rides for me this week. It is so important to bring them through the pointing circuit and let them learn. They are lucky here too, they have my brother, Nick, who was a top amateur to help them, alongside Lee Stephens and Jack Tudor who is in the yard regularly.” 

Of course, Grand National winning Williams is remembered for being a masterful chase jockey- yet again more proof that a timely stint in the point-to-point ranks reaps reward.  

At Maisemore Lucas Murphy, son of another Grand-national winning jockey Timmy, advertised his skills in the saddle when winning on four-year-old debutante Miden de Berce trained by Tom George.Taking a keen hold the french-bred was novicey at times but Murphy kept a cool head and rode a brilliant race from the front. He says:“I had a plan to go on a stride and let him settle out in front, but we ended up further clear than expected. He is a hardy horse and he made a few errors but on the whole he jumped well and that kept him in it. He will only improve.”An earlier win on the card for his Dad on the mare We’llgowats for owners Liam O’Brien and John Lambe marked the start of a good day.Murphy, who this week is on his course at Newmarket to gain his cat B license has now secured his spot at the top of the Highflyer Bloodstock’s leading male rider table with six winners, one ahead of Fred Phillipson-Stow.There is no doubt Murphy’s future is as a professional jockey, he has the support of his family and has won three on his Grandfather, Ray Green’s Bass Rock but for now he remains focused on his education:“I am only 16, I am at Marlborough College doing my A Levels and will concentrate on that and pointing for now.”Another impressive riding success at the same course came from sixteen-year-old Katherine Sprake who made her first ride a winning one on the ex Joe Tizzard trained Whydah Gally.Sprake who looked tidy and accomplished in the finish is another who has been successful on the pony racing circuit and looks a name to follow.Sprake remained as professional in the aftermath as she had looked on the track and she said: “He jumped so well, and just travelled into the race, he is such agood horse.”Sprake, who is still in school added: “I work for Joe Tizzard part-time and I hope to go there when I leave school and go full-time. Joe has helped me a lot to get here. I would love to be a jockey one day.”

From jockeys to horses and in recent weeks we have celebrated the success of many point-to-point graduates translating their winning point form to national-hunt.The winner of the first GB pointing bonus maiden race at Lower Machen back in November, Baron Du Brizais, finished second on his first start under-rules in the bumper at Uttoxeter on Saturday and trainer Ben Pauling says:“He ran a lovely race, a proper stayer for the future and he is a brilliant jumper. I would expect him to be among some of my better novices next season.”El Capitaine who won seven point-to-points last season before returning back under-rules was the fine winner of a novice chase at Newbury two weeks ago.Connections have always insisted his stint pointing was the making of him and owner Ivan Thompson says:“His success back under-rules is purely down to his success pointing, he turned up when he needed to and he danced every dance, he never avoided anybody and was unbeaten in seven. Within the point-to-point field he was able to gain confidence and learn to settle and really enjoy what he was doing. He straight away applied that to being back under-rules.”Trainer Kayley Woolacott adds: “He is a horse we are so proud of, he was bought cheaply and he is a real advocate of what point-to-pointing can do to re-ignite a horse’s enthusiasm for racing. To win on chase debut around Newbury was a fabulous day for all of us. We will now look at a couple of the handicaps at Aintree but we’re not that keen on running on quick ground so we will see but obviously we can look ahead to next season.”Just A Glance trained by Ian Chanin is another to be making her mark under-rules having made a perfect start to her career over hurdles by winning two.This mare is the reason stepped into the professional training ranks and it is easy to understand why. The John and Michelle Frampton owned and bred six-year-old provided Chanin with his first training win last month and duly followed up when winning under a penalty at Chepstow last week.Chanin says: “We were aiming for the mares two-and-a-half mile listed hurdle due to be at Cheltenham so we will see where that is rearranged for and hopefully head there. I am so thrilled for her owner/breeders, it is horses like her we all dream of.”

Higham, East Anglia, CO7 6LD. 6 races, first race 2.10pm

Sheriff Hutton, Yorkshire, YO60 6TN. 6 races, first race 1pm.

 Sandon, Staffordshire, ST18 0DL. 6 races, first race 1.30pm.

 Kimble, Oxfordshire, HP17 8TB. 6 races, first race 1.30pm.

 Cherrybrook, Devon, PL19 0LA. 6 races, first race 1.30pm

 Bitterley, Ludlow, SY8 3HF. 6 races, first race 2pm.

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

Fakenham, East Anglia, NR21 7NY. 6 races, first race 12pm.

 Trebudannon, Cornwall, TR8 4LP. 6 races, first race 1pm.

 Paxford, Gloucestershire, GL55 6XS. 6 races, first race 1pm.

 Eyton-on-severn, Shropshire, SY5 6PW. 6 races, first race 1pm.

 Lockinge, Oxfordshire, OX12 8PA. 6 races, first race 1.15pm.

 Cothelstone, Somerset, TA4 3DT. 6 races, first race 1.30pm.