Richard Johnson’s teenage daughter to ride his first point-to-point runner

Chaddesley Corbett will stage the first of its four meetings on Sunday, and a good entry of 85 has been received. The eye is drawn to several entries made by significant figures in the racing world, with four-time champion Jump Jockey Richard Johnson set to send out his first runner in a point-to-point in the Mixed-Open. 

Formerly trained by Henry Daly, Jimmy The Digger, who is now 11, has had an illustrious career under Rules and can now step into his second career.

Johnson said: “He was very kindly given to us for our daughter Willow to ride. She is 17. He will hopefully be a nice, safe conveyance for her to learn on, and it will be a case of one race at a time. Willow is very light, so by starting in the Mixed Open, he will carry less weight. Alice Stevens, who won a Cheltenham amateur chase on Jimmy, is very kindly lending Willow her 18lb saddle.” 

Johnson started his own career between the flags and rode eight winners. “It was a brilliant place to learn. I had two seasons pointing; the second one, I rode for Peter Bowen a lot, and that led me to riding under-rules. I think every jockey should start as an amateur and go point-to-pointing. I rode against Damien Duggan and Julian Pritchard, and they taught me so much.” 

Bridget Skelton, who was a leading point-to-point rider, winning the womens’ title in the 2013/14 season before turning her attentions under Rules. She established herself as a top female jockey, twice winning at the Cheltenham Festival. 

Wife of Jockey Harry, the Mum of two, now turns her attentions back to the pointing field and runs Midnight River in the Level three conditions race. This ten-year-old, who won four chases under Dan Skelton's training, will be partnered with Heidi Palin. Bridget says: “He will run, and I hope he just enjoys himself; there will be no pressure on him. We keep him at our house and train him away from the gallop as much as possible. He spends lots of time turned out with my show jumper, we will see how Sunday goes and make a plan from there.” 

Tom Scudamore, son of eight-time champion jockey Peter and a very successful Jump jockey in his own right, hopes to have two runners on Sunday. He says: “We run Admiral Oxo in the GB pointing bonus maiden race. The ground dried up too much for him to run in the spring, but he has had a couple of away days this autumn at Ffos Las and Worcester, and he is ready to go. We also run Everything Now in the novice riders’ race for Alexandra Ingram. He is new to us, but we are all ready to go.” He adds: “The new GB pointing bonus series is a brilliant initiative, the grassroots sport is the foundation of what national-hunt racing stands upon, so anything to support British breeders and producers is wonderful.” 

Wadebridge in Cornwall also host their first meeting of the season on Sunday. Their fixture secretary Lauren Burt said: “Our point-to-point offers fantastic viewing, and we have received a good entry which will produce competitive racing for spectators to watch. Whatever the weather, we have an enormous indoor barn which facilitates a fully stocked bar, bookmakers, trade stands for Christmas shopping and hot food stalls.” 

Over the past week, two great advertisements for point-to-pointing have emerged from the first meeting of the season at Lower Machen. Baron Du Brizais, who won the first GB pointing bonus series race, was sold to Ben Pauling at the Goffs Coral Cup sale for £90,000.

Bloodstock agent Jerry McGrath says: “I am a big fan of the sire Nirvana Du Berlais, he is a very exciting sire, he has two grade-one winners from his first crop, including Lulamba, who I bought from France. Luca Morgan, who trained him to win, was based with Ben when he was riding. He had recommended him to Ben and the owners, so we were keen to buy him. He was impressive, and he is a lovely, big, scopey horse who I hope we hear plenty of in the future.” 

At Haydock on Wednesday, six-year-old Western Monkey, who won the three-mile maiden at Lower Machen, won the three-mile maiden hurdle on the card under Paul O'Brien for trainer Harry Derham, with the latter saying: “I was delighted with Western Monkey but can’t take much credit for it.

He’s been in Chris Barber's care until three weeks ago, who has done a fantastic job with him. He went to Chris’s in the middle of the summer, very, very big and not in athletic shape at all, but Chris has done a really, really fantastic job and won a point-to-point. On the day, it's hard to know what he achieved, but he won with plenty in hand, and he's obviously improved again today, winning a nice maiden hurdle, and hopefully, he can keep progressing. He did lots wrong today but still won nicely, so hopefully he’s got a nice future in staying races.” 

For the second Saturday in succession, National Hunt racing again shone a light on people who learnt their trade within the point-to-point world. 

Conditional jockey Tristan Durrell won one of the most prestigious handicaps of the season, The Coral Gold Cup at Newbury, on the Dan Skelton-trained Panic Attack. 

Durrell began his journey within the British point-to-point field, with Nick Pearce, one of Skelton’s assistants, providing him with his first point-to-point winner at Guilsborough in April 2018 on Kashmir Peak. 

Pearce, who rode 100 winners, pointing and hunter-chasing, was at Newbury on Saturday and said: “It was incredible, it was very emotional. I go everywhere with Tristan, and we have been on one hell of a journey together. It seems a long time since that first winner at Guilsborough.” 

Durrell, originally from Chapel Brampton in Northamptonshire, had his first ride in 2018. He rode 12 winners point-to-pointing and six un hunter chases. 

He was champion amateur in the 2021/2022 season, and Skelton Sr has encouraged him through his early career. 

 “Tristan works hard and has improved so much. He deserves the rides, the wins, and to be supported,” Skelton said. 

Durrell described Saturday as “really good fun” and added: “The mare was incredible to ride and I am grateful for the opportunity.” 

Durrell has worked for Skelton for eight years. Explaining the link, he says: “A great family friend, Pat Dry, had horses with Dan. My first job riding out was for Jo Messenger, and Tom, her son, is a huge part of the team at Dan's. Tom and Nick have each played a huge part in my career, Nick provided me with my first winner pointing and him being there Saturday was brilliant.” 

Meanwhile, Durrell's Dad, Ben, will be in action at Chaddesley Corbett on Sunday, riding his own horse Whosmydaddy. 

Durrell says: “Dad always had a dream of us having a photo of us jumping the last together, but he stopped riding when I started, and then when I turned conditional, he got going again, so that was never achieved! He is 50 and loves it. I try to go and support him when I can, but more often than not, I am racing.” 

Chaddesley Corbett, Worcestershire, DY10 4QT. First race 11.00, gates open 8.00, 6 races. 

Wadebridge, Cornwall, PL27 7JE. First race 11.30, gates open 9.30, 6 races.