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SURENAGA: The Summer National third returns to Randell's yard ready for a 2011/12 campaign
photo: Jackie Oliver

By the time the new Point-to-Point campaign comes round, Sally Randell will be well settled in at Grey Fox Stables, the yard formerly occupied by Sean Curran at Hatford, midway between Oxford and Swindon.

Sally, who was previously based at Phil Payne's yard in mid-Glamorgan, was finding she was spending too much time on the road transporting her string to the gallops or the beach - "It was a journey to get anywhere," she explained - and a new location was the obvious answer. "Brodie [Hampson, who works for Sally] and I used to go to the library and sit on the internet looking for yards," she said. "I eventually rang Windsor Clive and told them what I wanted, and they found this."

Although the owner had not originally wanted to let out the yard again after Curran's departure, he was persuaded to have a change of heart on the premise that Sally would agree to tidy up, and Grey Fox, parts of which were looking a little neglected, is coming to life once more. Sally's brother Adam is the yardman, and is rapidly adding to and improving the facilities.

Even though there was no family equine involvement Sally, who grew up in the Forest of Dean, was, like many young girls, mad about horses. Her mother's cousin taught her to ride and she got a pony on loan, progressing to do some showjumping.

She later spent two years at Hartpury College doing equine studies, and it was a day trip from there to the King's Troop headquarters that proved the catalyst for her next step. "It made me want to join the Army," she said, and at the age of 19 she enlisted, not with the King's Troop - "I didn't want the ceremonial" - but with the 47th Regiment Royal Artillery based at Thorney Island, where her boss was Brodie Hampson's father Mark.

Her time spent in the Army, nearly five years, entitles her to ride in the big Military races, and in 2009 she went into the record books as the first woman to win the Grand Military Gold Cup, landing the trophy on Oakfield Legend. This year she made history yet again when taking the Royal Artillery Gold Cup on Surenaga and thus becoming the first of her sex to do the prestigious double.

Her army career was followed by a return to Hartpury, where she gained a degree in sports science, and she then spent a year with trainer Dai Williams. "He gave me a chance and got me going - without him I wouldn't have done what I'm doing now," she stressed. It was for Dai that she rode her first winner, Dandygrey Russett on the flat at Wolverhampton in 2008. She has since added three victories under Rules plus ten between the flags.

Dandygrey Russett was owned by Paul Rich, who has recently renewed his public licence and whose horses are also in the Hatford yard, where they are supervised by Sally. Paul himself is still based in Wales, from where he masterminds his training operation, but he visits five times a week to keep an eye on things.

There will be no problem dividing the yard when the time comes, as there are 30 boxes in two barns. "We've got 30 acres, two all-weather gallops and an indoor walker," enthused Sally. "We've made a jumping ring, and it's wonderful to have an office!"

All her last season's owners have stayed with her, and at the moment she has eight or nine Pointers waiting to come in. "The owners didn't come to the yard much anyway - they just enjoy their days at the races, so location doesn't make much difference to them," she explained, adding "I don't want to get too big but it would be fantastic to get about 20 in, including Paul's." She does have room in her section of the yard for two or three more horses, and would love to welcome some new owners.

Among those currently turned out at Hatford is Surenaga, who showed no ill-effects from his heavy fall at Stratford by finishing an excellent third in Uttoxeter's Summer National. He will be returning to the amateur circuit, with owner Ken Price favouring a crack at the Cheltenham Foxhunter Chase.

New to the yard is Sizing America, who has been running in good company in Ireland and may be aimed at Military races, while the consistent Euro Farmer, who belongs to Brodie, may have an early outing at Black Forest Lodge.

The trio were all found by Irish Point-to-Point journalist Neil O'Donnell, whom Sally cannot praise highly enough. "I can't think why more people don't use him," she said. "He makes it so easy for you - he'll pick you up at the airport and deliver you back, and he's got so many contacts."

Sizing America is owned by Peter Whittaker with Chris Barnes and Don Murrell, and it was Peter's company, Skytrac Solutions, which sponsored Sally last season. This time not only Sally but both Brodie and jockey Ben Poste will be the beneficiaries of the generosity of the three owners, as Chris's firm, Barnes Logistics, and Don's company, Accounts Unlocked, will be joining in a sponsorship deal for the trio.

As Sally herself will be concentrating more on the training side, it is Ben, who won the Lady Dudley Cup this year on Surenaga, who will come in for the majority of rides.

Ben's first meeting with Sally was definitely unscheduled, and certainly not what either would have chosen. The day after her victory on Oakfield Legend, both were aboard a first-time out maiden at Llanfrynach, and both hit the deck at the third fence, with Sally landing on top of a prostrate Ben. "I've never been so petrified that someone was dead," admitted Sally of her colleague, who turned out to have fractured his back, an injury from which he returned after a mere four months, although "It was pushing it a bit," he confessed.

Neither of Ben's parents was into horses in a big way, although there were always ponies for himself and elder brother Charlie to ride. His father coached Harlequins Rugby Club, while the numerical skills of his mother, a maths teacher, have obviously rubbed off onto her son, who Sally pointed out was a dab hand when it came to working out the merits or otherwise of a horse's weight and handicap mark.

11 outstanding GCSE passes, though, were never going to tempt him to do anything other than follow Charlie into racing. After short spells at different yards he joined Andy Turnell two years ago, but has very recently left there in order to go to Charlie Longsdon, with a view to turning conditional in a year or so's time if things work out.

His first success between the flags was on Lough Rynn at Maisemore in 2008, and by the end of the most recent campaign he had doubled his winning tally, which has now reached 12. In addition he has recorded five victories under Rules.

His initial ride for the Randell yard was at Garnons last season on Hollow Ranger. "I needed a jockey and I found Ben on Facebook," was Sally's explanation, although Ben insisted it was because she couldn't get anyone else. He now rides out regularly at the yard and is an integral part of the team, even going so far as to make tea for visiting reporters.

The number of trainers, both licensed and Point-to-Point, who have availed themselves of his services bears testimony to his ability, but he is a believer in sticking with those who have previously supported him. "I wouldn't turn down a regular ride for a one-off, even if it obviously had a better chance," he stressed.

And although he knows when is the right time to concentrate on the job in hand - "You've got to be serious when you're schooling or racing" - his sense of fun is never far from the surface when it comes to enjoying the craic with his fellow riders, with his motto being "If you can't take the banter, you're screwed!"

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