Whether as a trainer or rider Gina Andrews will remain a force on the point-to-point circuit when the season opens next month.
Any thoughts the ten-time women’s champion would be taking it easy after Izzie Hill prised the title from her last season – and following husband Tom Ellis’s decision to train under rules – were dispelled at an owners’ open day held at the couple’s Warwickshire yard on Sunday. A number of talented former point-to-point horses have joined Ellis’s string – notably Tigerbythetail, Latenightrumble, Dubai Quest and Latenightpass – but with proven performers Fairly Famous, I’m Spellbound, Master Templar and Captain Biggles remaining between the flags, plus the return of Cheltenham hunters’ chase winner Latenightfumble after she produced a foal last year, there is plenty of talent within. Unraced horses by such sires as Blue Bresil, Ocovango and Falco take the eye, although a three-year-old full-brother to Latenightpass by Passing Glance is, like his sibling, on the small side and will need time.
Gina’s brother Jack, who breaks in the yard’s young horses, gives a nod to a Jack Hobbs filly out of Luz De La Vida, a half-sister to Champion Hurdle winner Punjabi. Unnamed, the four-year-old is a possible runner at Badbury Rings’s December meeting.
Fairly Famous at the owners' open day run by trainer Gina Ellis and her husband Tom
The yard has sent out the most point-to-point winners for the past six seasons, with Tom and Gina saddling 16 apiece last season either side of him becoming a licensed trainer in March. The catalyst for that decision, one which he says came a year earlier than ideal, was focussed on the former Randox Foxhunters’ Chase winner Latenightpass who is owned and was bred by his mother Pippa.
Latenightpass romped up in a cross-country chase at Cheltenham last season while under Dan Skelton’s care and Tom subsequently took out a licence to run the horse in the Grand National, handing responsibility for the yard's horses to his wife. Latenightpass, ridden in all his races by Gina, duly put up a tremendous performance, leading with two to jump before fading into 12th. Gina would like to have another crack at the race, although Latenightpass’s likely targets will be Aintree’s Grand Sefton Chase, the December cross-country chase he won last year, the Festival’s cross-country chase and then the Grand Steeplechase de Paris. A crack at Aintree’s Topham Trophy is another possibility.
Tom Ellis handed the baton to Gina in March and she is now responsible for the yard's pointers
Reflecting on the National, Gina said: “I still can’t believe it. I never thought I would get a ride in the race, let alone such a good one. It was a dream.”
Hill, who after a prolonged battle with Andrews took the title by a score of 24 to 21, is now the rider to beat, but the former champion is nothing if not game when it comes to a challenge. She said: “Obviously I’m keen to win it back, but it will be difficult. We have plenty of point-to-point horses, but a lot are young or unraced and Jack will ride most of those, while some of my rides are now with Tom to run under rules. I’ll still ride some of those, but they won’t count towards [point-to-point] championships.”
Of pointers or hunter chasers she is looking forward to riding she said: “Fairly Famous is an obvious one. He didn’t get off to the best of starts last season. We took him to Horseheath where he was a bit keen and was beaten by Ragnar Lodbrok, and then he ran no race at Wetherby on ground that was too soft. That was Cheltenham qualification gone, so we gave him a confidence restorer at Charm Park and then went to Cheltenham’s evening meeting. It rained all day and I walked into the paddock and said to Tom, ‘this is a waste of time’, but the horse proved me completely wrong and bolted up. He’s had a hobday operation, he’s qualified for Cheltenham now and will have a couple of runs beforehand.
“I’m Spellbound is a very talented horse, but can be difficult to train. He was beaten by Yippee Ki Yay first time out last season, although the winner proved that to be a good effort, but then he had a heavy fall at Larkhill and it took a while to get his confidence again. He had a nice round at Kingston Blount to end the season and can still run in conditions races.”
The talented I'm Spellbound, who finished last season with a win at Kingston Blount
Of lesser-known horses she said: “I’m very fond of a four-year-old called George Darling, who had one run at Kimble [under Jack] last season. I thought the world of him, but he was too weak and finished fifth [of eight runners]. We were disappointed, but we think a lot of him and he is likely to be out pre-Christmas.”
The summer turnover of staff within yards has gone through its annual cycle, but Jack remains a key component and second rider to his sister, while Ellie Holder and Jess Digweed have been promoted to head groom and travelling head groom respectively. Of her role as trainer/rider, Gina said: “It feels a bit weird. Tom was always the trainer, I was the rider and now I’m both.” Does her husband still advise on running plans? “No, Jack does that,” she said without equivocation. “He’s long been the race planner, but every part of this job comes down to team effort.”
Of the open day she said: “The owners put a lot of time and money into the sport and while it’s nice to try and get them winners it’s also good to invite them here and for them to see their own and other people’s horses.”
Captain Biggles, one of a group of older horses being prepared for the season which starts next month