Former smart point-to-pointer Earth Leader makes his debut in a handicap chase today when lining up at Taunton (4.10).
Formerly trained by Rose Loxton, the seven-year-old has now joined Harry Fry and will be ridden by Nick Scholfield in the colours of Roger Penny. He faces 11 rivals.
Earth Leader ran three times for Paul Nicholls without success in a bumper and two hurdle races, and it took a while for him to gain the winning habit after he moved to Loxton. However, in March last year, on his fourth start in a point-to-point, he won a maiden at Ston Easton, followed up with restricted and intermediate victories and then won a hunters’ chase at Fontwell. He capped that two weeks later when winning a hunters’ chase for restricted horses at Stratford under Bryan Carver (the pair pictured above).
Last season he ran twice, beating Big Casino at Larkhill – the runner-up scored at Maisemore Park on Sunday – before being well beaten by his stablemate, Virak, in a hunters’ chase at Wincanton.
Other recent pointers in action today include Sun Rising Hill, who carries a penalty in the bumper at Fakenham (4.02). He made a winning debut for Fran Nimmo’s stable in a point-to-point flat race at Buckfastleigh on the final day of last season, and then scored for licensed trainer Alex Hales when running in a Rules bumper at Market Rasen last month. Ben Brackenbury was in the saddle then and rides again today.
Honour And Glory was first past the post in a maiden race at Chaddesley Corbett last season for trainer Anya Ingman, but was subsequently disqualified. He is now in training with Tom Lacey, and after finishing second in an Exeter bumper earlier this month he makes his debut over hurdles today at Taunton (2.10). Jonathan Burke takes the ride.