20-year-old owner-trainer-rider George Edgedale (left, in blue, with fellow jockey Albi Tufnell) rode his first winner – beating perennial Ladies champion Gina Andrews in a close finish – on Kilpin at Guilsborough in March, on only his seventh ride. A pupil-assistant to Alan King, George has ambitions of making it as a trainer himself. In the first of a close-season series of Pointing People, Jake Exelby spoke to him to find out about his background, plans for next season and his love of point-to-pointing.
How did you get into point-to-pointing?
I live near Faringdon in Oxfordshire and have ridden all my life – hunting with the Old Berkshire and VWH and pony club, although I didn’t ride in pony races. My Mum wasn’t keen on me race-riding and still isn’t!
I’ve always loved racing and started riding out for Oliver Sherwood when I was 15. It was there that I became keen on the idea of riding in point-to-points. When I was leaving school, I wasn’t interested in going to university and I met Harry Whittington at a drinks party. I started riding out for him and he offered me a full-time job – I spent three years with Harry, two as pupil-assistant and one as assistant trainer.
While I was there, my parents helped me buy Never Complain – who had run three times in the Aintree Foxhunters with Charlie Marshall, completing the course twice. We saw him advertised on the internet and got him via Ed Bailey, who is friends with Charlie. I trained Nev from home and would take him to Harry’s to gallop in my lunchbreaks. I had four rides on him – our best run was first time out at Barbury, when we were fourth. He loved jumping but went lame at Didmarton and didn’t come right again, so I sold him as a hunter, which allowed me to buy Kilpin.
Never Complain with former rider Charlie Marshall (photo: Caroline Exelby)
I was looking for a maiden and found Kilpin – who had been with Nigel Twiston-Davies – by talking to horse physiotherapist
Simon Thomas. He had good form but had a few problems. First time out at Milborne St Andrew, we ran well to be fifth, then he had a hard race at Badbury Rings.
What’s been the highlight of your time as a jockey?
Winning at Guilsborough although, funnily enough, I hadn’t been happy with him the week before. The going was bottomless, but we stayed mid-division throughout the race and kept picking up. Turning in, I thought we’d be placed, but he just carried on running – although we did get lucky as Gina’s horse threw it away! It was an awesome experience – I was so revved-up afterwards.
George winning on Kilpin at Guilsborough (photo: Neale Blackburn)
Which jockey do you most admire and why?
I think David Maxwell is an absolute legend. When he’s interviewed, he says that he works to be able to pay to have horses in training! He does it for fun, but gets a real kick out of it.
David Maxwell: legend
Who's inspired you most in the world of pointing?
Lots of my good friends have inspired me. When Joe Hill worked with me at Harry’s, he got me really excited about the sport, but I can’t say he’s my inspiration, because he’d enjoy that too much!
Joe Hill: inspiration?
Other than your own, who are your favourite horses?
I love the way Luke Harvey gets such a buzz out of his pointers. He was very helpful in my first year riding, letting me school Nev with his Raised With Praise. It was nice to see him do well this year with Spanish Jump.
Luke Harvey getting a buzz out of pointing
What are your favourite courses?
As a racegoer, Cocklebarrow. It’s a great day out – a lot of friends go and we have a lot of fun. The beer tent is very good too! I also like Lockinge and Siddington, my local point-to-points which I grew up going to. As a rider, Guilsborough, obviously.
Racing at Cocklebarrow (photo: Neale Blackburn)
What do you love most about pointing?
Pointing is a day out, whereas rules racing – apart from the Cheltenham and Aintree Festivals – is a job. I’d rather go pointing than to an average card under rules – whether you have a good day or a bad one, you can always enjoy a beer afterwards.
What are your ambitions in pointing?
I ride because I love it and get such a thrill out of it. I’ve never had any ambition to turn professional as I’ve always struggled with my weight, but I’d love to ride round Cheltenham in a Hunter Chase or Amateur Riders race.
My dream is to become a trainer one day. Working for Harry, I’ve seen the highs… and the lows.
Do you have any regrets?
Not starting race-riding sooner.
What would you do if you were in charge of the sport?
I’d spread meetings out more across the season. There’s too much racing in March, April and May – this year, for example, 18 fixtures were scheduled for Easter and there were meetings at Siddington and Maisemore Park on the same weekend. It dilutes the quality of the racing.
With horse numbers at their lowest ever level, what are your concerns about the future?
I have two concerns. The first is that, unless you love the day out, there’s not much reason to own a pointer. Training fees are similar to racing under rules, but the prize money is non-existent – it hardly even pays the travel costs.
The second is that, if hunting is banned, what will happen to point-to-pointing? A lot of hunts aren’t in a good way at the moment.
What reasons do we have to be optimistic?
There are lots of young jockeys coming through and the Novice Riders category is very competitive with the likes of Olive Nicholls and Freddie Gingell.
Olive Nicholls: competitive (photo: Caroline Exelby)
Also, while there’s still less quality in depth than in Ireland, the English maidens being sold to race professionally are much better than they were ten years ago.
What are your plans for next season?
Kilpin didn’t run again after Guilsborough. I was only ever going to run him two or three times, as he looked light last year, so we put him out in the field after his win. He probably wants soft ground, so we’ll get going early with him next season, with a view to running in late autumn. He’ll probably be my only horse – working for Alan, it’s hard to find the time.
Do you have any hobbies outside racing?
I love shooting – my brother and I organise shoots at home. All country pursuits really – I still hunt as much as I can, although it’s difficult when you work on Saturday. And I did the Golden Button (cross-country race over natural fences) this year, finishing ninth on Wychwoods Brook, a former winner of the Peter Marsh Chase.
George on Wychwoods Brook in the Golden Button
Who are your favourite singers and films?
I love George Ezra and my favourite film is Crocodile Dundee, which is just great entertainment.
What would you be doing if you weren’t involved with horses?
I might have been a farmer – I love my farming. We have 100 Balwen Welsh Mountain sheep at home. They’re quite feral and hard to keep in the field. I’ve been obsessed with sheep since I was seven…