South Midlands pointing again showed its strength-in-depth in 2022/2023 – Tom & Gina Ellis (G & T Racing) were champion trainers for the fifth year in a row, with a second consecutive all-time record of 71 wins, Alan Hill, Fran & Charlie Poste (Station Yard Racing) and Sara Bradstock all got into double-figures and Max Comley and Amber Jackson-Fennell enjoyed best ever seasons. Amber, of course, was also National Champion Novice Rider and runner-up to Gina in the Ladies Championship. With the new season starting last weekend, South Midlands Area Press Officer Jake Exelby spoke to a number of yards in the area about their hopes for the coming campaign.
GILL ANDERSON
Whin Park will be ready to go early, and I’ll ride him myself – he jumps brilliantly, and I know he’ll look after me. I didn’t run him in Novice Riders races last year because he’d have been carrying too much lead but may look for L3 Conditions races this season. I don’t like to make too many plans because I broke my ankle during Covid when I was about to register Whin Park for pointing (!) but spoke to Amber Jackson-Fennell, who will ride Quickcharge, the other day and we’re looking to start him at Larkhill in November.
Quickcharge winning at Chaddesley Corbett in May (Marilyn Sweet)
SARA BRADSTOCK
First and foremost, ‘King Kev’ aka Southfield Theatre will be back. Age is just a number to our old hero, and it still takes a very good one to lay up with him over the schooling fences. Coming up 16, he will be campaigned sparingly, running only on his ground and when he chooses. He’s entered at Badbury Rings on Sunday but it may be too soft for him. Step Back, whose enthusiasm has been rekindled through the summer, joins Jaisalmer for Novice Rider races, and can be leased to stay in the yard if anyone wants a super-safe introduction to point-to-pointing on a former Bet365 Gold Cup winner. Myth Buster continues to improve physically for the extra attention in our small yard and can capitalise on some very good placed runs behind the likes of Premier Magic and Macklin, while well-related Batsman will run in a point-to-point bumper early in the season and should be competitive.
2021-22 champion horse Southfield Theatre with Lily Bradstock (Marilyn Sweet)
MAX COMLEY
Arknell
By Kayf Tara. Finished a good third on his debut at Larkhill in February. The form worked out and the winner won well under rules since. We’ve fiddled with his airways since he disappointed in the Exeter point-to-point bumper, and we think that will bring out a lot of improvement for a campaign over fences this season. Owned by Mr and Mrs Allsop.
Burtown
Second in an Irish point, then second on his only start for me at Cothelstone. He looks great after his first summer with us and I’m really looking forward to seeing him out in the early part of the season. He could be the sort to climb through the grades. Owned by Mr and Mrs O’Hara.
Jay Bee Whiskey
We bought him late last season, so he had a slightly rushed campaign for us, finishing third and second in his two runs before the ground dried up. The form looks pretty strong, and I think he’ll be a better horse this season. Owned by Mr Crawford and entered at Badbury Rings on Sunday.
Land Girl Luck
By Workforce out of a winning mare. I won with her half-sister, so had to buy her! We had her in last season but thought she’d benefit from a good summer holiday. She’s come back bigger and stronger and has impressed me since she’s been back in. She’s schooled well but also looks very speedy so might run in a bumper before going over fences. Owned by Mr Bailey.
Wagner
A good campaign last season, winning by 20 lengths at Higham and placed on all his starts in points for us. He jumped around Aintree in the Foxhunters but that was a step above his level. His wind was catching him all last season and we’ve had that sorted through the summer so hopefully he can improve this season. I rate him highly. Owned by Merriebelle Stud and entered at Badbury Rings on Sunday.
Wagner winning for Max at Higham (Graham Bishop)
TOM & GINA ELLIS
A Law To Himself
A four-year-old by Westerner. Should have run last season, but the ground dried up. Back in, has done plenty of work and will possibly run at Badbury Rings on Sunday if it’s not too soft. He’s a sales horse – and may go to the new Goffs sale at Newbury or the Tattersalls Tingle Creek.
Artiste D’Ainay
Still a maiden and a new horse for Keith Loads – a big supporter of ours. Though he quite small and hasn’t jumped a fence yet, he’s got decent form over hurdles in Ireland, and we hope – like Keith’s Tigerbythetail last season – he can go through the grades. He’ll possibly run over Christmas.
Fairly Famous
He’s come in and is cantering away and the plan is to go for the Ladies Open at Chaddesley Corbett over Christmas. We’re hoping he’s a Cheltenham Foxhunters horse but needs to take another step forward, as he was a maiden when he started last year, before ending up winning at the Cheltenham evening meeting, and he’ll only run there if he qualifies easily. He may take in a Hunter Chase beforehand.
Gabrielle De Balon
Owned by Micky Wills, another good supporter. He disappointed at Kimble, where we couldn’t see him being beaten, but didn’t come back 100%. We’ve always liked him – he’s a big scopey type who wants soft ground and a stiff track, who ran really well at Alnwick and Charm Park. We don’t have any plans for him yet.
Main Stage
A Jetaway four-year-old who’s run in three Irish points, being placed twice. He’s improved a lot over the summer, filled out and schooled well, and will be ready to go early. He’s a new horse for the Marriage-Signy partnership, who own Fairly Famous.
Fairly Famous (right) winning his Maiden with Gina Andrews (Neale Blackburn)
ALAN HILL
Back On Track
A three-year-old by Milan, who (son) Joe bought at the store sales in the summer. Owned by a syndicate headed by Andy Weller, who owned Punchestown Stayers Hurdle winner One Track Mind, hence the name. He’s got two three-year-olds with us as projects to sell or keep. A lovely big scopey sort, who was ridden for six weeks, then went out in the field. He’s come in, strengthened up and done lots of schooling, including over the big fences on the grass. We’ve no plans for him yet.
I K Brunel
Hit the ground running last year, winning at Larkhill then following up at Taunton, where he proved he had class. We went to Cheltenham with excitement, and he ran well until making a mistake, but he probably didn’t enjoy Aintree, where he was brought down. He then won a match at Kingston Blount, then we were pleased with his third at Stratford giving away weight. He’s been schooling and galloping at Lambourn, and we’ll target an early point – one of the pre-Christmas Larkhill meetings. If all goes well, he’ll go Hunter Chasing again – but not on the big stage this year.
Learnalot
This year’s “milk bottle” horse – I put money in every Friday from September to back one first time out. Ex-Olly Murphy, where he was owned by Andrew Cohen, for whom we had Quinz. We bought him in the spring, but he didn’t run last season. He’s a typical newcomer to the yard – with experience under rules – and the plan was to win a Maiden and go on. It started well, as he won at Dunsmore (above) on Sunday with Izzie Marshall on board.
Normofthenorth
Like I K Brunel, runs in the colours of the Redmans and Maurice Thomas. Doesn’t know how to run a bad race, has never been out of the first three in 16 races for us, and wears his heart on his sleeve. Wants good or fast ground so we’ll have a couple of early runs – we’ve pencilled in Badbury Rings this weekend to start – before hopefully a spring Hunter Chasing campaign. He jumps brilliantly under rules and ran a cracker in the Ladies Final at Stratford when second to Shantou Flyer.
Paul Manate
A four-year-old, who ran once at Edgcote last season, finishing fourth – beaten about eight lengths – and wasn’t totally disgraced. His owner Graham Henderson bought him last year, loves his stores and is in it for the long-term. He’s a nice stamp of a horse who’s done everything correctly and is back in work and ticking along. May go to Horseheath on New Year’s Eve.
“Milk Bottle” horse Learntalot schooling with Izzie Marshall (Caroline Exelby)
JAMES HENDERSON
Of my two sons, only George will ride this season, as Fred’s too busy with work. We have Bloodstone – who won a Restricted at Lockinge last season, Larkhill winner Frisson Collonges and a new maiden named Islo, who’s come from Ireland. Based on his form, he should be called Is Slow! They are trail hunting at the moment and will hopefully be ready before Christmas.
Frisson Collonges scoring at Larkhill last season (Tim Holt)