The South Midlands Area was once again at the forefront of the sport in the 2023/2024 season.
While only one national champion was crowned – Izzie Hill (nee Marshall) winning a first female riders title – leading male rider James King is based in the area, as is Gina Ellis (nee Andrews), runner-up to Izzie. And Tom Hutsby, who rode five winners in his debut campaign, will be a leading contender for novice rider honours this year.
As far as the trainers go, Alan Hill was runner-up in the national championship, Max Comley enjoyed a breakthrough season to finish third and Francesca Poste and Gina Ellis were joint-sixth. If Gina’s husband Tom’s winners before he took out a rules licence had counted, their G&T Racing operation would have won another title. Overall, South Midlands yards were responsible for over 150 winners, nearly a quarter of the entire national total.
With the new season starting this weekend, South Midlands Area Press Officer Jake Exelby spoke to some of the leading yards in the area about their hopes for the coming campaign.
MAX COMLEY & ELEN WYLIE (Max Comley Racing)
Battleoverdoyen
A new purchase who will be targeted at Hunter Chases. Has won 11 races including two Grade 1s and two Grade 2s (when trained by Gordon Elliott, for whom he was rated as high as 160). He should be a horse to have some fun with in the latter stages of his very successful career. Owned by Caroline Mackness.
Boss Man Fred
Came to us after two years off with a tendon injury. We only ran him three times last season and he was second on his first run, following up with a win at Larkhill. I think he’ll be a better horse this season and will be aimed at the staying races. Owned by The Cotswold Stars Syndicate, in which shares are available.
Kaproyale
Needs no introduction. A successful point-to-pointer and Hunter Chaser who was formerly with Fran and Charlie Poste and an absolute credit to them, having won 12 times from 18 starts. He won most recently at Stratford in May and will start off in points before going hunter chasing in the new year. I also think he could be competitive in a handicap under rules off his mark of 115. Owned by Katie Sunderland.
Spaghetti Pete
Still a maiden but ran a tremendous race to finish third at Paxford on Easter Monday. It took a long time for the penny to drop last season but he certainly has ability and I would be hopeful he could progress through the grades.
Trudie Glen
Placed in two bumpers and a maiden hurdle under rules for Dan Skelton. She’ll start in Mares Maidens and I think she’ll be a progressive type between the flags. We’re looking for an owner for her to stay in training with us.
Boss Man Fred and James King winning at Larkhill (Tim Holt)
GINA ELLIS (G & T Racing)
All Is True
Owned by Chris Jones and the Oak Partnership and was unlucky not to win last year. Needed the run first time out, then we ran him at Garthorpe on ground that was too soft – being by Court Cave, he needs good ground – and he didn’t stay at Higham. Still eligible for Conditions races but we hope he can make up into an Open horse.
Call Me Early
A replacement for Koyote, who we lost last season, for the Marriage-Signy partnership who have been lucky owners and have had nice horses with us. We bought him at Doncaster in May from Warren Ewing, for whom he was third on his second run in Irish points. He’s a four-year-old, who’ll probably start at Horseheath on New Year’s Eve, and we hope he can go through the grades.
Latenightstory
As the name suggests, a sibling of Latenightpass and – as he’s a full-brother – he’s very similar to ‘Bob’. He’s only three and is still small but is easy and straightforward and has already schooled over hurdles. Won’t run until the spring.
Master Templar
I wouldn’t mind a few more like him – he cost hardly anything and has won ten out of 15 for us. Was second in the Cheltenham four-miler before finding it too quick at Stratford and could run in the Foxhunters if it comes up soft because he travels strongly and stays well. I love riding him as he’s a real challenge – a total monkey – and you can’t guarantee what mood he’s in. When he runs left-handed, he hangs right… and vice versa! Will start at Chaddesley Corbett over Christmas.
Mumbo Jumbo
Bought from Emma Lavelle to replace the retired General Arrow for the same partnership. Though he’s eight, he’s still a maiden but has loads of experience, was fourth in the EBF Novices Hurdle final and is rated 113. He’ll be ready for either Chaddesley Corbett or Horseheath after Christmas.
Master Templar was in a good mood when winning for Gina at Cocklebarrow (Neale Blackburn)
ALAN HILL
Back On Track
A four-year-old by Milan, who (son) Joe bought at the store sales in summer 2023. Has grown and matured substantially this year and is a promising type. Jumps very well at home and we’re looking forward to running him soon.
I K Brunel (pictured above sealing the championship for Izzie Hill [nee Marshall] at Kingston Blount [Neale Blackburn])
Made an impressive start with us, winning a hot Ladies Open in his debut then a Taunton Hunter Chase. Following a nasty fall when he was brought down in the Aintree Foxhunters, he’s since won three Opens, including two last season. His last run at Kingston Blount, where he battled gamely to beat the odds-on favourite, was superb, and pivotal in securing (daughter-in-law) Izzie the Female Riders Championship. Hopefully he can continue his good form this season and is entered at Badbury Rings on Sunday.
Jongleur D’Ainay
Purchased from Doncaster sales last year having finished fourth on his sole start. Made a pleasing and successful start to his career with us, winning a Wadebridge Maiden impressively by 15 lengths, powering up the home straight and pulling clear. Being such a big horse, we then turned him away to give him time to continue to grow into his frame. He’s come back in looking well and strong and we’re looking forward to seeing him progress.
Soldier Unknown
Joined the yard earlier this year and has shown ability and progressed on every start. Made a promising debut when winning a Paxford Maiden and gained confidence and experience from that run, going on to win a Restricted at Godstone and a Conditions race at Peper Harow. He was second at Dingley on his last run on ground quicker than ideal but ran well considering the step up in grade. His will to win stands out and ownership shares in him are available!
Tellmesomethingood
An exciting new maiden and this year’s “milk bottle” horse – I put money in every Friday from September to back one first time out. Purchased from Jim Boyle this summer, he’s been placed five times under rules and shown a lot of promise. He has a lovely character and attitude to his work. By top stallion Walk In The Park, he’s impeccably bred, being a half-brother to Invitation Only, who was rated 161.
Jongleur D'Ainay and Izzie win impressively at Wadebridge (Tim Holt)
MYLES OSBORNE
Ask A Honey Bee
Has come from Fergal O’Brien’s and will be ready early. Fell four out when running a big race in the Scottish National two years ago. Eligible for Conditions races but rated 130 so could get up to Open level and may go Hunter Chasing in the spring. Should be a fun horse. ‘Fly’ McIntyre will ride him – he’ll ride most of mine when he can.
Green Bonnet
A 5yo mare by Dartmouth who was a £25,000 store but was too weak to run last year. She’ll start off in the bumper at Great Trethew and should run a nice race – we really like her. She’s got a good page and should repay her purchase price.
Moratorium
Owes us nothing and coming back for one more year. Had a little injury after winning at Badbury Rings so has only just come in, and will run early in the new year. I’ll ride him again – he’ll probably be my only mount.
Rock On Cowboy
A nice horse who I knew when he was at Ben Pauling’s and has come to us via the Megson dispersal. Won an Irish Maiden then was sold expensively before running in novice hurdles for Ben. Will have a couple of runs for us before going back under rules.
Take All
My favourite of the lot this season. Started in the Open at Knightwick – ridden by Sam Scott, Ben’s amateur – and was in contention when running out at the lasy Bought from Shark Hanlon in the summer, he’s got loads of natural ability and could potentially be useful. Eligible for Opens but might make a Hunter Chaser as the season progresses.
Myles and Moratorium en route to victory at Badbury Rings (Tim Holt)
FRAN & CHARLIE POSTE (Station Yard Racing)
Capparattin
Did well for us in the Spring, winning at Mollington and Edgcote, having previously been trained by owner Jane Burton and her family – it was great for his owners to win at their local tracks. Will start in a Restricted with a penalty, maybe at Alnwick or Chaddesley Corbett, and we think he’ll improve for a test of stamina, which he has in abundance. Could be good enough to win Conditions races. He’s Charlie Case’s ride.
Japon De Carjac
A French-bred, who was formerly trained by Paul Webber for the Rocher family, who’ve sent us a couple now Paul’s retired. Ran once in a bumper at Huntingdon in 2023 and didn’t show much, so we’ve been asked to see if he has ability – his home work suggests he does. He’s a lovely big horse who schooled well at Maisemore Park recently and he’ll start in a 3m Maiden on a fair track.
Kilfilum Woods
Rated 108 after three runs over fences, including a close second at Huntingdon and another to come from Paul Webber – we bought him privately for a syndicate including David Doolittle and Mark Burgess, who had novice champion mare Imperial Pride last year. He’s eight, and still a maiden, but goes well at home. Made his debut for us at Knightwick last weekend and won comfortably. Zac Baker rides him – he and Charlie will share the mounts on our horses this season along with a couple of novice riders.
Pocatello
Owned by a local syndicate including our vet Bridget Gatehouse and Nicola Burton, who nursed him back to health after he fell and fractured a knee at Brafield-on-the-Green in 2023. That was his fifth run for us that season and – after a terrible start – he improved with each run before winning at Charlton Horethorne. He’s back in work, is bigger and stronger than before, and should be out before Christmas.
Taymount
Just ran once last year, when fourth at South Hill. Travelled nicely until losing his chance with a mistake, but stayed on well. He’s come in more furnished this year, is another who schooled well at Maisemore Park, and won’t be far away with a clean round of jumping. Ran at Dunsmore and is a sales horse with a nice pedigree, who was bred by the late Robert Chugg
Capparattin leads the field on his local track at Mollington (Neale Blackburn)
TIM UNDERWOOD
Ask Nile
Never runs a bad race and managed to nick a victory at Larkhill last year (in a match), then had an injury which put him out for the rest of the season.
La Vega Moon
Winner of two points in Ireland and still eligible for a Restricted with a penalty. Had a point-to-point rating of 93 after taking his ‘Winners of One’, where he beat Private Ryan – who won two Hunter Chases in the spring – by 12 lengths. Subsequently showed moderate form over hurdles with a rating of 92 and there could be some improvement in him as he still looks unfurnished. Came from Shark Hanlon.
Stranger Danger
I bought him from Colin Bowe mid-season hoping he was going to change my luck but – guess what – he got colic. He’s been operated on, hopefully successfully, and is back in work. He had reasonable Open form with an Irish point mark as high as 105, which should stand him in good stead to win modest races over here if he regains his form.
The Priests Leap
I bought this horse out of Gordon Elliott’s yard. He’s been plagued with foot problems, which is why he hasn’t run for a year but is sound now. He has a modicum of good form, mostly at around two miles but, being by Flemensfirth out of an Oscar mare, he should get the three-mile trip.
Windgap Hill
Ran a promising race when a close second in a reasonable maiden at Lockinge then started favourite at Parham, but had a crashing fall at the ditch. Unfortunately after that, his jumping fell apart, but hopefully we can get his confidence back and take him to tracks with more forgiving fences.
Ask Nile and Walter Barnett winning at Larkhill (Tim Holt)
JULIE WADLAND
Bushtucker Park
She won her Maiden and Restricted very easily for James King last season but her Chaddesley Corbett run in the Mares Maiden Final was a race too many – she had been in work a long time and didn’t appreciate the soft ground. She’s had a nice break and will go to Larkhill in December. She’s probably better suited to 2m4f but if she runs in an early season Restricted, that won’t be an option. Owned by Joanna and Richard Mann, who are long-standing supporters of the yard.
Glenmount
Didn’t do much wrong last season with three wins and two seconds from five runs. He’s still only six and a tall, rangy, horse who runs up quite light. However, he’s much stronger this year and works like a very nice horse, so let’s see. He will go to the first Chaddesley Corbett meeting in December.
Golden Tobouggan
He’s been a great syndicate horse for us, owes us nothing, and his form on paper last season doesn’t do his runs justice as he ran some very game races for an old boy. He seems to still enjoy it and he’s far too quirky for another job so he will hopefully have another go sometime in December, but this will surely be his last season?
Lagan Valley
Started last season with a lovely win at Sheriff Hutton for James, then the heavy ground – which he didn’t handle – and a virus took its toll mid-season. But he finished the season with a Mixed Open win at Holnicote and a great run to finish third in a hot Ladies at Chaddesley, both for Izzie Marshall. Will aim for a Mixed Open in December, either at Larkhill or Chaddesley Corbett, depending on the ground.
Yakaleo
A five-year-old who’s had a few runs under rules. We haven’t had him long and so far I like him! He’s had a little break and is now cantering away. Will hopefully run in a maiden in early January.
Lagan Valley helps Izzie Marshall towards her first championship at Honicote (Tim Holt)