For the Cheltenham edition of Go Pointing, Jake Exelby has turned his attention to two figures who have a close affinity with the Foxhunters – in the forms of the first ever female rider to win the race and the last male rider to do so, and who is hoping to make it a double on 19th March.
Caroline Robinson (nee Beasley), who farms and trains a small string of pointers at Sheriffhales in Shropshire, as well as acting as honorary chair of stewards panels under Rules, holds two hunter chase records that will never be broken. She was the first lady jockey to ride a winner at the Cheltenham Festival when she took the Foxhunters on her own Eliogarty in 1983, then the first to be successful over the Grand National course when she won at Aintree three years later on the same horse. And while stable star The Dellercheckout is being aimed at Aintree rather than Cheltenham this year, she retains hopes of a victorious return to Prestbury Park as a trainer one day.
How did you get into pointing in the first place?
I was brought up in Shropshire and was always passionate about horses. I show jumped, evented, did pony club and started hunting young. I got the bug and the progression to race riding was natural.
How did you come to buy Eliogarty and why was he trained in Ireland?
I was running our yard at home but needed to learn more. My Dad, Jeremy, had a contact who had horses with (Eliogarty’s trainer) John Hassett, so I went over there for a month – and forgot to come home!
Eliogarty was the first horse we went to see and the greatest present anyone’s ever given me. Phil Sweeney pulled him out of the field and he was hairy and dirty, but John just said, “Look how he walks.” We were offered another horse too – the pair for £10,000 – but Dad said no. The other one was Gaye Brief, who won the Champion Hurdle the same year we won the Foxhunters!
What’s been another highlight of your time in the sport?
A horse called Our Fun. When we bought him, his breeder pulled out a fiver as our ‘luck penny’ – John ripped it in two, and I still have my half. I won two bumpers on him in Ireland and we took him to Doncaster Sales, where we did an advertising campaign. He made top price and went on to be successful for Josh Gifford.
Who else has been a favourite horse?
Jemaro, who we bought in Ireland and who I broke in while I was pregnant. He was so wayward that when we ran him in a schooling bumper in Ireland, he ran off the course. Willie Jenks trained him for us, and I remember him p***ing off with Tom Jenks one day and doing two laps of the track!
But he won six chases, then 11 points and a hunter chase when he came back to us. He was my daughter Immy’s first winner when they were both 16, then they won together again aged 17 a season later – but I’d never let Immy ride him on the gallops!
Which jockeys have you most admired?
Richard Burton, who used to ride for me. He was a nice, measured, gentle person and I’d learn so much from talking to him after a race.
What's your favourite course?
Cheltenham would stand out. I’ve won the Foxhunters, Immy’s won twice on Popaway and my other daughter Kitty won a pony race there.
In points, Eyton-on-Severn. It’s where I rode my first winner and I’ve spent my whole life going there – I used to roll down the hill as a child.
What has been your personal funniest moment in the sport?
Kitty was riding Whistling Straits – who was notoriously difficult – at Tabley. They have a long walkway and we’d planned that she’d mount at the end of it, but we hadn’t noticed that nobody was holding the front of the horse. She landed on the floor and Whistling Straits galloped off through the picnickers. The whole family was there and four of us couldn’t get her on him!
What are your own ambitions in point-to-pointing?
I’d love to get a horse to Cheltenham for Immy. We didn’t enter The Dellercheckout this year on purpose – he’s Immy’s ride, not a professional’s – but it was a difficult decision. Fingers crossed we’ll go to Aintree instead – he’s got so much scope.
What would you do if you were in charge of the sport?
The sport’s got to move forward, but we’ve also got to keep the balance between races for progressive young horses to be sold and those for older horses coming back into pointing from Rules or those who’ve found their level. We’ve got so much to thank Peter Wright for in trying to keep this balance right.
How has lockdown affected you from a racing perspective?
I’ve run three pointers – winning with Ryans Fancy at Bishops Court – and two in hunter chases. It’s been frustrating not knowing when pointing would resume, because you have to keep up the horses’ level of fitness but we’re lucky to have our own gallops, schooling fences and turnout paddocks.
What are your plans for the rest of the pointing season?
I’d hope that Ryans Fancy could pick up an intermediate, then we could think about the Restricted or Intermediate Finals. He’s progressing nicely and has strengthened up physically, and it will be interesting to see how good he is.
What do you think the effect of lockdown on pointing will be?
It must be a worry for the selling yards as it has to have affected them.
Who’s going to win the Cheltenham Foxhunters?
I’ll tell you on Saturday 20th! You’d have to look at the progressive youngsters like Latenightpass, who’s won at Cheltenham and was impressive at Warwick, and Salvatore, who’s done nothing but up his game.
Have you enjoyed anything about lockdown?
Lockdown’s quite pleasant when you live on a farm! Immy’s come back from London – she’s been able to work from here and enjoy the Shropshire life while doing her job. Kitty’s come home too and my son Anthony’s always been here – we farm together – so it’s been a great family life. We’ve been doing never-ending exercise routines and wore out patches of grass last summer!
Tell me about a book, film or TV series you've enjoyed?
In the winter, I’m always on the Racing Post, BHA Racing Admin and pointtopoint.co.uk websites, but in the summer I get stuck into books. Recently, I’ve enjoyed Where The Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens. As for TV, Normal People – I’d read the book – and The Undoing, with Hugh Grant and Nicole Kidman.
What would you be doing if you weren’t involved in racing?
Earning a bit more money and spending less time on voluntary work!
Who’s your non-racing hero?
David Attenborough, who would be a dream dinner party guest. I’ve got the utmost respect for him.
What’s your life ambition?
Keep healthy for as long as I can!
What’s the best present you’ve had since Eliogarty?
The kids and I went to New Zealand for my 60th birthday. One day, they put me on a plane and told me I was going to do a skydive. It was fantastic!
