Jonathan Tudor – a farmer and butcher by profession – has been involved in point-to-pointing for 40 years, having had his first ride in 1981 and first winner two years later.
The highlight among his 75 successes as a jockey was winning the Times Final at Towcester on St Helens Boy in 1988 and, since turning his hand to training after retiring in 1999, he has saddled close to 100 winners, including Repeat Business in the Dunraven Bowl – “the race any Welshman with a pointer wants to win” – in 2017. Jonathan is also father to Jack, a former champion novice rider between the flags and now making a name for himself as a professional.
Jake Exelby spoke to the Merthyr Mawr, Bridgend, trainer the other day to find out more about him, and what he’s been doing during lockdown.
Who’s inspired you most in the world of pointing?
Former champion jockey John Llewellyn – he rode a winner for my Dad the day I was born.
Who have been your favourite horses?
When I was riding, Kelly’s Double, who my father trained. She won three points in the late 1980s and was favourite for a novice hunter chase at Ascot but it was snowed off. She broke her pelvis at home a few days later.
As a trainer, Minsgill Mans – he was a fun little horse. And I’d put High Hatton above Repeat Business. I used to ride him at home and still hunt him myself now – he’s never realized his full potential.
Which jockeys have you most admired?
Paul Hamer was tactically brilliant. More recently, James Tudor (Jonathan’s cousin Will is James’ father) – you never had to give him riding instructions, he just knew what to do. He’s been a great help to Jack and the two of them talk nearly every day.
What are your favourite courses?
Talybont-on-Usk, a sharp right-handed course, was a friendly little place. And the new course at Monmouth has great potential.
What do you love most about pointing?
The fun you have with your friends, especially the night before, chatting about who’ll win… before we all get stuffed. It’s just a great craic!
What's been your personal funniest moment in the sport?
One day at the Brecon meeting, Dai Jones tried to weigh out on behalf of a couple of the fatter boys, including me and Tim Jones!
What has been the highlight of your time in pointing?
As a jockey, winning the Times final. As a trainer, the Dunraven Bowl and my trebles at Llanvapley, Howick and Bratton Down. And seeing Jack become novice champion. As a sire, I’m more valuable than Galileo!
What are your career ambitions?
To train a winner for Harriet (Jonathan’s 17-year-old daughter, who started riding between the flags last season). That would be a big one. And I might renew my permit to train under Rules. It depends on what happens with pointing.
What changes have you seen in your time in the sport?
Since the year of foot and mouth disease, we’ve lost a lot of the true amateurs – families who owned, trained and rode their own horses. Our local hunt – the Llangeinor – used to issue 70 certificates for pointing and some of the horses were kept in gardens!
How has lockdown affected you from a racing perspective?
We started early and had six or seven ready to run. Then, after the November lockdown, we’ve retired a couple of our older horses – Northgeorge and Repeat Business – but have kept others like Desert Roe and High Hatton going and we’re raring to bring them back as soon as we know what’s going to happen with the rest of the season.
What do you think we should do with the rest of the pointing season?
Personally, I think we should have paused it until the start of May, then run until the end of July. People would have known they had dates to work to but now we’re going month-by-month. I accept the ground would have gone against some horses, but some like firm going, and some courses can water.
I also think the BHA should be doing something for younger horses and to help the selling yards, like point-to-point bumpers, or even two-and-a-half mile hurdles on Rules tracks.
What do you think the effect of lockdown on pointing will be?
The bigger trainers will get bigger and the smaller ones will get out, or send their horses under Rules, where the returns are better. And I think it will go further down the route of promoting younger horses, although not as far as in Ireland.
What would you do if you were in charge of point-to-pointing?
I’d like the prize money to improve, so that winning a race would cover a month’s training fees. And I’d look at helping young jockeys starting out in the sport – the cost of getting a licence, going on a course, the insurance and the equipment is astronomical. It's no good for those who just want a few rides for fun.
Who’s going to win the Cheltenham Foxhunters?
I hope it’s Bradley Gibbs’ Highway Jewel. I’d love to see a big run from her.
What else have you been up to during lockdown?
We’ve set up a home delivery service for the butchers in the local Bridgend area and the farmers markets are still busy. It’s been going well, so we’ll continue when lockdown’s over.
Have you been cooking during lockdown? If so, what’s your signature dish?
I cook a mean rump steak – from our own beef of course.
Tell me about the TV and books you’ve enjoyed?
We enjoyed The Pembrokeshire Murders recently – that’s worth a watch. Did you know that the first murder was committed on a farm next to the old Scoveston Fort point-to-point course (where Jonathan rode his first winner)? And I got Barry Geraghty’s autobiography for Christmas – that’s a good read.
What are you most looking forward to when lockdown is over?
Meeting the lads again on a Friday night at the Pelican at Ogmore.
Who is your non-racing hero?
Former Welsh rugby international and British Lion Steve Fenwick, who was a centre for Bridgend. He was a fantastic player.
Who else should be featured in “The Lockdown Lowdown”?
One of the old Welsh jockeys that I’ve mentioned – Paul Hamer, John Llewellyn, Tim Jones or Dai Jones.