Dual champion trainer Tom Ellis may only be 36, but he is definitely an old and wise head on young shoulders.
Together with his wife – seven-times title winner between the flags Gina Andrews – he runs a yard at Marton, near Rugby, that contains a successful balance of youngsters to win with and sell on, and more experienced horses with which to go to war in the big events. The latter include a live Cheltenham Foxhunters hope in Latenightpass, homebred by his parents Tony and Pippa (Tom himself rode the dam, Latenightdip, to three victories between the flags).
With the current lockdown putting plans for a third successive title on temporary hold, Jake Exelby caught up with him to find out what he’s been up to.
Who’s inspired you most in the world of pointing and which jockeys do you most admire?
There were some all-time greats riding when I started – I think I rode against Richard Burton and Julian Pritchard in my first ever race. They were so far ahead of the rest and could have made it as professionals. And people like Rowan Cope and Stuart Morris were great with the young lads.
Now, the likes of Will Biddick, (brother-in-law) Jack Andrews and Gina are obvious. Dale Peters is underrated and Zac Baker’s a lunatic, but he’ll give any horse a great ride!
Who have been your favourite horses?
As a rider, Penmore Mill and Rash Move, both owned and trained by the Hutsbys – brilliant people who’ve been a huge part of my time in pointing – have special places in my heart. And Lynn Redman’s Home By Midnight was a great mare who gave me loads of early success.
As a trainer, The Noble Roman – who I also rode – was the first decent one I trained. Kalabaloo and Latenightpass both started at the bottom and have gone on to win Cheltenham hunter chases. But maybe the winner that’s given me the most pleasure was Striking A Pose at Brocklesby Park last year. It’s hard to get a four-year-old of that size and build ready so early. He’s with Colin Tizzard now, bolted up at Wincanton recently and will make a proper chaser.
What are your favourite courses?
Mollington’s my local track, I help organise the meetings there, had my first ride there, and have trained a four-timer at my local fixture. And I loved riding round Marks Tey – it was a proper galloping stayers course and is a real loss to East Anglia.
What do you love most about pointing?
Winning, obviously, but there’s nothing better than a good party at the back of the car. I really enjoy the social side too.
What has been the highlight of your time in pointing?
I’ve been really lucky to have lots. Riding round Aintree on Rash Move, being upsides at the last (the pair eventually finished third) gave me a big thrill. And having a training double at Cheltenham was mind-blowing.
But I get the most satisfaction out of a four-year-old winner. I buy them as stores with David Phelan and to get it right on the day takes years of experience and practice – it’s a lot harder than winning with an older horse.
What's been your personal funniest moment in the sport?
There’s nothing better than going racing with Lennie Owen and Clive Page. They’re a huge part of the team, come to the yard every Saturday outside lockdown and entertain everyone for hours on end. I remember Lennie getting stuck in his car’s sunroof at Kingston Blount and Dad pulling his trousers down.
What are your career ambitions?
To celebrate a Grade One winner that we've sold and to prove ourselves as a good nursery. I’d like people to talk about us like they do about the Costellos and Doyles in Ireland – “I’ll ring up Tom Ellis, he knows what he’s doing.”
What would you do if you were in charge of point-to-pointing?
I wouldn’t change too much and think race planning has taken steps in the right direction. However, I don’t think any horse should carry more than twelve stone in a race – things have moved on since pointing was for hunters.
How has lockdown affected you from a racing perspective?
It’s been tricky for our owners, who are a wonderful bunch that I can’t thank enough – and not one of them has even hinted at switching their horses to Rules. It’s hard sending the bills out, but we’ve still got horses to feed and staff to pay…
We were lucky enough to have two young horses (Harper's Brook and Ingeborg Zilling) win before lockdown, both of which sold – and we’ve sold a couple privately, although for less than we’d have got had they won a race. So I think we’ll be able to weather the storm.
What do you think the effect of lockdown on pointing will be?
It’ll bounce back – it was in good shape before lockdown last year and I’d like to think we’ll be back to normal in a year or two. I’m a ‘glass half-full’ kind of person.
But if we don’t get racing again soon, we’ll have fewer orders for next season – and it’s not just us affected, so the number of young horses will only get smaller. The same is true on both sides of the Irish Sea and that will affect the sales and have a knock-on effect on breeders and consignors.
What do you think we should do with the rest of the pointing season?
Think positively, crack on and enjoy ourselves. If we can start racing again around the time of the Cheltenham Festival, there’s plenty of the season left. I’d only extend it by a couple of weeks though and would rather see the next campaign start on 1st October – this season proved that an early start can work as long as there aren’t too many fixtures. It’s all about supply and demand.
Who’s going to win the Cheltenham Foxhunters?
That’s a hard question. I’ve been impressed by Porlock Bay and Salvatore – young horses on the up. Red Indian looked good in points before Christmas too and it’s great to see Hazel Hill back to form. Then there are a couple of Irish horses with lofty reputations.
What else have you been up to during lockdown?
I still have my day job as a farmer, though it’s arable only, so quiet at this time of year. I haven’t been able to go shooting or see my mates, so it’s been quite dull. And I’ve been trying to keep Gina and Jack sane – I should have an alternative career as a carer!
Have you been cooking during lockdown? If so, what’s your signature dish?
Obviously I do all the cooking - Gina will murder me if you write that! I like a Sunday roast – but I just do the meat and Gina does the rest.
Tell me about the TV you’ve enjoyed?
The Serpent, The Night Manager and Bridgerton, although Gina said there wasn’t enough sex and scandal in the latter!
What has irritated you most about a family member, friend or colleague?
Because Gina hasn’t ridden since her injury at Cheltenham in December, she’s been doing personal training sessions on Zoom with a friend. She was so sore last week that Fumet D’Oudairies ran off with her. She was in such a vile mood that I threatened to move out! She’ll kill me for telling you that too…
Who else should be featured in “The Lockdown Lowdown”?
Zac would be pretty entertaining! You could ask Gina’s sister Bridget what it’s like to ride for the champion trainer! Seriously, what about a regular racegoer, or Tim Lane, who I used to ride against and who now runs the National Stud.