GRASSROOTS: LOTTIE COVELL

Lincolnshire-based owner Lottie Covell enjoyed seeing her own Jorah win the maiden at Ampton on Saturday under jockey James King. Trained in Oxfordshire by Alan Hill, Jorah possesses a profile in which Hill is renowned for succeeding with, and the six-year-old son of Milan certainly won well enough to suggest a rise through the ranks would be no surprise.

I had my own association with Covell back in 2019, when I was fortunate enough to be given the leg up on Argot in a Ladies Open at Sedgefield; he duly won, giving memy 100th point-to-point winner. Covell has a great sense of humour and is a thoroughly fun person, so I have always followed her horses. Scouring the results from last weekend, I was therefore delighted to see a horse in her ownership win and was interested by the fact it was trained by Alan Hill, knowing that her others are trained in the north by Alice Dawson.

Covell explains: “My son Louis was all set to go to Newcastle University, but transferred to Oxford Brookes to study Real Estate. He is 18, very tall and mad keen to ride pointing, so having gone to Oxford, he went and rode out for the Hill’s. I call it ‘Oxford no books’ because he is far happier riding out than at uni! The funny thing with Jorah winning at Ampton is that I am a Suffolk girl originally, the Turners who own the course are great friends of mine, and it was Ed and Ben Turner who recommended the Hill’s to me, for both Louis and whatever horse we found!” She continues: “I went to the sales with Alan, who had found a few schoolmaster types, but none of them were quite what I wanted, then Alan knew Jorah was for sale privately, and when he ran at Lingfield in November over fences and finished second, Alan rang and said we must look at him. He was a maiden and not the usual schoolmaster sort, but there was something about that run I loved. He jumped superbly and looked a lovely ride, so the deal was done, and he was bought. I am very grateful to Alan for finding him.”

Winning the Maiden at Ampton on Saturday was very pleasing and another run under James King is likely before Louis gets the leg up, Louis has schooled him lots but with the guidance of the Hill’s I am sure the partnership will be seen in pubic only when the time is right.

Covell has a long history of pointing and is hunting mad; she has two other useful horses with Alice Dawson. Surprise Attack, who won five last season, and Wottinger, who has had time off following injury but had previously won a maiden and a restricted and deserves to be held in high regard. Covell tells me more: “I own them, but they run in a partnership name ‘The Racy Ladies’ which comprises of myself, a great hunting friend Clare Price and a lovely lady called Heather Moorehouse and her husband David. I was introduced to them by Alice and John Dawson; they had horses with them, and the timing of it all slotted in well for them to join us in the partnership. We have been so lucky and we always have so much fun!”

Again, I am intrigued by the Dawson connection, and she says: “I bought Wottinger from Chris Dawson as an unbroken store, and he went to Jon Barlow to break in. Jon had always trained my horses, Argot included and others. Wottinger was troublesome to break, and Jon said he hadn’t got the right help to complete the task, and to send him back another time. Meanwhile, I rang Chris Dawson to explain the problem and see if he could help, and he recommended his brother John. The rest is history! He retains his quirks even now! We forgive him because he is talented!” And adds: “Wottinger may run in a few weeks at Alnwick and Surprise Attack is likely to go to Sheriff Hutton this Sunday.”

Covell’s Mum trained point-to-pointers, and Covell enjoyed a few, but unsuccessful seasons riding between the flags. She tells me: “I had a handful of rides, I was hopeless! Mum was immersed in it and we had lots of fun. I then trained a few myself, but work got serious, a career took over, and then I had my children, so Ileft the training to others! I loved training,, though, and I am a nightmare owner, I am sure! I have been there and done it, so I do have my own ideas!”

Covell has boundless enthusiasm for pointing and loves every part of it. She concludes: “We have so much fun, I feel extremely lucky, I have very nice horses and have people looking after them, which is wonderful. John and Alice are incredible people and make it fun, and whilst I don’t know the Hills as well yet, they are looking after us famously, and Alan is so very knowledgeable, Louis is very lucky also.”

Covell’s closing remark: “We love our horses, and I am passionate about them all having a wonderful life after racing. Most stay with us and go hunting whilst some that wont do that move on elsewhere into other disciplines.”

Covell, like many owners, embraces it all so brilliantly, taking the rough with the smooth, and isabundantly aware of how very lucky she is to own three wonderful horses.