Cheltenham winners all good after milestone victories

Former British point-to-pointers Kingofthefrontier and Woodstock Octo were reported to be in good health this morning after significant victories at Cheltenham’s October meeting.

Both horses won races in last season’s GB Pointing Bonus Young Horse Maiden Series and each has now won subsequent bonuses for success under rules. Kingofthefrontier, a British-bred five-year-old who won at Charm Park in March when trained by Cherry Coward, won £25,000 when landing a maiden hurdle at Southwell in June for John Dawson’s stable. On Friday at Cheltenham he became a poster boy for British point-to-pointing when winning a Gr.2 novices hurdle in grand style at odds of 20/1 for owner George Critchley.

Woodstock Octo was bred in Ireland and won a GB Pointing Bonus race at Dunsmore in November last year when still a five-year-old. Trained and ridden by Josh Newman, but now running under rules from the yard of his wife, Kayley Woollacott, Woodstock Octo became the second horse to scoop a subsequent bonus when taking a three-mile novices’ hurdle at Cheltenham yesterday (pictured top of page under Ben Jones). Owners John and Sonia Gardener pocket a £15,000 bonus.

This morning Dawson said of Kingofthefrontier: “He’s very good – there’s not a problem and he came out of the race very well. Even immediately after the race he was well and alert. He brushed it off.”

Kingofthefrontier takes a keen, post-race interest in events at Cheltenham while receiving a pat from Alice Dawson

Asked if going up in grade and down in trip concerned him, Dawson said: “He’s a fast horse. We have a couple of quicker ones at home and he is quicker than them. The first time we ran him, which was at Uttoxeter over two miles, he ran a bit green. Then George wanted him to run at Southwell in June and the only suitable race was over two and a half miles, which he won.

“Straight after that I had it in mind to give him a break and then aim for the Cheltenham race, thinking we might catch out the summer horses and before the winter horses got going. It was really with the idea of a bit of fun for George and a day out, but then I saw the entries and thought ‘what am I doing?’. We could be going down the handicap route and win a couple of little races, but if we run well at Cheltenham, but don’t win we will have blown his handicap mark.

“I rang George and he said no, we’re going. In for a penny in for a pound type of thing.”

Asked about plans for Kingofthefrontier, who is a British-bred son of Overbury Stud stallion Frontiersman, Dawson said: “At this stage there is no plan, but if we could get back to Cheltenham in March that would be lovely.”

He also said he had received a couple of enquiries about selling the prized asset, but said Critchley was not interested. Dawson added that he plans to continue riding in point-to-points despite a training career which is almost certain to become busier. “I’ll keep going if people still want me,” said Dawson.

Josh Newman gave a similar thumbs up to the wellbeing of Woodstock Octo, saying: “Touch wood he seems fine and has been out for a pick of grass.

Woodstock Octo’s joint-owner, John Gardener, looks as delighted as Ben Jones as they return in triumph

“Looking at yesterday’s race I didn’t expect him to win, but I did think we could beat a couple and get back into the paddock [winner’s enclosure]. He’s a nice horse and he runs to the opposition he is up against. He had a little wander at Cheltenham [on the run-in] but that was because he was thinking ‘Oh my God, I’m in front’ not because he’s ungenuine. He is a bit like El Capitaine [another ex-pointer trained by Woollacott] in that they pick up when challenged.

“He [Woodstock Octo] has a nice way of going – he doesn’t over-race – and he’s economical over jumps. We half thought of running him at Cheltenham and then going novice chasing, but after yesterday’s run we don’t have to rush into a chase. If the right hurdles race came up it might be considered.”

The Cheltenham victories came within a few hours of an announcement that a new bonus has been created to put further spotlight on maiden point-to-point races in Britain, and in particular on British-bred horses. The GB Pointing Bonus Young Horse Maiden Series now offers an immediate bonus of £10,000 to any winner in each of the 15 scheduled races if they are bred in Britain. The sum has been raised through backing from the Levy Board, Goffs and Tattersalls Cheltenham who were involved in last season’s inaugural series, and from new sponsors Arena Racing Company (Arc).

The true impact of such a bonus will take a few seasons to become fully apparent, but will be on offer at next Sunday’s season opener at Lower Machen, where the winner will also be in the running for a £25,000 (GB bred) or £15,000 bonus (bred overseas) if they go on to win a developmental hurdle or chase within two years from a licensed yard in Britain.

Dawson has a family interest in the scheme as his brother, Chris, runs Nunstainton Stud in Co Durham which is home to four jumps stallions. The scheme can play a part in attracting breeders to send mares to British stallions and for their progeny to be appealing when sold as foals or stores.

John said: “It’s going to help everybody who is involved in selling pointer, and given that the GBB Bonus is now open to geldings as well [known as GBB Gents] it can only be a good thing.”

Dawson’s wife, Alice, owns four-year-old Northern Raider who had one run last season and who the couple are aiming at a GB Pointing Bonus Young Horse Maiden race at Hexham’s Goffs-sponsored race on November 29.

Newman, who said he hopes to have a runner in Lower Machen’s GB Pointing Bonus maiden race, said he recognised that such focus on maiden races would not benefit everyone in the sport initially, but can have a role in the long term. He said: “The new bonus is very good, but it’s one of  those things that could put a few people’s noses out of joint. The main thing about it will be getting British point-to-pointers in front of people that can come back as support across the board, and not just for young horses and maidens.

“If it also puts a spotlight on the sport and helps push the fact that the sport is a good place for older horses [hurdlers and chasers] to come back to then that will help. It’s a good advert for racing in general, and not just pointing or racing under rules. Hopefully this is a good thing for the whole game.”