REPORT – GRAFTON (SUNDAY 17TH MAY)

The Grafton point-to-point at Edgcote on Sunday 17th May attracted 27 runners for its six races – of which the showpiece contest was the Novice Riders Championship Final – and saw doubles for a trio of 2025-206 champions-elect, leading male novice Lucas Murphy, top trainer Josh Newman, who is set to win that title for a third consecutive year, and 12-time female champion rider Gina Andrews, the all-time leading British female jump jockey.

The first of Murphy’s two victories came on the well-backed 5/4 favourite Talimar Pearl, trained by Newman, in the feature event, the Savills PPORA Novice Riders Championship Final, a Level 2 Conditions Race for riders who had not ridden more than ten winners before the start of the season and who had been placed in the first four in any PPORA-supported race during the current campaign. It attracted five runners, and the eight-year-old grey was always prominent in a slowly run race, taking the lead going out on the second circuit and repelling the persistent challenges of Young Rich and Champagne Glory to score by one-and-a-half lengths and a head. Little Peter could be considered unlucky, as he was challenging when unseating at the last.

Newman was full of praise for his 16-year-old jockey, in his first season riding over fences, saying, “He’s obviously taken a lot from his father Timmy, who was a magician. Lucas is an older head on young shoulders – with his pony racing, he’s been riding for a long-time – and the apple hasn’t fallen far from the tree!” As for Talimar Pearl, Newman added, “He had the right rider on him, and is a consistent sort, who’s been absolutely fantastic for me.” Reflecting on his season, which has seen him rack up 46 wins as both trainer and jockey – he is again set to be second in the national male rider standings – he confirmed, “It’s been my best season yet. Everyone in the yard works hard, the horses have been in good form, and I’m lucky to have proper pointing owners.” However, he refused to admit to being champion already (though he is seven clear of his nearest rivals with one week of the season left), saying, “Crossing the line would be great!”

Newman had initiated his own double in the preceding race, the three-runner John White Funeral Directors Mixed Open, on Al Gasparo, who he also rode. The seven-year-old, formerly trained by Gavin Cromwell in Ireland, won like a 2/5 shot should, tracking long-time leader – and only other finisher – Tigerbythetail until making his move four from home, going clear racing up the hill for the final time and holding on to win by two-and-a-half lengths.

Al Gasparo is owned by pointing stalwarts John and Floss Symes, who have had horses since the late 1970s, and who had also enjoyed success with the Newman-trained and ridden Beacon Edge at Peper Harow the day before. “We bought him last summer,” John told me. “He can be keen – he made most of the running in the Coral Cup last year – so it was good that Josh held him up. He’s won five for us this year and was going so easily when tripping up at Stafford Cross last time. I think that’s him finished for the season.” The Symes’ have been supporters of Newman and his wife Kayley for a long time and their best horses have included the much-missed Sixteen Letters (who, appropriately, won 16 times), Steeltown and Whizzaar. Asked why he’s been involved in the sport for so long, John smiled, “It’s so much more friendly than under rules!”

Murphy completed his brace – and moved on to 18 for the season – on Chris Dennington’s Taghadoe in the concluding contest, the Framptons Planning Conditions Race (Level 3), over the shorter distance of two miles five furlongs, which again saw three go to post. Practice Run, who had been third in the Intermediate Final, was heavily fancied at 1/4, but never looked to be going well as The Sad Shepherd vied with him for the lead. Murphy held up the seven-year-old – sent off at 2/1 – before pouncing on the favourite at the penultimate fence and quickening clear to score by an easy five lengths. The Sad Shepherd, appreciating the shorter trip, was 13 lengths third.

“It’s been another good day,” beamed Murphy afterwards. Life’s easy when I get to ride horses like him and Talimar Pearl. At the start of the season,” he continued, “I was just hoping to have a bit of fun on two horses for my grandad (long-time owner Ray Anderson Green), and I couldn’t have imagined it going like this. Pony racing’s been my grounding, it’s nice to ride for champions like Josh, and I’ve had so much advice from him and the likes of Will Biddick, James King, Ed Doggrell and – of course – Dad, which makes it easier.” Pressed on highlights from a year that’s also included two wins over hurdles, Murphy replied, “My treble at Lockinge, my first win for grandad on Bass Rock, and a double at Maisemore Park for Tom George and Dad.”

Fiona Dennington, representing her husband, confirmed of Taghadoe, “Two-and-a-half miles is the key to him, which limits our options. He’s eligible for Restricteds, but we decided to come here for the trip. He’s not hard to train, but things have to go his way and he’s an early and late season horse, as he doesn’t like soft ground. He’s beaten a good horse today and we’re absolutely thrilled with him.”

Andrews opened her account on the day on Corra Bheinn, trained by Francesca Poste, in the Towcester Vets Maiden Race, which had six runners, the biggest field of the meeting. A win was not overdue for the six-year-old, as he’d been third twice and second twice on his last four outings. Always prominent, the 6/4 favourite made his decisive move with six to jump and, despite a mistake at the last, he was always in command and held one by one-and-a-half and five-and-a-half lengths from Gladiateddi and No Case To Answer.

“That was an interesting jump at the last,” laughed Andrews. “But he jumped well on the whole and it was the only mistake he made. He’s been knocking on the door, was second to a nice horse at Chaddesley Corbett and he’s owned by a really nice syndicate (The Picnic Partnership, who were out in force in the winners enclosure) and has given them plenty of fun.”

Poste was represented by her father Chris, who echoed Andrews’ words in telling me, “Fran and (husband) Charlie are at the sales, my wife Amanda’s looking after their young son Isaac, so I’m here with the dogs! Corra Bheinn’s a nice horse – he’s been running in competitive maidens and walked into a good one at Chaddesley Corbett. I can see him picking up a Restricted next season. The owners are local, and a great bunch. They’ve been with us for years and have had lots of success.”

A second win for Andrews came courtesy of Penniless in the NFU Mutual Restricted Race, which saw five face the starter. The eight-year-old mare, backed into 7/4 joint-favourite, was the only winner on the day to make all, jumping off in front, quickening clear five out, and having enough left to see off the challenge of fellow market leader Try The Money by two-and-three-quarter lengths. Right Lets Go, who had chased the winner for much of the race, was one-and-a-half lengths further back in third.

It was a first win for trainer Sophie Davies, stepdaughter of owner Nigel Padfield, and she explained why she started to train Penniless, who was in Padfield’s care last season. “She suffers from bad feet and I’m a vet, so it’s all about trying to get her feet right. She won the Stratford point-to-point bumper in 2023, and this was her first win since, as we have to get creative with how we treat her and work her. It finally came together today and hopefully she’s the first winner of many!” However, Penniless will not be adding to her tally, as she’s off to be covered by Kew Gardens. Davies praised the work done by farrier John Simpson, who used to ride Padfield’s Padjoes Legacy, for his work in treating the mare, and Padfield also commended Edgcote Clerk of the Course Graham Tawell, saying, “He does a good job with the ground, and I like the fences here.”

“No-one wanted to make it,” explained Andrews of her decision to lead. “So, I let her enjoy herself, and she did. She jumped brilliantly and I knew I’d win after a circuit. As she’s not been easy to train, it was good to get her head in front.” Andrews was winning for the 44th time this season – over 30 in front of her nearest pursuer – as her dominance of the female jockeys championship continues, and has also saddled 39 winners as a trainer, currently sitting joint-second on the leaderboard in that contest. She was quick to pay tribute to Padfield, saying, “Nigel gave me a ride on my first ever day racing and I’ve ridden for him ever since. Riding winners for your mates is what makes it worthwhile.”

The only race of the day in which winning connections were not involved in a double was the opener, the Heygates & Sons Grafton & Adjacent Hunts Conditions Race (Level 2), and another five-runner race. The sponsors have been involved in the Grafton fixture for over 40 years and saw an exciting finish, with Bradley Gibbs on the Alan Hill-trained Soldier Unknown overhaul long-time leader Myth Buster up the home straight. The seven-year-old, who started at 5/4, with Myth Buster 4/5, made hard work of his victory, being given reminders going out on the final circuit, but the result was never in doubt after he took the lead two out, and he came home by 11 lengths, with three lengths back to Shanty Alley in third.

The trainer’s daughter-in-law Izzie, champion female rider in 2023/2024, said to me afterwards, “I absolutely adore Soldier Unknown, and he’s been such an important horse for me. I won three on him that season… and won the title by three. (Now husband) Joe said at the end of that season that he was for sale, and I told him there’d be no wedding if he was sold! He has trouble with his wind, but is consistent, tough, and has a good attitude, and you can’t train that.” Hill is sidelined for the season after breaking her leg, and admitted, “I’d love to be on him, but Brad gave him a fantastic ride, and it was a joy seeing him run so well.

It was Gibbs’ first win for the Hill yard and Alan was full of praise for his jockey. “It was a vintage ride and needed all Brad’s strength. He gave him a positive ride, pushing him along without bullying him, and being determined without resorting to his stick. It was a real James Tudor ride (referring to Hill’s former stable jockey and national champion), and that’s a compliment!”

As well as the presentations to the race winners, two special awards were given. Lucas Murphy was presented with a trophy by the family and friends of the late Sam Lee, in memory of the former jockey, whose local meeting this was, and Stuart Morris – who was saddling his final runners of a long and successful training career – was awarded a magnum of champagne.