REPORT – MOLLINGTON (MONDAY 4TH MAY)

The usual huge crowd attended the Warwickshire point-to-point (Mollington Races) at Mollington on Bank Holiday Monday, 4th May, the rain stayed away, and – while numbers weren’t plentiful, with 20 horses taking part across the six races – the racing was competitive, with several close finishes and a popular, and overdue, winner for a Mollington legend.

The legend in question is trainer Jimmy Tarry, whose The Jolly Pot took the Winkworth Conditions Race (Level 2), run over the shorter distance of 2m4f, which attracted three runners. The 12-year-old made virtually all in the hands of Joe Stevenson and, despite jumping to the left, and slowly at times, stayed on well to beat another veteran, 14-year-old Ask Nile by two-and-a-half lengths, with another 12-year-old, Coolagh Park, ten lengths third.

Tarry rode numerous winners at the course over his illustrious career, the highlight of which was a five-timer here in 1999. “I remember that day well,” he smiled. “My fifth winner was Grecian Star in the Maiden. He’d never run before and had come straight out of the field, but they still made him favourite!” Asked about The Jolly Pot, Tarry told me, “I went to the sales one day and nobody bought him, so he ended up with me! I ride him every day, and he’s as easy as pie. He’s still eligible for Restricteds, but we came here for the trip – he’s a two-miler really. We’ll go to Edgcote (in a fortnight) next, where there’s another race over a shorter distance.” The Jolly Pot is the only pointer Tarry has run this season, although he has a mare – Mary Flo – who may go to Edgcote too, and a three-year-old at home. “I still breed one or two,” he added, referring to the fact that many of his 200+ winners in the saddle were homebred.

It was Tarry’s first success since the same horse won at Brafield-on-the-Green in 2022 – indeed, The Jolly Pot is the only horse to have represented him in that time – and a first win for his 44-year-old rider since 2023. Stevenson, possibly the only current point-to-point jockey to have ridden winners in Barbados, is assistant trainer to Ben Case and is a keen and successful team

chaser, with three wins and five seconds in the season just finished. Like Tarry, he also dabbles in breeding, and has his own four-year-old, Cosmic Spirit, in training with Case.

Centrepiece of the meeting was the Ray Randerson Carpets Mixed Open Race, which was a match between odds-on shot Aramax and Farnoge. Unlike so many two-runner contests, this was a competitive event. Farnoge wouldn’t let the favourite establish an advantage and looked to have him in trouble when quickening clear four own. However, under a trademark determined ride from perennial champion Gina Andrews, ten-year-old Aramax kept to his task, took the lead two out and took command jumping the last to score by four lengths.

“That was fantastic, absolutely thrilling, although two-horse races can be heart stopping,” exclaimed East Anglian Area Point-to-Point Secretary Mel Sharp of the winning owners, the Whiskey & Water Partnership. “We’ve been so lucky with him – that’s nine wins and six places from 15 starts for us. He won at the Cheltenham Festival for J P McManus when he was four and (fellow owner and husband of PPORA Chair Caroline) Gerald Bailey found him. He won last year for Cian Murphy and Alex Chadwick and Gina’s struck up a good partnership with him this season.” Trainer Jenny Owen’s husband – leading dual-purpose handler under rules James – said, “He may run again at Kingston Blount next week, although we might wait for Edgcote.”

I asked the successful jockey how many wins she’s had this season and she joked, “You’re supposed to know that kind of thing!” With main rival Izzie Hill sidelined, Andrews is a remarkable 30 wins clear of Ellie Callwood in the female riders title race, and she admitted when questioned about the lack of challengers to her crown apart from Hill, “I suppose it is a bit of a worry, but Ellie’s progressed really well, I’ve got faith in her and she deserves more opportunities.” As for her own ambitions, Andrews said, “I’d hoped to ride more winners than (mens champion-elect) James King this season, but that’s fallen by the wayside. I still want to win the Cheltenham Foxhunters – it keeps escaping me – and I’d like to ride for J P McManus.” Andrews is also in contention for the trainers title – she is level with Josh Newman on 39 – but advised, “I’m running out of ammunition – I’ve only got six or seven left and a couple are going to the Stratford Hunter Chase Evening.”

The opening contest was the four-runner Butler Sherborn Warwickshire and Adjacent Hunts Conditions Race (Level 1), which saw plenty of drama. Odds-on favourite Young Rich fell at the 12th, bringing down Au Fleuron, which left eventual winner J’Envoievalserenki – who had been held up – in pursuit of long-time leader Shanty Alley. However, James King on the five-year-old always looked to have the front-runner in his sights, jumped to the lead at the penultimate fence

and held on to win by four lengths.

J’Envoievalserenki has been kept busy this season, having run five times without success since scoring on his Badbury Rings pointing debut in November, and trainer Luca Morgan admitted, “I don’t know what’s happened since then. I thought he’d be an Open horse, but probably over-raced him earlier in the season – he was only four when he started – but he’s had a six-week break since his last run at Cothelstone and has come on since then. You may think I’m mad running a Restricted horse in a Level One race, but I thought it would suit him. He’ll probably have one more run.”

The winning jockey backed up the trainer’s view of the horse, saying, “I thought he could win five or six this season, but he’s been disappointing. The two fallers meant the race worked out in our favour and hopefully he’s back on track now.” King is 11 clear of Josh Newman in the male jockeys standings with 52 wins but, although he remained guarded on his chances of beating Will Biddick’s record of 68 winners in a season, with 17 winners required and ten race days left, he was hopeful of achieving the three victories he needs to get to 350 in total between the flags this season.

The F N Pile & Sons PPORA Club Members Conditions Race (Level 1), restricted to Novice Riders who have not had more than ten winners, had three runners and went the way of Tim Underwood’s Garde La Peche, one of three odds-on favourites to score at the meeting. Left in the lead when Ryans Fancy ran very wide on the bend going out on the final circuit and nearly refused at the next before pulling up, Henry Main on the eight-year-old mare went clear four out and – despite runner-up Definiteadare gaining on the flat – was unextended to win by three lengths.

The trainer, resplendent in a flowery shirt, laughed of his second winner of a low-key season, both courtesy of Garde la Peche, “I’ve got to make the most of the post-race photo – it doesn’t happen very often! I got her from Henry de Bromhead. She was sold for £170,000 after winning her point-to-point but, although she wasn’t good enough for him, he told me she’d win a race. Last week (where she was baulked at the first and unseated Main) was a blessing in disguise. She wouldn’t have won that race and wouldn’t have run today if she’d been second or third). It’s been a terrible season otherwise,” continued Underwood. “My horses have either gone wrong or not been quite good enough. But I’ve got a new horse (Modern Drift) to run at Kingston Blount, and he could be OK.”

Main, who works for Nicky Henderson, has now ridden four winners in points this season, to go with six on the flat previously, told me, “I didn’t start pointing until last year, when I had a ride for Katie Croft, who also works for Nicky. Since then, I’ve ridden for her, Verity Green and Nikki Henton – I had a double for her and Tim at Larkhill. Most of my flat winners have been for my aunt, Heather Main, and I haven’t had a winner over fences under rules but did ride in the Kim Muir this year.” The connection with Underwood came about after Main had ridden Garde La Peche to win at Larkhill. “I’ve been riding all his since and am enjoying it. Tim’s tough and enthusiastic!” confirmed Main.

Four went to post for the Sir James Shuckburgh BT Restricted Race and the complexion of the race completely changed after the second last, when long odds-on Jack Black, who had progressed smoothly into the lead, was suddenly pulled up and immediately dismounted. This left the mare Myfanwy in the lead from the front-running The Sad Shepherd, who had been 20 lengths clear on the back straight for the final time, and Ben Case’s seven-year-old Seek Him There. Myfanwy led over the last, but Seek Him There and Charlie Case, son of the trainer, reeled in the mare up the stiff run-in to take the honours by three-quarters of a length, the shortest winning distance of the day. The Sad Shepherd emptied quickly and walked over the line 30 lengths back.

The winner was greeted by the trainer’s wife Sarah, who told me, “Ben was here earlier, but has gone to Warwick, where we have a runner in the last. Seek Him There ran for us under rules but was in and out. Since we sent him pointing, he’s been very consistent, with two wins, three seconds and a third. The plan was always to run at Edgcote, but we decided to come here as there weren’t many entries and there’s enough time between the two meetings. I didn’t think we could beat Jack Black, but they always say, ‘Never be afraid of one horse!’ It’s been a good day for the yard, with Joe winning and (younger son) George second on Shanty Alley.” (This was before Shesonnet won Warwick at 33/1!)

The winning jockey confessed, “That was a huge improvement on his last run at Edgcote, where I got it wrong with the front-running tactics. He didn’t jump as well there, but he was impeccable in behind today. He only does what he wants, hence why he runs in cheekpieces.” It was a sixth pointing winner of the season for Case, to go with one under rules, and he was keen to mention, “Michael Kehoe’s Lunar Trix, who’s a very smart horse – I was lucky to ride him, and he’ll go for the Aintree point-to-point bumper – and Miss Spec, a first winner for Ollie Hayes and my favourite moment of the season.”

The card closed with the Walnut Hill PPORA Club Members Maiden Race, and it was the most exciting race of the day, with all four runners in contention round the final bend. Myfanwy’s Magic and Charlie Marshall had made most, but looked beaten when overtaken by Gladiateddi three out, then again when headed by Penelope Ann before the penultimate. However, the nine-year-old – owned by Point-to-Point Authority Chief Executive Paul Miller, a half-brother to Myfanwy, runner-up in the previous race – rallied again and quickened up the run-in to beat fast-finishing Standupanddeliver by four lengths. Gladiateddi was half a length third, eight in front of Penelope Ann.

“He needs a good holiday – he was hanging and jumping left and is better than that,” said relieved trainer Hannah Marshall, wife of the jockey and celebrating her first winner since the birth of their son Otto three weeks ago. “He ran much better – like poetry – at Bitterley last time. He’s the unluckiest maiden in training and we needed to get his confidence up after two falls earlier in the season.” Reflecting on her season, Marshall told me, “It could have been better – we’ve had five winners, but niggly problems. But I’ve had Otto, Charlie won the Maryland Hunt Cup, and we’ll have more firepower next season, with the likes of Luther.”

“That was hard work,” admitted a visibly blowing Charlie Marshall walking back. “Once Gladiateddi came past me, I knew I needed a lead, and luckily he jumped the last two straight.” Marshall has reason to be pleased with his campaign, explaining, “That’s 15 winners – my previous best was nine – as well as the Maryland Hunt Cup, one in the Czech Republic and a Hunter Chase. As well as our own horses, I’ve picked up a few for Will Biddick, Mike Felton and Harry Ryall.” Asked about his exploits over timber in the United States, Marshall beamed. “To be the first British jockey to win the Maryland Hunt Cup was amazing, and to win a second was unbelievable. This time, it felt like the first one wasn’t a fluke and that I deserved to be there. I’m going back to America later this week to ride in cross-country races at Willowdale, but I’m planning to be at Kingston Blount on Sunday.” (Marshall had ridden a winner at Stafford Cross in Devon less than 24 hours after his big race win across the Atlantic!)