The value of schoolmasters

Schoolmasters in licensed yards aim to show us they can boost their grooms and work riders confidence on the racecourse

An untapped source of horses for the sport can be found in licensed trainers’ yards.

That is not a reference to hurdlers and chasers who are sold to continue their careers in the point-to-point field, but to horses who are owned by licensed trainers for their staff to ride.

This season alone Fergal O’Brien has sent out five horses, each one ridden by a different member of staff. Two of these eager amateurs have yet to ride a winner and the other three have ridden five winners between them, so O’Brien is not using top-flight, experienced pilots, and his six runners have yielded just a single victory in a novice riders’ contest.

Unfortunately Howick had to be called off due to the weather but O’Brien has an entry at Chaddesley with Leia Williams taking her chance on Rebel Turn.

Horses can be smarter than we give them credit for, and Hannah Vowles, who is Pauling’s secretary, says: “Raven’s Tower (pictured above, far side) is a superb schoolmaster, who looks after inexperienced riders, but takes the mickey out of the experienced ones.”

Tim Vaughan, who like O’Brien and Pauling has a background in point-to-pointing, had also entered at Howick, and has moved that entry to Chaddesley Corbett. Galop Du Bosc, who has pulled up on his four most recent starts, will be ridden by staff member Lewis Saunders, who has had just one ride in a point-to-point. The horse might not be competitive, but what an opportunity for his rider.

A high percentage of conditional and senior jump jockeys have progressed from pointing, but there are grooms and work riders who would simply like opportunities to experience the thrill of racing over fences, and maybe chalk up a winner or two. Riding in races on the boss’s horse/s gives them an incentive to remain on a trainer’s pay roll, and experience to be a more confident rider when needed for schooling at home.

Molten smoulders on

Britain’s oldest pointer lined up at Friars Haugh near Kelso last Sunday in the Oriental Club’s owner/trainer race once again completing the course.

Molten Brown is 17 years young but he remains competitive, as he proved when fourth over the course last month. Owner/trainer Tony Hogarth says: “Because of Covid he hasn’t done much for the past two seasons, and he shows no signs of age. He was a late developer, and a bit of a juvenile delinquent when he was young, so didn’t start racing until he was seven.”

Joanna Walton, who enjoyed success in points and bumpers during a stint of several seasons in Ireland, is now back in Britain and took the ride.

Molten Brown and Joanna Walton in flying good form at the Berwickshire in 2016 – photo: Grace Beresford

**article originally appeared in the Racing Post, 11th February