Trials and tribulations of Pointing in 2021

It is safe to say that pointing has not exactly had the best of times in the last 12 months. With COVID-19 causing the immediate abandonment of all forms of spectator sport in March 2020, that resulted in the season being stopped early, it was eagerly hoped that it would have a full season in 2020-21 when pointing finally resumed in November 2020. However, it was very short-lived, with Wales going into lockdown in late December and both Scotland and England following suit and going into lockdowns, the latter on 7th January 2021.

Heidi leads the first lot back in off the gallops

Image: Tom Williams

Needless to say, there was hope that pointing would be allowed to stay operating as the participants are all socially distanced, there were no crowds present, and jockeys attending only for their rides before departing off home, to name but a few procedures. Unfortunately, this was not to be, as due to the fact that all amateur sports were stopped, pointing had to follow suit and all racing in the point-to-point season was immediately suspended.

Focus quickly turned to the impending Hunter Chase season that was due to begin, and also concerns began to rise regarding the status of amateur riders in races such as Hunter Chases and the likes of the Foxhunter Chases at both the Cheltenham and Aintree Grand National Festivals. Unfortunately, and somewhat expectedly, due to their amateur status it was revealed that no amateur jockeys were able to race in either Hunter Chases or the Spring Festivals as things stood because of the restrictions placed on amateur riders on their participation, as only elite sports are currently permitted to operate and continue whilst Britain is in the grip of a national lockdown.

The only way amateurs were, and at the time of this article are, able to compete in races such as the Foxhunters is if they turn professional. This is the case of Alex Edwards, who recently turned professional so he could partner the 2019 Foxhunters Chase winner Hazel Hill in this year’s renewal at the Cheltenham Festival, albeit it has been noted that it was always his intention to turn professional in due course, it is just that current circumstances have made the decision for him and brought forward the timing of it as such.

Natalie aboard Sam Cavallaro and Deb aboard Arcandy during second lot

IMAGE: Jack Williams

Other high profile amateurs were touted as potentially turning professional, those being the Irish duo of Mr Patrick Mullins and Mr Jamie Codd. Normally both of these stalwarts of the amateur code would be winning either the National Hunt Chase, Champion Bumper or Foxhunters Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, usually on a Mullins or Gordon Elliott “banker” such as Sir Gerhard, Envoi Allen, Rathvinden or Galvin at the Cheltenham Festival. Jamie Codd’s victory in 2017 aboard the ill-fated Fayonagh epitomises such a sentimental and traditional scenario at the Festival, the crowd roaring home a fast finishing Irish “banker” ridden by an amateur who encapsulates the punters and racing community.

However, these two gentlemen opted to retain their amateur status and therefore miss the Festival, which did raise some eyebrows and bring some good points of clarity and question to the fore. It was presumed that these amateur riders would also be travelling over to the Festival to ride out the string from Mrs Denise Foster and Willie Mullins’ yards respectively. If that was the case, then surely they could have been given dispensation to attend? Alas, that question has been asked about media such as photographers, with only 15 photographers allowed to attend and cover the Festival, and got no answer or assistance, so it was with a huge sense of disappointment that they were also absent from the Festival, in addition to crowds and owners. Thankfully the action on course was enough to stir the spirits of those in absence from the meeting, so a huge credit must go to all those who made the meeting live up to it’s enormous reputation and status, even if the end result between Britain and Ireland was more like the score between Ireland and England in the rugby the next day.

Second Lot are reflected in the pond as they head to the gallop

IMAGE: Tom Williams

Thankfully, it appears that British point to point racing will be resuming from the week commencing Monday 29th March 2021, with Charing in Kent, The Hurworth at Hutton Rudby in Yorkshire and Revesby Park all holding meetings on Monday 29th March, in what will be a welcome sigh of relief for all in the sport. None more so than the team at Heidi Brookshaw Racing, who we visited recently to see how the team were getting on before the highly anticipated resumption of point to pointing.

Heidi Brookshaw trains from a small yard next to Dave Loughnane at Stoke-On-Term, south of Whitchurch and Market Drayton. Interestingly, Tom of JTW Equine Images flew solo in a Grob G109B Vigilant T1, that is to say with only him inside the aircraft at the time and no instructor present, at the adjacent RAF base at RAF Tern Hill, which is now a relief landing ground for the training helicopters at RAF Shawbury and the current Clive Barracks of the Irish Regiment of the British Army.

Jenny and Duke Arcadio on the round gallop during second lot

IMAGE: Jack Williams

“It cannot come soon enough” and “it’s such a relief” were two comments that came out of our visit. It has been a particularly stressful time for all in pointing, namely the trainers, who have to try and find suitable races for their string while waiting eagerly for the code to be given the green light to continue. Thankfully, that wait appears to be over, unless some 11th hour gremlin derails it.

It is of significance that pointing resumes at this time, as she will be getting her stable stalwart Sam Cavallaro, who is 15 years old but looks about 5, in tip top shape to attempt to defend his title in Cheltenham’s opening race on their Race Night, formerly Hunter Chase Evening, in May. With hardly anywhere to run the rest of her string in addition to him bar Hunter Chases, it will come as a blessed relief for her and the team that pointing is resuming imminently.

Sam Cavallaro finds something funny in the presence of trainer Heidi Brookshaw

IMAGE: Tom Williams

Usually race meetings such as the Sir W.W.Wynn and Flint & Denbigh at Bangor-On-Dee Racecourse’s point to point course, the Cheshire Forest and Knutsford Hunt meetings at Tabley, and the South Shropshire at Eyton-On-Severn would usually see the familiar stalwart of her Duke Arcadio once again gracing the winner’s enclosure as per usual regularity. So far this season, he hasn’t had the chance to appear on course, and Heidi cannot wait to get her string out again onto the pointing sphere.

Sam Cavallaro and Bletchley Castle are making appearances in the “Ludlow Race Club Open Hunters’ Chase” at the aforementioned course today, with particular note to seeing how Sam turns out after over 400 days off the course and at the grand age of 15. He certainly looked in fine fettle at her yard a week last Wednesday, moving well, though at his age and the length of time spent off the track, it may well be a case of him being best watched on his reappearance.

Her operation may be smaller than many would think of at first, but there is some serious talent in her ranks, and one can presume that once the pointing season begins again, she will be back where she belongs, firing in winners at plenty of courses. Needless to say, you wouldn’t put it pat her scoring several hunter chases with the likes of her veterans Sam Cavallaro and Duke Arcadio, or even with her newcomers such as Loose Lips Sink Ships, who is one to note for the future, potentially under both Point-to-point and National Hunt Rules.

Deb and Beyond the Sea lead Natalie on their 4 ear old gelding by Schaparelli, Loose Lips Sink Ships

Image: Tom Williams

There is a blessed relief that pointing will resume, albeit with only half a season rather than a full one. Fingers crossed that this one doesn’t get stopped half way through, and that a full season can be enjoyed next year. After the trials of the last 12 months, it cannot come soon enough. There’s just one overriding question for us – where will we start our pointing season this time around?

And most of all, when the paying public can attend a point again, make sure you attend one. They have had a lot to deal with over the last 12 months, your generosity and custom would be appreciated.

Third Lot swing around the circular gallop

IMAGE: Jack Williams

Finally, a massive thank you to Heidi Brookshaw for the opportunity to attend the yard, we are very grateful for the chance to provide some imagery from your yard to accompany this article, and we shall be back as soon as can be possible!

For the full gallery from our visit, please see our Flickr Page here - https://www.flickr.com/photos/153708976@N07/albums/72157718773428887