Gina Andrews reaches 400-winner mark in Britain - and has her sights set on another target this weekend

Ten-time ladies’ champion point-to-point rider Gina Andrews was breaking records again at Chaddesley Corbett on Sunday – and no sooner had she ridden her 400th British point-to-point winner than she rode her 401st.

The record came aboard Master Templar, a horse she also trains, in the ladies’ open, after which Andrews said: “Having ridden two Irish point-to-point winners, the 400th success overall had come and gone already, but obviously to achieve it and to gain the recognition I did at Chaddesley was amazing.”

Andrews also pointed out that the next milestone isn’t far away, given she has also ridden 96 winners under rules to take her to within one of an overall total of 500 in Britain and Ireland, and when asked for her future ambitions it was further big-race success under rules that came to mind.

“Another Cheltenham Festival race would be amazing – the Foxhunters or maybe the Cross Country on Bobby,” she said – Bobby being the family’s Latenightpass, who Andrews has partnered to many victories and gave a terrific ride in the Grand National in April to finish 12th.

More immediately, Andrews sends a team to Alnwick in Northumberland this weekend, including Edith Pelham in the opening maiden. She said: “She’s a nice filly who we trained in the spring but she wasn’t physically ready. She has a nice pedigree and we are looking forward to running her.”

Another four-year-old to note is Jack Teal’s Matterofexpression, by Soldier Of Fortune, while an older horse with experience is the John Dawson-trained six-year-old The Village Way, who has twice finished second this season and is a half-brother to dual Long Walk Hurdle hero Crambo.

Andrews’ Jetaway Joey, a winner of three of his five starts in point-to-points, surely sets the standard in the men’s open, although Jimmy Walton’s mare West Lawn could upset the party having already had two runs this season. Kelly Morgan will also be hoping Dusart, a high-class ex-chaser, can make amends for unseating here last time.

Andrews will be on the interesting Loughan in the ladies’ open, but dual course winner Diablo De Sivola, who was carried out by a loose horse close to home last time, is the likely favourite, ridden again by Jesika Rennie. Kingrullah and Killer Clown, who finished in that order at the last meeting, will offer strong opposition.

Grace A Vous Enki takes centre stage in the men’s open at Larkhill in Wiltshire as he bids for an eighth win at the course. However, opposition is stiff and we could see the return of the Chris Barber-trained Famous Clermont, last seen winning at Stratford in May under ladies’ national champion Izzie Hill. Barber says: “He’s in great form and the move to our new yard definitely seems to have sparked him up a bit; I plan to run on Sunday but haven’t decided on which race yet.”

My Drogo was third at the mid-December meeting at Larkhill and will no doubt have improved for that run. Larry, a useful chaser when trained by Gary Moore, could well appreciate the switch to point-to-pointing for owner/trainer/jockey George Gorman, while others capable of a bold bid are the consistent One For Rosie, trained by Jason Maguire, and the dual Cheltenham hunter chase winner Marcle Ridge from the Lucy Smith yard.

Famous Clermont and One For Rosie also have entries in the ladies’ open, in which Alan Hill’s IK Brunel, pipped in the final strides here in early December, and Olive Nicholls’ Oscars Moonshine, fourth behind Grace A Vous Enki at the most recent meeting, are worth noting.

Last season’s leading trainer Josh Newman is double-handed with Ted The Thief and Five Quarters in the five-year-old-plus maiden, both having finished second on their debuts, while Shropshire’s Tom Britten reports Mount Anglesby, a five-year-old ex-Irish gelding who has been placed over hurdles, to have schooled well.

Sunday

Larkhill, Wiltshire, SP4 8QR. First race 11.30. 7 races. 95 entries.
Alnwick, Northumberland, NE66 3AE. 12.30. 6 races. 75 entries.

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