Family success in hunter chase gives sidelined Gina Andrews a massive boost

Gina Andrews, who suffered a horror fall at Cheltenham in December, will be back in the saddle as soon as the BHA gives amateurs the green light to return to action, and the performance of Latenightpass to win the Willoughby De Broke Open Hunters' Chase means she could be in store for an exciting return.

Andrews, who was kicked in the face during the pre-Christmas incident, cannot, along with other amateurs, ride under rules because of Covid-19 restrictions, so her sister Bridget, a professional, took over on the eight-year-old, who was saddled by the sidelined jockey's husband Tom Ellis.

Ellis is dreaming of the Cheltenham Festival and the St James's Place Festival Hunters' Chase, which is normally an amateurs-only contest, while his watching-on wife said: "The doctors signed me back on so I've just got to pass a doctor on raceday and then I'm good to go."

Tom Ellis: thrilled with the victory of LatenightpassCredit: Edward Whitaker

Ellis, whose mother Pippa bred the 40-1 winner, said: "If Gina could and amateurs are allowed, she'd ride him at Cheltenham – she's ridden him every other time in his life.

"It was horrendous that fall at Cheltenham, but she's been schooling at home and it's good to have her back. The worst thing was not being able to see her in hospital because of the Covid regulations.

"I didn't see her for two nights and she hadn't got a phone so I managed to get an ambulance man to take a phone to her, but I didn't have a charger so I couldn't get hold of her and didn't know what was going on."

Bridget Andrews, whose husband and fellow rider Harry Skelton had a double on the day courtesy of Cabot Cliffs and Supremely Lucky, said: "I'm delighted because Gina had a pretty rough time with those injuries."

Hughes loved up with Listed winner

Annie Mc (blue silks) powers home under Jonjo O'Neill jnrCredit: Edward Whitaker

Annie Mc's place in Love Island star Chris Hughes's heart was already secured, but his attachment to the seven-year-old will become even deeper if she follows up her win in the card's Listed mares' chase at the Cheltenham Festival.

Jonjo O'Neill's inmate will now head to the festival for the Mrs Paddy Power Mares' Chase for which the sponsors make her an 8-1 shot (from 14-1).

Hughes, who has ridden the daughter of Mahler on the trainer's gallops, is involved with the Coral Champions Club which owns Annie Mc, and he did not hide his affection for her when describing his mare as a superstar on Twitter.

"The lads who own her get a great kick out of her and Chris loves her to bits," said O'Neill. "It's probably why he hasn't got a girlfriend now as he's in love with the mare!

"She has to go to Cheltenham now and she'd be my best chance there, wouldn't she?"

O'Neill also won the mares' novice hurdle with Uptown Lady, who, like Annie Mc, was ridden by his son Jonjo jnr.

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