Southern stronghold
JASON HEAVEY It came in an era when northern trainers dominated jump racing.
Dickinson, Arthur Stephenson, Peter Easterby and Gordon Richards would routinely plunder the big prizes down south while Jonjo O’Neill, Ron Barry, Tommy Stack were crowned champion jockey from their northern base. But jump racing in the north has taken a battering in recent years, with its decline well documented despite the efforts of trainers Brian Ellison, John Quinn, Malcolm Jefferson, Sue Smith and Donald McCain.
Now a northern-trained runner in any of the Championship races at Cheltenham is the exception rather than the rule as the majority of rich owners send their horses to be trained in the south.
The number of northern trainers with at least 50 horses has reduced significantly in recent years.
Body blows included the demise and four-year ban for Howard Johnson and the subsequent migration of his horses south and to Ireland by owner Graham Wylie. Then there was Ferdy Murphy’s move to France from North Yorkshire.
The leading jumps stables in the south are developing breeding lines as exclusive as those that dominate flat racing, while plundering the best emerging talent in France. Horses are purchased for huge fees, with most kept well away from the stables in the north.
However, one jewel in the crown has done more for northern racing this season than anybody else in the past 20 years or so. Brian Hughes has ridden an astonishing 129 winners and is in hot pursuit of Richard Johnson in the jockeys’ championship.
His success has been built on the contacts forged with a group of smaller trainers, especially Malton’s Malcolm Jefferson, rather than one powerhouse yard.
Hughes is a bit embarrassed by the praise he is getting as the wider racing community finally realise how good a horseman he is. But his agent Richard Hale simply calls him a “brilliant jockey” and most northern trainers clamour for his services.
Hughes has done it by largely riding in the north, mainly for the wily campaigner Jefferson. The pair team up at Cheltenham next week to provide a few of the north’s realistic chances of success. ne who would ideally prefer d ground.” FOREST BIHAN (Arkle Trophy) north is throwing another dart he Arkle on Tuesday by way of n Ellison’s progressive young ser (right). beat Cloudy Dream last time his trainer feels he might be rpriced. ison said: “Altior looks like a hine so we could just be running for e money but we’ll see. e’s won three times, got beat by a y good horse in Waiting Patiently in heavy ground and on better ground he can use his turn of foot. He definitely has a decent chance of a place.” BAYWING (National Hunt Chase) NICKY RICHARDS’ promising young chaser will only run in the four-mile National Hunt Chase if the ground is soft. But if the rain does arrive, this fellow, who won the Grade Two Towton at Wetherby last time, has the jumping prowess to impress. JASON HEAVEY