Introducing our AGA special correspondent - Isabel Tompsett

Last season AGA were looking for a female jockey to sponsor and after making some initial enquiries Fergal O' Brien suggested that Isabel would be a good punt. He kindly brought her along to meet us for the first time at Whitwick Manor in February, and we agreed to sponsor her both in Point-to-Point racing and under rules.

As she continues her amazing recovery Isabel has agreed to be our special correspondent this season, previewing all of our qualifying races. Every week Isabel will cast her eye over the entries for the latest AGA Ladies' Open race and give her view on the likely race winner, and you can read Isabel's tips here every Wednesday afternoon. 

L-R; Fergal O' Brien, Isabel & David, pictured after the 
AGA Hunter Chase Final at Cheltenham last season

Issy's tip for Chaddesley Corbett on Tuesday 27th December

 

Issy was full of beans when I spoke to her yesterday evening and she picked out 3 to watch on Tuesday, all of whom she feels will have an outstanding chance on their best form, they are:

• Billyvoddan - owned by Juliet Minton, trained by Phil Rowley & ridden by Jane Williams
• Picaroon - owned & trained by Katherine Smith-Maxwell & ridden by Alex Dunn 
• Kicks For Free - owned & trained by William & Angela Rucker & ridden by Angela Rucker

With one tri-cast under her belt already this season - at Barbury Castle, Issy is definitely one to take seriously so let's hope that all 3 declare to run! I look forward to our weekly chats and I never cease to be amazed by Isabel's passion for all things Point-to-Point, and by the depth of her knowledge. Hopefully we will see Isabel at a Point-to-Point meeting very soon.

AGA Ladies Open Series, "The story so far" ... and they're off!

Going to the first - Cottenham, 27th November
A cold day, ground rather firm, boots marginal and powder kept dry for better ground as there are only 4 runners in the AGA race. There is a seasonal debut for the AGA Total Control van, which was hard driven by Derek Martin, who has trained for 18 years for Point-to-Point and now has a weekend job from heaven.

Zanzibar Boy's price is forced into 5/2 from 4's following sustained
 support from the AGA Pointing team

The first 10 points go to Rachel King, who immediately goes on holiday following her interview with John Beasley!

"Are we nearly finished Beazo? My plane leaves in an hour"

Coming to the second - Barbury Castle, 4th December
Is this well hidden or is the satnav on the blink? Early confusion but the team all arrive eventually and we have 7 runners for the second AGA race of the season.

"So tell me Nigel, is this a bitterly cold and wet, windswept hillside
 in December, or a hub of sporting excitement?"

Kicks For Free kicks on as Angela Rucker earns her first 10 points of the season, with only 2 others coming home behind her. 

"Mind the horse William, I'm off to be interviewed by Beazo"**

We're getting the hang of this thing now ... I think! Beazo interviews the wind and the rain, plus Angela and then there is a stampede at the AGA stand as lady riders collect their "I'm In Total Control" polo shirts.

Sarah-Jayne Davies trades in her silks for a rather smart AGA polo shirt then quickly 
switches to modelling mode, demonstrating that she really is "In Total Control"

**John Beasley - respected Point-to-Point photographer and author of "The Big Green Annual", will hereby be referred to as "Beazo"

The AGA van heads north while Mrs Rucker heads south - Alnwick and Tweseldown, December 11th
Three inspections up in Alnwick but the snow did not triumph as it did in 2010 and Beazo finds that the winner does not mince her words (or add too many).

254 miles to get here - what's all this white stuff?

Meanwhile at Tweseldown Stephen Astaire seems delighted that his rain dance worked as a decent crowd are on hand to see Angela Rucker snaffle another 2 points to go top of the league. All 10 lady riders flocked to the presentation area following the race and jostled for position so they could pose for a photograph with David ... or was it the £25 AGA voucher that they wanted?

Team photo, David and the girls, pretty in pink and "In Total Control"

The AGA tow rope proves to be a useful acquisition - Whitfield, 18th December
A plethora of early withdrawals did not dampen enthusiasm and we were treated to 10 races with 102 runners. The Smith-Maxwells made an early retreat only to return minus their horse for a scouting mission ahead of Chaddesley Corbett.

"

"I'm not running my horse today but I'd love a photo in a pink
 AGA "I'm In Total Control" polo shirt"

Fergal O' Brien and Richard "Sparky" Bevis were the latest trainers to be pictured in pink AGA "I'm In Total Control" polo shirts, this was only after they had hung around the stand for 30 minutes pleading for a photograph.

Following the AGA race the first 4 home reveal David Simpson's pin number!

The day ended dramatically as the soft ground saw the AGA tow rope make its first appearance of the season amid talk that the van will need better going to be at it's peak.

AGA pre-season ... we need a practice run, November 16th

It's a murky day in mid-November and the AGA Pointing team are heading for Cilldara Stud, home of National Hunt trainer Fergal O' Brien, to have a practice run. The going is good to soft and spirits in the camp are high in anticipation of a good performance. 


How many AGA Pointing blokes does it take to put up a flag?

The exercise returned a good time against the clock and everything worked ... apart from Fergal's kettle.


Where's Wally? Spot the AGA Pointing team member

Verdict - the AGA van showed up well for a long way, she goes on the ground but will come on for the run!

We have a new AGA van - our new AGA Total Control van is delivered, 14th November

As preparations for the new season pick up pace the first fence is cleared comfortably as our new van arrives at head office.


Our new AGA van is welcomed to head office by Group CEO William McGrath
and Derek Martin