03 December 2010 Stable Tour: The Andrews Family
by Carolyn Tanner
BRIDGET ANDREWS
photo: Neale Blackburn
To those of mature years the Andrews sisters were known as a trio of very popular harmony singers, but Point-to-Point followers of all ages will immediately think of the talented duo who have already made their mark in East Anglia and beyond.
Gina, 18, and Bridget, 17, were both very successful in the Pony Racing sphere. Gina was runner-up in the Aintree final in 2007 and Bridget, who also won three races in France, filled the same berth twice, in 2008 and 2009.
Gina, who rode her first winner between the flags on her debut, won the Princess Royal Trophy in 2008, was second in the National Novice Championship to Lucy Jones, and is rapidly making a name for herself under Rules, both over jumps and on the flat. She is on the books of jockeys' agent Chris Broad and has it in mind to ride as a conditional for a few months during the summer before reverting to amateur status.
This Pointing campaign she is being sponsored by Best Residential, a local lettings agency owned by Stuart Horwood.
Bridget, who is currently awaiting confirmation of a sponsorship deal, had to wait for her second ride to open her account earlier this year. This season, which she starts with three victories to her name, she is hoping to go one better than her sister in the National Novice title race.
The girls have decided that, at the venerable age of 50 (which landmark is rapidly approaching), it is time their father Simon handed over the responsibility of training the horses and concentrated on farming, so the commitment is now mainly in their hands, although it is Simon's name which will continue to be listed on the racecards.
The yard is a true family affair, and Simon, who partnered 170 winners in Point-to-Points plus 50 under Rules, including a victory in the 1988 Aintree Fox Hunter Chase on Newnham, will still have plenty of input. He rides out every day, as does his wife Joanna (nee Hodge), herself a very successful pilot between the flags. The only non-Andrews member of the team is Liam Brown, who helps out with the stable duties.
The Andrews yard is bursting at the seams with its largest ever number of horses. With the retirement of Tory Hayter, who has now joined Ferdy Murphy as assistant trainer, staunch East Anglian supporter Anthony Howland Jackson has sent three horses to the Lilley, Hertfordshire, stable. THATMAKESTWOOFUS, a winner last season, was found to have a dietary problem. He is reported to be well in himself, with the feeding of wet hay just one change which seems to be helping.
Anthony has purchased the useful ROBIN DE SHERWOOD, successful three times in the north for George Moscrop. He will be campaigned in Ladies' Opens, with the sisters confessing that they may argue over who rides him!
The third of the trio is BATALOV, placed six times in Irish Maidens but unraced since October 2009. "I'd be disappointed if he couldn't win a Maiden," Simon admitted.
Last season's stable star was DELIGHTFUL CLICHÉ (pictured left, by Phil Britt), owned by Penny Rogers. He is another Ladies' Open horse who may go Hunter Chasing later. He loves to front-run but tends to idle if he's too far clear. "He's best if there's another horse just behind him," explained Gina.
Penny, a long-standing owner in the yard, also has BLUEGUN, a Hurdling winner for Philip Hobbs, who struggled to place him when he rose too high in the handicap. Penny enjoys her Pointing, but Gina would like to try to qualify him for Aintree - "I'm desperate to have a ride in that [the Fox Hunter]," she said.
INISHTURK, described by his handlers as "evil" and "a miserable git," will nonetheless have a special place in Bridget's memories, as it was he who provided her first winner. Plans for him are not yet finalised, as he will be penalised for his two Novice Rider victories last season, and thoughts are that he may be outclassed by the better Ladies' horses.
He will carry David Gibbon's colours, as will MARANACH, who has won five races from Julie Houldey's yard. "He's a bit nervous, and we won't be in a rush with him," Simon remarked.
GENERAL SIMARA was partnered by Bridget in a Lady Riders' hurdle when trained by Tony Carroll. Said to be not the most natural of jumpers, he has been purchased privately by Julia Shaw.
HUMPHREY BEE, who stands 17.2, is owned by Joanna's brother Angus Hodge, who sent him into training with Alan Fleming. He was entered in a Novice Chase at the end of last year but failed to meet his engagement, after which he was no longer eligible for Pointing that season. He has won an Irish Maiden, beating his now stable companion Batalov into second.
Angus also has TOSS THE FEATHERS, who has had one run in Ireland and who was originally sold to her new owner as a brood mare.
LIBERTY BEN, who belongs to a small syndicate, had just one outing in February, after which he was not 100% so was put away. He is unlikely to appear before late January.
BALLYSHAMBLES (pictured left, by Jon Hodd), a Hodge home-bred, proved disappointing after scoring first time out last season, but Simon put this down to trainer error. "He didn't work as well at home afterwards as he had been doing, so looking back, I shouldn't have run him again," he explained. "He's going well now, though."
The "big and backward" SILVER BARLE, on whose great-grandam Pelant Barle Joanna won seven races, will be a Maiden ride for Bridget. Reported to be "really naughty" at home, with a taste for bucking off his riders, he wants a long track.
The consistent CROSBY, a son of the useful Shedid, has been in the yard since his four-year-old days and was broken in by Simon. He needs to front-run as he tends to sulk if held up.
The Andrews do not have an all-weather gallop, so the cold snap has slightly delayed preparations, although it was never the intention to run before Christmas. Bridget has picked up the ride on Argentato at Cottenham (now postponed until December 12) but unless something turns up in the meantime Gina will be reduced to the role of spectator.
