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One of the success stories of the 2010/11 campaign was that of Shropshire-based trainer Phil Rowley, who sent out 13 winners from his ten horses in training, and had a strike rate of 31%. Paul Nicholls, eat your heart out!

Phil and his wife Mel, a top-class Dressage rider who has competed to Grand Prix level, started training a few Pointers about four years ago, having been running a breaking and pre-training yard and assisting David and Juliet Minton with the youngstock at their Mill House Stud. And due to the support of the Mintons, with their numerous contacts, there is a constant supply of quality youngsters being educated at Poplar Cottage Farm before returning to their licensed handlers.

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Not many Point-to-Point yards have the luxury of sponsorship, but Rowley Racing has a benefactor in the shape of Sage Software specialists Action Planning, who have ensured that the staff are well kitted out by providing them with jackets, in addition to other items.

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All the facilities at the yard have been authorised by Phil and Mel, who provided their fair share of the labour involved. They include a five-furlong woodchip gallop, with the route home giving the horses the opportunity to cool off in a belly-deep water-splash, and a large outdoor arena with plenty of space for the erection of fences.

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Judging by the horses which were paraded before an audience of owners and invited guests, and given that little bit of luck which every stable needs, Phil can look forward to another successful season. Compering the show in his own inimitable fashion was David Minton, although he almost blotted his copybook by missing out one of the most important members of the string.

Trev the pony was led up by his owner, three-year-old Isabella Rowley, to whom he was a gift from her godmother (and Phil's cousin) Belinda Clarke. Trev clocks up more mileage than any of his stablemates, as he acts as a regular travelling companion on many of the journeys.

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Those in charge of the more fleet-footed equines are head girl Michaela Tallett, Alex Edwards, Dan Milner and Jon Rogers. The latter pair have both ridden in Points and are looking forward to getting back into the action, while Alex, brother of professional jockey Lee Edwards, has ridden winners as an apprentice on the flat but has yet to try his hand over jumps.

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Not for AGA the need of a so-called supermodel to advertise their product. Their new ‘face' of 2011/12 is none other than Billyvoddan, who won their Ladies' Championship final in May, and is being used to launch the series this time. The 12-year-old is due to follow the same path as last season, starting off at Chaddesley after Christmas.

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The newest addition to the yard is the holder of the Lady Dudley Cup, Surenaga, who had a successful campaign in 2010/11 when trained by Sally Randell. "He's a real gentleman," is Phil's verdict to date, and although plans have yet to be finalised, a crack at the Cheltenham Foxhunters' is a definite possibility.

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Joining him in the line-up could be the diminutive The General Lee, who has struck up such a good partnership with Lorna Brooke. His two best runs last season were probably in defeat, to Templer at Cheltenham and when fifth, beaten five lengths, in the W + S Recycling Championship at Stratford. He would not want the ground too heavy.

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Phil always has horses for sale or to lease, and one who comes into the former category is Nomadic Dreamer, described by Phil as "Our boomerang horse, because he keeps coming back to us! He hasn't ever looked better," he added. The owners who purchased him at Brightwells' Cheltenham Sale in May found he was not the easiest to deal with and so he has returned to his old haunts. Considered to be probably the classiest horse in the yard, he will go to the Horses In Training Sale at Doncaster on October 31 if not sold beforehand.

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Also on the market is Chief Heckler, who finished second on his sole outing at Bangor, after which the ground went against him. If he remains unsold he will go to Charlie Longsdon and take the Bumper route.

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A pair for lease are Resemble and Tramantano. Resemble ran very green last season, but has strengthened up and matured mentally during the summer. He shows plenty of ability at home but seemed to lose his confidence on the track. This was felt in part to be due to underfoot conditions, and he may therefore be out early in the hopes of finding better ground. He does, though, need things to go his own way.

It is hoped that a change of scene will benefit Tramantano, a consistent performer for Nigel Twiston-Davies for whom he won five races, the last of which was two years ago. Said to be "a complete goon" on the gallops, he was a gift horse to Juliet Minton and is showing great enthusiasm in his new surroundings. He has done all his winning over short trips, so will target Ladies' Opens on the easier tracks with Jane Williams, commencing with Cottenham on November 27, while sub-3m Hunter Chases at Ludlow could also be on the agenda.

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There are syndicate shares available in Crazy Eyes, who scored twice over hurdles when trained by Charlie Mann. He is reported by Phil to have strengthened up beyond belief, and is one of the favourites among the staff. He will start off between the flags but if he displays the potential he is thought to possess he could upgrade to Hunter Chases.

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Ease And Grace and Shouldhavehadthat have both triumphed for the yard under stable jockey Liam Payter. Shouldhavehadthat, who has had one or two wind problems, has done better than ever over the summer and will mix Pointing and Hunter Chasing.

Ease And Grace is a half-sister to Douglas Julian and Mister Matt, both of whom came into their own at the age of seven or eight, and it is hoped she will match them in that respect. She gets her name from the former English Amateur Golf Champion and Walker Cup player Leonard Crawley, who took a horrified look at David Minton's golf swing and told him "Ease and grace, my boy, ease and grace!"

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Penfleet, who is from the Pendil family, had just one outing, at Bitterley, and will start off in Maidens, and the unraced Macatoo, who is mentally still a bit backward, may have one run before going back to owner Raymond Mould. He is one of a job lot of 22 purchased from a single vendor!

It is hoped that four-year-old Oyster Shell will be ready before Christmas, and also destined for Pointing is a six-year-old mare - "a proper mare!" - by Sly, who stands with Les Woodhouse at Clee Hill.

Plans are still up in the air with regard to Bellaboosh, who was named by Isabella and has already won a Hurdle.

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Some of those currently in training may go straight under Rules. Benheir and Jock des Mottes have both contested two Bumpers, and both will go down the same road when they start their new campaign. Benheir may be out as soon as November, while Jock des Mottes is back in full work after undergoing a hobday operation. An unnamed three-year-old by Tikkanen could also take the Bumper route, as may the unraced Teo Vivo, although he may run in a Point first.

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Phil can be contacted on 01746 714241/07929 748691 or via email, phil@mrpequestrian.co.uk.

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