A sunny day saw a good-sized crowd flock to Brafield-on-the-Green for the first running of the Oakley point-to-point since 2019 after missing two years due to Covid. The six point-to-point races featured a total of 25 runners although, unfortunately, the two feature races both attracted just a single declaration. The Tom Ellis-trained Dundrum Wood walked over for the Fisher German Ladies Open in the hands of leading Lady Novice Rider Ellie Callwood, while Alan Hill's Aintree Foxhunters entry Tidal Flow and Ben Sutton did likewise in the Brian Currie (Milton Keynes) Mens Open. Organisers kept the crowd entertained during the break from competitive racing with an impromptu dog show - proceeds went to the Ukraine Relief Appeal and prizes were awarded to the dogs with the waggiest tails!

Star of the show was champion trainer Tom Ellis, whose treble on the day took him to 42 wins for the season, one behind his best total, which he set in 2019. After Dundrum Wood, he notched up his second success when progressive seven-year-old Master Templar took the spoils in the Landscape Land & Property Ltd Conditions Race, in which seven - the biggest field of the day - went to post. Held up early by Tom's wife - champion Lady Rider Gina Andrews, who herself was moving on to 29 victories this campaign - the progressive seven-year-old moved steadily through the field on the second circuit, took the lead two out and was not troubled to score by one-and-a-half lengths from fast-finishing Rebel Turn, with Cotton Rock two-and-a-half back in third.

On returning to the winners enclosure, Gina and Master Templar were welcomed by the customary "Oi! Oi!" greeting from the G & T Racing fan club and smiling owner Jenny Hayward told me afterwards, "Tom and Gina bought him last summer from Olly Murphy, he's had a good season and the yard's in form. As for plans, you'd have to talk to them." Jenny, who used to train herself, admitted to having owned horses "forever, but not always successfully."

Tom's third winner came when Ellie Callwood - completing a first-ever double and moving on to six for the season - made all on her mother Jo's Precious Bounty in the Bells Motor Group PPORA Club Members Race for Novice Riders, which saw four face the starter. Another progressive horse - the eight-year-old started the season a maiden and has now won his last four races - he was never headed and won comfortably. Gold Mountain was four lengths second having tried in vain to challenge the winner over the final five fences and Dan's Wee Man finished 22 lengths behind in third.

"What can you say?" asked owner Jo Callwood - whose fifth winner of the season this was - rhetorically. "Ellie's having the time of her life and has a great team behind her in Tom and Gina. We didn't know what to expect from Precious Bounty when Tom bought him - he was very lean but has really matured. He's very different to my other horse, Wounded Warrior, who's an old stager." Ellie confirmed afterwards, "He travelled well and jumped well. The plan was to sit out in front, but he was quite keen when he set off and we could have done with going half a stride faster." As for how well her campaign is going, "It's only my second season and I didn't expect it at all. I've learnt a lot from Precious Bounty - riding a maiden and going through the grades - and I'd like to do it again. The Novice Rider title wasn't an ambition originally but, now it's in sight, I'd like it to happen. I had my first outside ride earlier today and would like to have more - it's great to get the experience."

When I asked Tom afterwards about his chances of beating the all-time record of winners trained in a season, held by Jack Barber with 51 in 2014/2015, he was typically modest in his goals. "We need ten more to do it, but still have a lot of horses to run. We'll give it a go if we can."

Tom's hopes of a four-timer, however, went up in smoke when Every Minute was beaten in the concluding six-runner Toby Hunt Funeral Directors Restricted Race after a great battle with The Whistle Blower. The latter made the running, but was headed by the Ellis-trained odds-on favourite going out on the final circuit. However, the Paddy Barlow-ridden seven-year-old took the lead again five out, quickened three lengths clear and looked the winner after Every Minute made a mistake at the third last. Gina Andrews wouldn't give up, however, and challenged again jumping the last and up the run-in, only to be denied by a head as The Whistle Blower held on. Envious Editor finished well for two-and-a-half-lengths third.

It was a fourth winner of the season for his Cropwell Bishop-based trainer Jonathan Barlow (no relation to his jockey) and a quick follow-up to The Whistle Blower's Brocklesby Park Maiden win a fortnight ago. "I wanted to get him back out again before the ground dries," confirmed Jonathan. "He needs cut in the ground and will only run again this season if there's a downpour. He could step up to Hunter Chase company next year." The trainer, who has just four horses, had a winner at Shelfield Park on Saturday and is enjoying his best ever campaign, put it down to, "A good team at home, good places to canter on the farm, changing things round a bit and keeping the horses fit and happy."

Jockey Paddy Barlow, who comes from a family steeped in pointing and racing, said of how the race unfolded, "Gina gave me a nice lead and, when we quickened up, it was to test her horse's stamina, as he'd won his Maiden over a shorter trip. We rallied, kept going, and would have won more easily if he hadn't jumped right. That's three wins for me so far this season and four in total." Paddy, 20, is studying Veterinary Science at Nottingham University. "I've no plans to turn professional," he laughed. "I want to be a vet - that's a safe, secure job! But I would like to ride in a Foxhunters."

The day's opener, the Michael Jones Maiden Race also had six runners and was taken by probably the most popular winner of the day, The Jolly Pot, owned and trained by South Midlands pointing legend Jimmy Tarry. The eight-year-old put up a remarkable performance, soon going clear and extending his lead to as much as 40 lengths as the race went on, despite several mistakes. However the eight-year-old, the mount of James Turner, started to tire in the Good to Soft ground and was headed by Grenadine Save at the penultimate fence. Despite looking beaten, The Jolly Pot rallied again jumping the last, took back the lead and scored by one-and-three-quarter lengths. Gettysburgh was a never-dangerous 25 lengths third.

Jimmy, whose father 'Bunny' died last month, will always be remembered for his association with prolific family home-bred winners like Fine Lace, Saybright and True Bloom and it was great to see him - and his red, white and blue colours - back in the winners enclosure for the first time since 2016. "That's my first winner since I can't remember when," admitted Jimmy afterwards. "I've only got two at home. I ride him every day and he's a lovely horse- nobody wanted him when I bought him, as people said he wouldn't make a pointer. James gave him a super ride," the trainer continued, "If not quite to instructions - I asked James to settle The Jolly Pot in front! I thought he was beaten when headed and it's definitely more nerve-wracking watching than riding!"

"That's my third winner in total and my second in points," said winning jockey James afterwards. "The plan was to jump off in front and, although I didn't want to be that far clear, he was travelling well so I didn't want to take a pull. When the other horse came upsides, it set him alight again and he carried on going, got a good stride at the last and stayed on well." This victory - at his local meeting - was particularly special for James, as he explained. "The Oakley has been my Hunt since I was a baby and I had just my second ride in the Members here last time the point-to-point was held. I work for local trainer Stuart Edmunds - I've had four rides and one winner for him - and Jimmy got in touch with me about riding The Jolly Pot, who had needed his first run at Kingston Blount."

The pony races, sponsored by Mr & Mrs Walsh and R S Jumps respectively, were both won by Harry Vigors - the first on Little Anne and the second on Obi 1 Knobi.