New Trainer Profile: Annie Bacon

Within the Wessex area there are a number of trainers of point-to-point horses and the chance has been taken to talk to some of the rising stars about their hopes for the season and the horses they are expecting to race over the coming months. 

This article covers one of the youngest trainers who will be having runners next season namely Annabelle (Annie) Bacon. Based in Milborne Port and aged 23 she started her interest in point-to-point racing at a very young age when helping out with the pointers at Alan Tizzard and his daughter Charlotte‘s yard in the village. At the age of 16 she went to work for Colin Tizzard and then on Colin’s recommendation went to Ireland to work for Aiden Kennedy. Always having a wish to train horses she started with a horse called Lord of the Dunes who finished third in a race at Milborne St Andrew in 2016. However 2017 was the beginning of her success when she recorded three winners from the three horses she had in training.

She hopes to have a larger number of runners this coming season and these are the horses that she talked about at a recent meeting.

Little Billy Boy. Her first winner last season at Great Trethew in Cornwall came from this 6 year old Fair Mix gelding who she had bought from Ireland. Although his form had not been inspiring in Ireland Annie convinced Lynne Hunt who heads up the Armchair Critics Partnership that he was worth acquiring and he did her proud winning two races and being placed on his other two outings. Described by his trainer as her ‘Cue Card’ he is likely to be seen running in Intermediates or Open races in the Devon and Cornwall area with the possibility of running him in Novice Rider races and possibly a Hunter Chase at a later stage of the season. 

Taking the Mickey. Her other winner from 2017 when prevailing at the odds of 20-1 in a Maiden at Littlewindsor in May under an inspired ride from George Hiscock. Only a 4 year old Primary gelding he appeared to be living up to his name after his first two appearances but the penny seemed to drop on his third appearance and he could make his mark in 2 and a half mile Restricted races in 2018. Described by Annie as a terrier at home she is looking forward to getting him back on the course next season. She hopes that George will continue to be available to ride him. 

Our Grey Boy. A new arrival in the yard having been bought at Ascot in June after three runs in Ireland. Another Primary gelding but this time measuring 17.2 hands he will take time to mature but Annie feels that the galloping nature of Larkhill will suit him and she and joint owner Alex Gibbs are looking forward to running him. 

Steel Thunder. Another newcomer bought again at Ascot in June having run in two Irish point-to-points having finished an encouraging fourth on his last outing. At the age of 5 and again being 17.2 hands he will be likely to run at galloping courses such as Larkhill or Badbury Rings. He may run at the Larkhill Racing Club meeting in January. 

An unraced 5 year old Apple Tree gelding out of a Karinga Bay mare bought by Annie at the Ascot July sales who has been named The Idle Ginger. Describing his temperament as evil at the initial stages of his training he is now much improved for being in work and hopes this will continue. He was due to be Annie’s first runner of the season but he has suffered a setback so his debut has been delayed. Annie expects that Josh Cameron will ride him. 

Another un-named 4 year old gelding by Vinnie Roe out of a Beneficial mare. Annie knew him as a yearling in Ireland and described him as small but tough and is looking forward to having him in training. 

Thunder On who raced for Annie last season may come into work later with the aim of contesting some of the 4 mile races later in the season. Considered by Annie to be a girls ride she will be looking for a new rider as Bryony Frost who rode the mare at the end of last season has become a Conditional Jockey