Trainer Profile: Jade Barber
In addition to assisting her husband Jack with his horses and bringing up their daughter Flora born in May Jade will be responsible for the point-to-pointers that will be running from the Peckmoor Stables close by to the National Hunt yard. Jade hopes to run up to five horses next season starting in November and three of these were paraded as part of the recent Owners Open morning.
Ballyjim owned by Bill Dupont has gradually been improving and recorded his best performance when runner-up in a Maiden race at Bratton Down in May in his final appearance in 2018. He should be able to find a Maiden race next season and he is likely to start at Larkhill in the New Year.
Ahha owned by Paul Barber and David Bennett is a 6 year old Milan gelding who has had two races in Ireland in 2017 being brought down at the last in his second outing when still in contention. Although trained by Jade last season an injury prevented him from running but hopes are high that he will be able to make his delayed British debut and a possible run at the opening meeting at Buckfastleigh in Devon is being considered. He is a half-brother to Emerging Talent the winner of 4 races to date including 3 Hurdle races and who is owned by Paul and Marianne Barber and trained by Paul Nicholls.
Oscar Mor is a 6 year old Oscar gelding bought by Jack at Doncaster in May. Amongst his new owners will be Andy Pollard whose previous prolific winner Little Cornham was retired from racing at the end of last season. Oscar Mor, who won his only Irish point to point in 2016 before being sold to Warren Greatrex, did not show much in three Bumper runs but it is hoped that a return to point to pointing and fences will see an improvement in his form and a Restricted race will be his initial target.
Golden Hoof who is still on his summer holidays will be returning to point to pointing after a couple of unsuccessful runs under Rules during the summer. He showed good form in 2018 in winning at Trebudannon and Upcott Cross and when he returns in the spring he will be a tough act to beat.
The stable is completed by an unnamed 3 year old gelding by Yeats out of a mare called Shannon Rose owned by Paul and Marianne Barber. Bought in the summer he is related to numerous winners including Penny Lane the winner so far of four races for Gordon Elliott and Sumkindofking the winner of three races to date for Tom George. He will be an interesting prospect when he is considered to be ready to make his racing debut.
It was also reported that Posh Totty a real star for both Jack and Jade has run her final race and will be taking up stud duties next year. Aikideau another prolific winner for the point-to-point yard has been retired after suffering an injury on his last appearance at Badbury Rings. Both will be much missed from the Wessex point-to-point scene and best wishes are sent to them for their respective futures.
