Green Holds All The Aces For More Title Success

I am sure we have not seen such a competitive Lady Riders championship for many years. The main 4 contenders this season are Claire Allen, Rachael Green, Polly Gundry and Jacqueline Coward.

Claire Allen will be looking to retain her Ladies National Point-to-Point Championship for the second year running after beating off the strong challenge from Polly Gundry last season. Allen won the championship by 26 winners to 25, and there is no reason to believe it will not be as tight this time around. Allen who rides mainly for Dick Baimbridge has lost some of her up and coming young horses for the forthcoming season and will need to find plenty more fire power to mount her championship challenge. The likes of Top Dawn and Why Connie leaving the Baimbridge stable could well prove a big headache as they would of been likely to run up a sequence of victories.

Allen faces some fierce opposition with Rachael Green, Polly Gundry and the up and coming rider Jacqueline Coward all looking to take her crown. Rachael Green was unfortunate not to retain her title last season as she was knocked out after a fall in April and missed several key rides. Green finished the season with 19 winners in a disappointing 4th place and again will have the services of the Barber/Nicholls team for the season. They will be able to supply her with plenty of good ammunition and another Ladies championship definitely looks on the cards.

Jacqueline Coward a talented young rider from the North West, could be Green's main challenger. Jacqueline rides mainly in the North and after winning the 2006 novice riders championship, performed magnificently to gain 20 winners and finish 3rd in her first Ladies Championship campaign. With another season of rides under her belt, She could well be Green’s biggest danger and with Claire Allen and Polly Gundry in the market. Could be some value if you could find a bookmaker to give you a price for Coward to win or be second to Green for the title. I would imagine Rachael Green will be favourite in the betting to regain the title.

You can also never discount the never say die attitude of Polly Gundry and she will be even more determined to take this seasons title, after coming so close last year. Gundry will be travelling the country for winners and will no doubt be breathing down the necks of the other riders come next June

All in all a great and exciting cunnundrum for the new season and one certainly not to be missed.

Selection : Rachael Green

Next Best : Jacqueline Coward

Ladies 2007 Point-to-Point Jockey Championship Table

Name	Winners
Claire Allen	26
Polly Gundry	25
Jaqueline Coward	20
Rachael Green	19

Source : pointtopoint.co.uk

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