Followers Of Barnes Still On To A Winner

On my first visit to Aintree as an amateur jockey in 1979, I can vividly remember sitting in the changing room during the Grand National while valets cheered home Maurice Barnes on winner Rubstic.

Barnes' supporters now have even more to shout about as his training career flourishes from his small farm in Cumbria while Tony Dobbin, with Barnes' support, leads the race to be the seasons top conditional rider.

The stable is a family run-business. While his wife, Anne, does the book-keeping, Maurice Barnes and three stable lads run the yard. His father, Tommy, a former jockey and trainer who retired after breaking his back, also helps out.

The horses are exercised in the beautiful surrounding countryside. "We canter them around

the farm and box them up to the fells, where we have a mile gallop up a steep hill. If a horse can canter to the top we know it is fit." says Barnes.

The most expensive of the 15 horses in the string was bought for £10,000. The cheapest winner cost £1,350.

Dobbin's 22 winners include all the stable's 12 successes this season. He spent his childhood riding pony racing in Ireland, like compatriots Adrian Maguire and Mark Dwyer, before arriving in England five years ago.

To retain his lead in the title race, Dobbin knows he must search for more mounts. He said: "I didnt get many outside rides when I first moved here but things are going well now."

It will be a stiff task to become leading conditional from a small yard. However, Dobbin is supported by trainer Peter Monteith, based near Edinburgh and hopes other northern stables will follow.