Philip Hall
A Working Partnership
By KATE PITTAM
The surroundings at Danegate are tranquil and the horses are happy and relaxed, despite any number of the seven Hall grandchildren wanting to ‘help’ around the yard. A true family operation, all members of the Hall family have a part to play in producing the horses. However the major key is Mitch Edgar who has been with them for 15 years, they think…. Phil is keen to point out that they could not do it without her; she is committed to doing what’s best for the horses and has remained hard working and dedicated through the highs and also heart-breaking lows. She and Phil have a great working partnership and the training of the horses is very much a joint effort. She works wonders with bringing the young horses on and the number of best turned out rosettes are testament to her thorough nature.
Phil has no set ‘plan’ for the horses. In his usual relaxed style he says they’ll tell him when they’re ready to run but expect to see the first runner out at some stage in January.
STAR GIFT (IRE) 6 year old gelding by Presenting.
(Owned by Susanna Hall, Pat Wilkins & Gail Cooper)
Jake is a big rangy type who has taken a while to come into himself. He is a backward sort who had a minor setback before he was ready to run last year but having an extra year to grow into himself has done him no harm. He will run somewhere flat that will give him a good introduction to pointing; it is likely he will then need a couple of weeks to get his head round what he’s just done! ‘A properly bred traditional chasing sort, he’s pretty laid back, but with a definite engine if we can persuade him to use it – he’s come on in leaps and bounds in the last 12 months and I am looking forward to finding out what we have got’ says Phil.
WINTER’S BEAU (IRE) 10 year old gelding by Star Quest.
(Owned by Pat Wilkins)
Beau is a small, agile horse who is desperate to please and happiest when he is working. Won twice impressively at Godstone in 2006 on varying ground and then picked up an Intermediate at Ampton in 2008, before running well but well beaten in the Cheltenham Final. A sound jumper who loves the mud and will be heading for tracks at which stamina is key. Phil says ‘ I wish all horses had his attitude, a proper little terrier, not very big and if he was human he would be a short arse from Yorkshire and one to have on your side in a bar brawl!’
HIGHLAND CHIEF (IRE) 8 year old gelding by Taipan.
(Owned by Pat Wilkins)
Robbie was previously at Alan King’s and is a new addition to the yard who runs well when fresh. He has won over 2 mile 6 and a flat 3 miles so it is likely he’ll head for a fairly easy track first off and can handle most going bar extremes. ‘Lovely looking, and kind natured horse who Mitch has fallen for. We all like him a lot and are giving him plenty of time to get to know his new surroundings and get ready for his hunting. We hope he will be a fun horse for Pat who is a great supporter of the yard.’
GET OFF MY CLOUD (IRE) 9 year old gelding by Grand Plaisir
(Owned by the Hall Family)
Owen was a promising addition to the yard back in 2005 but has been off the track since the beginning of 2006 after a breaking down at Cottenham. Having tried to get him back onto the track last season it is hoped that he will make a return to pointing this season. A sharp, compact little gelding who has an interesting sense of humour! ‘Mitch’s favourite, probably because the little bugger likes dropping me so much! Not much of him, but what there is is all athlete. Won his Restricted at Penshurst and his turn of foot that day, took my breath away, and we can just pray that we get him back onto the track.’
LITTLE FARMER 14 year old gelding by Little Wolf
Timmy has been a familiar equine face at South East Point to Points for a number of years. Running initially from the Grissell’s yard, he was a confirmed front runner who scored a hat-trick in 2003 and went on to many successes subsequently. Last year saw him take to team chasing with gusto alongside his pointing, and he is now retired to the team chasing field, ridden by Philip’s brother Colin. ‘I absolutely adore this chap – certainly a bit of a character as anyone will testify who saw him bolt at Detling on his first run! Di Grissell’s team did a great job of calming him and we had some serious fun with him, hardly out of the first 3 including in decent Hunter Chases at both Newbury and Cheltenham. Fortunately a little, if controllable, mad aspect remains - he is proper fun to hunt, jumps anything and is a tremendous lead horse for my brother team chasing.’
TOM COBBLER (IRE) 14 year old gelding by Zaffaran
After joining the yard back in 2002 from Nigel Twiston-Davies, pointing sweetened Tom up and he went on to many successes with Philip’s wife Pip in ladies races. He was retired in 2006 and, alongside Little Farmer, now enjoys his life team chasing with Pip. ‘The Wife’s favourite (above me obviously!) he is a fun little horse who did us proud on the track – and now is happy in his retirement, another who loves his hunting and has found a new role team chasing.’
JACK HACKETT (IRE) 16 year old gelding by Riberretto
Long since retired, having posted his four wins, and won the Southdown & Eridge Hunt race twice. Has been compared to his namesake in the past as a ‘miserly and ungenuine old fecker’ although don’t mention this to Katie, she adores him and will argue otherwise! Now Christopher Hall’s hack and has carried him hunting resolutely since his retirement. ‘Dad’s Hunter these days, and very good at it he is too. Has also carried both Colin and Pip around the East Sussex Scurry course which features some decent hedges and is not for the faint hearted. Not allowed to ride him very often, which is lucky because he likes biting me!’
