Polly Gundry and Ed Walker have had another remarkable season training point to pointers from their Ottery St Mary base.

Polly Gundry and Ed Walker have had another remarkable season training point to pointers from their Ottery St Mary base. Polly has secured the national lady riders' title for a record seventh time and is just six winners off Alison Dare's all time career record of 287 winners. And, as trainers, she and Ed put out 32 point to point winners and one hunter chase winner from 30 horses. She said: "I don't really think much about records and titles, I would be quite happy just plodding on, but Ed is very driven." The couple had a tough start to the season which was notable for the 'big freeze' which then turned the ground heavy as it thawed. She said: "We broke about three horses down in about three weeks after the first cold snap, then it really froze and we were very careful to get the horses back to work after that.Highlights of the season included the performances of Carrie On, a horse which started the season as a maiden, as well as Ed training Nobody Tells Me to win a Taunton Hunter Chase. Polly's favourite horse is Robin Pike's Rockwithacaveman which she believes will improve again next season. "He has blossomed into the real article, but he has a very long stride and it took a while to get him to travel better in his races. He is by Old Vic and is still only seven so should be coming to his best." After a short break the couple have six horses coming in to be broken in and then it will be all systems go to get horses ready for the early point to points. The couple have just had a sand gallop put in for slow work, but they do the horses' fast work on grass, and plan to have 20 + horses in for next season. Polly added: "We will have two novice riders attached to the yard, Leander Tickle and Ed Barrett, so need to find a couple of horses suitable for them to ride. I am hoping Ian Chanin will be able to ride most of our horses. "I find that I prefer riding first time out maidens now more than high speed open horses." One thing she was adamant about: "I am not taking out a licence to train - people keep asking me!