JAMES HENDERSON, a cousin of former champion National Hunt trainer Nicky, is enjoying plenty of success himself – in the point-to-point field, writes Jake Exelby.

A former master of the Belvoir Hunt, he moved from Eaton, near Grantham to Buscot at the start of last season which proved phenomenally successful.

Not only did his jockey-son Freddie finish second in the National Novice Riders’ Championship, but James’ five horses all won, with a total of nine victories and 12 placings from just 27 runs.

The operation is a true family affair, with many of the horses, as well as the jockeys, being home-bred.

Prior to Freddie, elder-brother George rode his father’s horses – he is currently taking a break from race-riding to study for accountancy exams but has notched more than 20 winners between the flags and under National Hunt Rules.

And several of the Henderson-owned, trained and ridden winners in points have been bred from the mare Arcady – including stable stalwarts Always Roses, Dream Garden and Say No.

It was Say No who fulfilled a long-held ambition for James when winning the Lord Ashton of Hyde’s Cup at the Heythrop meeting at Cocklebarrow last season. “My first pointing memories are of the Heythrop with horses like Lord Fortune and Sparkford winning,” recalled James.

“My first ride was on an old hunter called Sporting Member – he was useless – and my first winner was Roman General, trained by Henry Hill. He ran in the Grand National and was an amazing jumper, but I only rode him well after his glory days!”

James won his only hunter chase on the former Michael Dickinson-trained Prince Rowan and rode a total of 11 winners in points. His mounts between the flags included his cousin Nicky’s former smart two-mile chaser Acre Hill and Manna Bridge.

James and wife Lucinda’s horses were qualified with the Fitzwilliam and his last winner was on 33-1 shot Highland Laird at Dingley in 1993.

After giving up riding, James moved from East Anglia to the Belvoir country, before family reasons prompted the move to Buscot Park last year.

Lucinda and James manage the house and extensive gardens, which are owned by the National Trust and open to the public from Wednesday to Friday and alternate weekends from late March to late September.

The contents of the house are owned by the Faringdon Collection. Luckily for the equine inhabitants of the estate, the stables are set apart from the public grounds, in an old grain barn, which was turned into stables in 2014.

With James busy in London during the week – he is a fund manager for an investment company – much of the responsibility for training the horses is down to Lucinda and daughter Annabel, ably supported by Toni Lander and recent arrival Lucy Neilson, who will have her first rides between the flags this season.

“I just do the entries and spend time reading the form book,” James confesses. “Lucinda does the feed order and the bits that matter!”

But Annabel chips in, worried that James is underplaying his role. “Dad does get up at 6am to ride out before going to London,” she said loyally.

It's good to know that in an increasingly professional sport – there is still room for a family concern.