At this time last year, Robertsbridge trainer Gardie Grissell was showing the way to his Sussex rivals Josh Gifford and Richard Rowe.

Proportionately he was way ahead of most trainers in Britain let alone the county, but this time it's a different story.

Gardie has had only three winners this season, but despite this there is no hint of panic.

He said: "I have had very few runners, maybe 25. But quite frankly, while conditions on my gallops have been okay, almost always the ground on the race tracks has put me off running."

This view is echoed by other trainers, of course. But in Gardie's case he has a high proportion of young horses needing time to develop and which could be ruined by racing on unsuitable ground.

He said: "Add to that the fact that my older horses are not well handicapped and you can see why I have kept my powder dry."

That the trainer has not lost his touch was confirmed by a Folkestone double last month with Be My Mot and Newick Park, both ridden by crack amateur Ben Hitchcott.

"Ben is doing wonderfully well and I am happy to say he will stay amateur until next autumn. This way he can ride my wife's point to pointers as well as Sheikh Hamdan's arabs in the summer."

Ben was champion rider last year in the Arabian racing season and this experience of flat racing gave him added skill for his efforts over obstacles over the winter.

At least when conditions underfoot improve, Gardie's horses will emerge fit and fresh.

In the meantime, he hopes to run Real Value in the re-opened three and a half mile Victor Chandler Sussex National at Fontwell on Monday. Real Value could be the horse to replace the now retired Emerald Statesman as the staying star of the stable, and there are also a pair of younger horses, yet to run over obstacles, which the trainer regards very highly.

Buckland Knight, by St Leger winner Commanche Run, and Instant Justice have both run in NH flat races and they are definitely two for the notebook before the season is out.

Meanwhile, just over the road, Gardie's wife Di, mother of three and successful amateur rider, has 15 point to point horses under her care and ready to run.

Racing 'between the flags' starts at Tweseldown near Aldershot this Sunday, but Di's first runners will be at Higham, Cambridgeshire a week later.

The two older Grissell girls, Coral, 22, and Hannah, 17, both rode winners last year and they will be joined by Rosie, 16 today, who is now old enough to qualify for an amateur's permit.

Rides for the stable will be shared between the daughters and Ben Hitchcott, with stockbroker Fraser Marshall riding his own horse Sliabh Foy. Lifeguards captain Julian Barnard is on his new horse, High Learie, with the Grand Military Gold Cup at Sandown in March the target.

Philip Hall, whose father Christopher was a successful amateur, will also be given his opportunities and with the season stretching until early June, the Grissell team is a force to be reckoned with until the close.

Most mothers would be nervous watching their offspring galloping at 30mph plus towards solid 4ft 6ins obstacles but Di has confidence in her brood and does not worry.

She said: "I am just excited for them. They have been riding all their lives, the horses are thoroughly schooled and I trust them to get it right between horse and rider.

Such confidence is not surprising when we remember that Coral completed the Grand National course on Young Nimrod nine months ago as well as riding eight winners including a hunter chase.

Hannah, who is studying for A Levels, rode two winners from only five rides and it is a safe bet that Rosiewill soon be on the leaderboard. Point to point enthusiasts, you have been warned!