POINT to point success has come out of adversity this season for the Shobdon yard of Steve and Sally Isaac, writes Richard Prime.

The husband-and-wife duo have been operating from the yard, which is owned by Crawford Gibbons, for the past three seasons, winning once in their first year and twice in the second.

But when their top horse Shamadi won first time out this time around, matters really seemed to be on the up.

"We thought things could hardly get better," said Sally. "And then it took a turn for the worse."

Shamadi shattered his shoulder at Brampton Bryan and threw all future plans into the melting pot.

"At that point we really didn't know whether we wanted to carry on," said Sally. "It's like a family up here with all the owners and that really knocked everyone for six."

But the season, which Sally described as a 'real roller-coaster ride' had another upward swing to come.

Their two remaining horses, Chief Mouse and Magicien, really found their form and the last four runners of the season all found the winner's enclosure.

The last day of the season provided an especially memorable meeting with the Harkaway Club's fixture at Chaddesley Corbett providing a third successive win for jockey Lorna Brooke on Magicien and Bill Gavin's Chief Mouse also romping home to take a first place.

Now Steve and Sally, who learned their trade with Capt Forster and Richard Lee, have plenty to look forward to as they keep the horses going over the summer months.

"Everyone has been really supportive of us and, in the end, it was unfortunate the season finished when it did," said Sally. "But now our owners have gone out and bought some new horses so everyone is optimistic for next year."