All Posts

Trainers, jockeys and horses from the West Mercian and South Midlands Areas continued their splendid start to the season with involvement in two wins at Hexham and sharing victory in all five races at Larkhill.   Joe O’Shea made the long journey from his Cheshire base to Hexham on Saturday and was successful with Paul Marvel and St Cuthbert’s Cave in the Mixed and Ladies Opens, the latter following up his Lower Machen success on the first day of the season. Respective jockeys

By the mid-1970s, the Harkaway Club fixture was run in late March or early April. The first year for which the (then) Sale & Mackenzie Annual provides full results was 1974, when the Mens Open was won by Fortification – it was one of three wins for the horse that season, but his first for seven years. Vilacity – ridden by the one-eyed Pat Kerby – took the Ladies Open, the first of four consecutive wins in the same race.   The annual does not list results for 1975, but – in 19

South Midlands and West Mercian Area participants were again to the fore at Dunsmore and Garthorpe last weekend, taking the spoils (or at least a share of them) in eight of the twelve races that took place.   Chris Barber and Ed Doggrell had tasted success at the opening two meetings of the season and combined for a Dunsmore double with the impressive and progressive Jewel In The Park in the Intermediate and ex-rules Mount Sinai in the Mixed Open. The third West Mercian winne

The Harkaway Club was formed in 1902 to promote polo and show jumping, before being changed to a Point-to-Point Club, with the first meeting in 1905. The early races were held at Tuck Hill, Enville, before the fixture moved to Chaddesley Corbett in 1925.   It has been held at the same venue ever since, with the exception of three meetings at Wilbrighton in the 1950s. After a six-year interruption due to World War two, a second course was opened at Chaddesley Corbett, which wa

The second weekend of the 2025-2026 point-to-point season, which saw five races at Badbury Rings (the sixth was declared void due to regulatory issues), was groundhog day as far as two of the successful operations were concerned, with two of the participants reappearing in the winners enclosure a week after they did so at Lower Machen. Racing action at Badbury Rings (Tim Holt) Luca Morgan had taken the Young Horse Maiden with Baron Du Brizais at the season’s opening fixture a

The 2025-2026 point-to-point season kicked-off at Lower Machen in South Wales on Sunday 9 th November, and participants from the South Midlands and West Mercian Areas were to the fore, taking five of the six races between them.   Leading trainer Alan Hill and his daughter-in-law, former female champion jockey Izzie – seeking to regain her title this year – were in double form. They took the opening Restricted with the impressive Jongleur D’Ainay, returning from a near two-ye

Tim Underwood is one of pointing’s true characters. He rode his last winner aged 63, had his final mount in 2020 at 72 (although he claims not to have officially retired) and still rides out daily – at the age of 77. He remains one of the most successful owner-trainers in the country, having previously been national leading owner and leading trainer (seven horses or fewer). Last year, he won his first South Midlands Area trainers title, taking on and beating the bigger yards.

Justin with Molly, Sam, Horizon D'Ainay and French Symphony (all photos Caroline Exelby unless stated otherwise) In the past two seasons, Justin Brotherton has proved that he is a trainer to watch, with multiple successes from the likes of Horizon D’Ainay and Kayf Hernando. The 39-year-old, son of former rules trainer Roy, rents stable space at David Bridgwater’s Wyck Hill Farm yard, near Stow-on-the-Wold in Gloucestershire and has high hopes for the coming season. Jake Exelb

Team Wylie, with Elen on right next to Max (Caroline Exelby) Elen Wylie’s partner, Max Comley, made his name training pointers before starting to carve out a successful career under rules. 24-year-old Elen is keen to keep the pointing flag flying at their Summerhill Farm, Naunton, base and has nominated a few to watch this season. It goes without saying that she’d welcome more and that her door is always open to new owners!   Au Fleuron Formerly a 137-rated hurdler, but lost

This year, The Harkaway Club celebrates 100 years at Chaddesley Corbett. Sunday 28 th December marks the centenary and, to recognise this milestone, the Harkaway Club is giving you the chance to win a pair of tickets to the Cheltenham Festival on Wednesday 11 th March 2026, Ladies Day.   To enter, visit pointingwm.co.uk and complete the form with the answer to the question below and your full name and email address.   WHICH 2021 CHELTENHAM FOXHUNTER WINNER WAS BEATEN INTO

Call Me Early   Had a productive first season with us (winning three of his four point-to-points) and is a classy type of horse with a good turn of foot. We ran him in the Aintree bumper but that didn't work out but he’s still eligible for Restricteds with a penalty, and a Hunter Chase towards the end of the season should Hopefully be on his radar. We’re aiming for the first Horseheath meeting. Call Me Early solos to victory at High Easter   Cheytac   Finished the season much

Leading point-to-point bookmaker Mark Hill has issued the following prices for the forthcoming season:   Champion Male Rider 4/5       James King 2/1       Will Biddick 4/1       Josh Newman 25/1     Bar James King, bidding to retain his title (Carl Evans) Champion Female Rider 2/5       Gina Andrews 2/1       Izzie Hill 25/1     Bar   Gina Andrews, odds-on for a 12th championship (Carl Evans) Mark can be contacted on 07831 293363.

In the first of a mini-series featuring South Midlands trainers, Alan Hill - who leads the way among current keepers nationwide (441...

The Station Yard operation run by Francesca and Charlie Poste is one of the leading point-to-point stables in the country with nearly 100 winners in the last five seasons – and has long struck a successful balance between producing young horses to sell on to the professional game, progressing through the grades with ex-rules maidens and winning with more mature types. With Francesca currently occupied with their newborn, Isaac, Charlie talked through five to watch in the earl

WRITTEN BY: JAKE EXELBY Since his move to Buscot, near Faringdon, James Henderson has consistently been one of the leading owner-trainers...

Watch this space, we have a blog coming very soon! Look at this AI image - who's going to tell the computers we don't race on fibresand...