25/26 All things point to point

           SCARBOROUGH RACES REPORT

With 52 runners drawn from near and far, the popular track at Charm Park near Wykeham produced some excellent racing for the sizeable crowd which attended the second of the two Scarborough Races fixtures last Saturday 18^th April.

Whilst the winning connections in the Thank You Barry Foxton For 50 years Of Fence Building! Restricted were amongst the long distance travellers,who added much to the day, it was very much a case of a local Scarborough Boy coming home. Andrew Pennock grew up at Harwood Dale before eventually migrating down to Bury St Edmunds from where he has built up a successful training business, together with his wife Ruth. The long journey back north with a team of three was rewarded when Artiste D'Ainay, racing in the couple's own colours and partnered by Ellie Callwood lead all the way, coming home a long way clear of the…

                                          BEDALE POINT TO POINT REVIEW

Hornby Castle has played host to the Bedale point to point for nigh on eighty years and is a very big day in the local social calendar. The massive crowd which once again descended on the park last Saturday 11^th April was rewarded with quality horses and exciting racing despite braving conditions Yorkshire folk would call nithering.

Both Open races proved to be a happy hunting ground for favourite backers and saw impressive performances by a brace of classy horses. The Ladies was kindly sponsored by Lowes A Saltus Business and saw Daisy White and Killer Clown attempt to retain the trophy they won here twelve months ago. Run over the shorter two miles and six furlongs trip the field stayed closely bunched for much of the race with Second Subaltern producing some spectacular leaps as he took them along under Venetia Thompson however…

                                      BEDALE POINT TO POINT PREVIEW

Hornby Castle next Saturday 11^th April will once again play host to the Bedale point to point. The day always attracts a huge crowd and with 69 entries across the six race card there should be some exciting racing to enjoy.

The racing cracks off at 1.30pm with the DDR and Partners Conditions (Level 2). The Furness family's Camdonian comes here with the best form in the book and he is a high class performer with a prolific winning record. He was a little below par last time out at Dalton Park however and as a lover of soft ground he may not find the conditions here to be in his favour. The Easterby brothers look to have two of the main dangers in The Story So Far and Benefact of which the last named looks the pick. The Story So Far won his only…

                        MIDDLETON POINT TO POINT REPORT

Mick Easterby's popular Sheriff Hutton course was once again the venue for the prestigious Middleton point to point last Saturday 4^th April where the feature race was the historic Grimthorpe Gold Cup. one of the sport's four classic races and run over the marathon trip of four miles one furlong. Sponsored once gain by Lord Grimthorpe and the Beckett family, the roll of honour stretches back over a hundred years the most recent of which was the Clark family's Blue Sans and when the starter's flag fell for this year's renewal, their hopes of retaining the cup rested with Sam Magee whose easy victory at the noted stayers course at Dalton Park two weeks earlier meant he was made joint favourite in the betting ring alongside the Easterby brothers multiple winner Morozov Cocktail. Jockey Joe Wright set out to repeat the previous winning tactics by…

Middleton point to point

                            HOLDERNESS POINT TO POINT REVIEW

The splendid and timeless Dalton Park near Beverley was the setting for the Holderness point to point last Sunday 22^nd March. The once a year course drew a large crowd of spectators who were treated to some exciting racing with several close finishes.

An enormous amount of work has to be put in to make an event like this happen and it is always good to see those who devote their time getting rewarded for their effort. That was certainly the case at Dalton Park when the Clark family's Sam Magee romped to an easy win in the Agrii Mixed Open. The line up featured two of the most prolific winners on the Yorkshire pointing circuit in Camdonian and Ballydonagh Boy however Joe Wright sent the outsider of the field off in front from flagfall and he proceeded to maintain a relentless gallop throughout to…

                                     HOLDERNESS POINT TO POINT PREVIEW

The splendid old parkland setting of Dalton Hall near Beverley plays host to the Holderness point to point next Sunday22nd March. The 74 entries across the six race card include some very good horses and there should be some exciting racing to keep everyone well entertained.

Racing gets underway at 1.30 pm with the Smailes Goldie Holderness Hunt Members and this features a rematch between last year's one two Blue Sans and Sunset On Fire. The former prevailed by a mere short head before going on to win the prestigious Grimthorpe Gold Cup and providing Sunset On Fire is fit enough for what will be his seasonal debut there should be little between the pair again. The Clark family who own and train Blue Sans have an able deputy entered in Sam Magee who ran well in good company at Friars Haugh last time…

                                         HURWORTH POINT TO POINT REVIEW

There can be few more glorious places in the point to point world than the bank in Skutterskelfe Park in the bright spring sunshine with the racecourse below and the beautiful vista of the Cleveland Hills beyond. With the weather kind last Saturday 14^th March a large crowd was able to enjoy some super competitive races which produced thrilling finishes to get everybody excited.

Twenty four hours after the the Cheltenham festival drew to a close, one of the stars of Gold Cup day made his visit worthwhile with his only ride a winning one. The man in question was Henry Crow whose win on Barton Snow was described by Sir Tony McCoy as the ride of the week, which was some accolade and the ride he gave Baby Chou to win the Steven Beane Farrier Restricted race was another cracker. Always at the head…

Unfortunately the Bramham with Badsworth and York and Ainsty point to point due to be held at Askham Bryan College on Sunday 29th March has been abandoned.

                                         HURWORTH POINT TO POINT PREVIEW

The delightfully quirky once a year course, in the beautiful setting of Skutterskelfe Park at Hutton Rudby, again plays host to the Hurworth point to point this Saturday 14^th March. With 79 entries across the six race card a good day's sport looks guaranteed.

Racing commences at 1pm with the Lynas Engineers Hurworth Hunt Members, Subscribers and Farmers and this looks a perfect opportunity for last season's leading Yorkshire horse Surprise Attack to return to winning ways. Having pulled up first time out this season at Sheriff Hutton on unsuitable ground he ran a stormer in the high class open race at Duncombe Park in February when beaten only two lengths into fourth place. A repeat of that would make him hard to beat here.

William Brown could saddle both Jimmil and Isocrate and that pair look to be the pick of the opposition. The…

                     SCARBOROUGH RACES AT CHARM PARK NEAR WYKEHAM

                                                            REPORT

The first of the two popular Scarborough Races fixtures took place last Sunday 1^st March at Charm Park near Wykeham. The springlike weather drew a large crowd who were treated to some good racing with exciting finishes.

The day opened with a fitting winner for trainer Will Easterby of Great Habton in the Moneyweb Conditions race. Will recently decided to call time on a successful career in the saddle, having just become a father, but remains as involved in the sport as ever and acts as the clerk of the course for this meeting. The hard work he put in to set the course up, alongside his committee, was repaid when his brother Tom steered Morozov Cocktail to victory. Owned by mother Sarah, the winner was sent off favourite but had to be ridden along from a long way out…

            YORKSHIRE JOCKEYS CLUB SCARBOROUGH RACES AT CHARM PARK

                                                             PREVIEW

The first of two popular Scarborough Races fixtures will be held this Sunday 1^st March at Charm Park near Wykeham. The youthful Yorkshire Jockeys Club committee who took over the organisation have made a great success of it and another good day's racing is in the offing.

The card opens with the Level Two Conditions race and Tag Man looks the one to beat here following his win at Helmsley Races last Sunday where he easily saw off two of today's rivals, Red Opium and Morozov Cocktail in second and third. A repeat of that run will make him very hard to beat, even with the five pound penalty. Sunset On Fire has a great record at Charm Park having won at both meetings here in the 2024 season which brings him into consideration too. Arthurs Seat made a winning…

                                                HELMSLEY RACES REPORT

Having been thwarted by a blanket of snow last Sunday and determined not to be be defeated by the weather, the Helmsley Races organisers moved heaven and earth to rearrange one week later and their efforts were rewarded as a sizeable crowd were treated to some great racing in front of one of the most stunning backdrops any racecourse can boast.

The feature race of the day was the Eccles Heddon Solicitors Mixed Open which saw a field stacked full of talent line up. Last year's Aintree Foxhunters winner Gracchus De Balme was made a warm favourite and jockey Henry Crow sent his mount off to front run as though he really meant business. As they jumped the last it was last season's leading Yorkshire horse Surprise Attack who came to challenge and he appeared to take the favourite's measure on the run in however the…

Scarborough Races at Charm Park Wykeham next Sunday 1st March. Going update for Sunday 22nd February

GOOD TO SOFT, SOFT DOWN THE WOODSIDE

Helmsley Races at Duncombe Park Sunday 22 February

Update as of today, Friday 20th.

GOOD TO SOFT, SOFT IN PLACES.

Going update for Sunday's rearranged Helmsley Races fixture at Duncombe Park

As of today, Wednesday 18th February the going is GOOD TO SOFT. Next update Friday.

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Further updates will follow as soon as they are received.

7.4 am update. Inspection at 9am. The organisers will do everything they can to go ahead

Helmsley Races update.

As of today, Thursday 12th February, the going for this Sunday's meeting at Duncombe Park remains SOFT.

                                               HELMSLEY RACES PREVIEW

                               DUNCOMBE PARK SUNDAY 15TH FEBRUARY

Duncombe Park at Helmsley provides the spectacular backdrop for this Sunday's Helmsley Races where the Yorkshire season gets back on track after a weather disrupted opening. With a very healthy entry of 107 horses, drawn from far and wide, and plenty of classy horses on show the day should once again attract a large and enthusiastic crowd to enjoy a good day's sport.

The first of seven scheduled races is due off at 12 noon with the Ripon Farm Services Sinnington Hunt Members' Farmers' and Subscribers' and this looks to be very much at the mercy of the Easterby family who have three good entries to choose from. The pick of the two with previous point to point form looks to be Morozov Cocktail who was never out of the frame last season during which he won twice. A very…

Going Update for Helmsley Races at Duncombe Park next Sunday 15th February.

As of today Sunday 8th February the going is SOFT.

YORKSHIRE AREA POINT TO POINT CLUB AT SHERIFF HUTTON JANUARY 18TH 2026

                                                                REVIEW

High quality performances by some very classy horses lit up a damp and grey Sheriff Hutton where the Yorkshire Area season opened last Sunday after a week's delay due to the wintery weather. Run once again in aid of the Yorkshire Air Ambulance, to whom a cheque was presented by the organisers during racing for £13917.00, the total now raised and donated to them by the YAPPC has now passed the quarter of a million pounds mark.

The star performer on the card beforehand looked to be Barton Snow in the Labiana Life Sciences Ladies Open and those who took the short odds would never have a moment's worry. Get With It and Pippa Brown made the running but when Amber Jackson Fennell sent the favourite on three out the race was soon over and he…

       YORKSHIRE AREA POINT TO POINT CLUB AT SHERIFF HUTTON PREVIEW

The curtain rises on the new Yorkshire season on Sunday 11^th January with the ever popular and much anticipated Yorkshire Area Point to Point Club fixture at Sheriff Hutton, held by kind permission of Mick Easterby. The meeting always attracts a large and enthusiastic crowd and an entry of 111 drawn from far and wide should ensure a great day's racing. All proceeds raised are once again being donated to the Yorkshire Air Ambulance and the organisers hope to take the total raised and donated to them by this meeting past the quarter of a million pound mark this year.

The first race, due off at 11.45am, is the Racing TV Conditions (level 2) Five Year Olds And Over and having received a bumper entry of thirty two it would be no surprise if this is divided on the day. With…

As of midday today (Sunday 4th January) the going is good to soft with some frozen patches.

Please note in the event of abandonment all entry fees will be refunded less Weatherbys admin fee.

Admission is £15 on the gate and is cash only as is the bar. The popular hog roast is once again on the menu.

I was asked to write a preview of the season for today's Yorkshire Post. Happy to have a full page appearing today although it has been chopped down a bit. Original version here for anyone interested. I wrote it bearing in mind that many readers will never have been to a point to point before.

 YORKSHIRE AREA POINT TO POINT SEASON'S PREVIEW 2026

Point to point racing returns to Yorkshire next weekend when the inimitable Mick Easterby will once again welcome a large and enthusiastic crowd to Sheriff Hutton, where the curtain rises on the area's 2026 season on Sunday 11^th January. For those who are unfamiliar, pointing is what you could call pop up horse racing, amateur jump races run over a distance of usually three miles, on courses built from scratch on farms or parkland. Many of these are once a year venues such as the stateley Duncombe Park…