DISPATCHES FROM THE SOUTH AND WEST MIDLANDS: 31 JANUARY

With the weather continuing to play havoc with the point-to-point calendar, just one meeting took place this weekend – at Charing in Kent.

Racing was competitive, and saw victories for the Chamings Family’s Protect The Future in the second division of the split Maiden, Chris Clarke’s Kansas Du Berlais in the Ladies Open, ending a run of seven consecutive placings (including one on the flat!) and Alan Hill’s The Dancing Tree - pictured below working at home - in the Restricted, a 13^th winner of the season for champion jockey James King, who is four clear in this year’s title race.