Point-to-point: Cheltenham sale and Byorderofthecourt is one to note

Four British point-to-pointers will be offered at the Tattersalls Cheltenham January Sale after racing on Saturday 

Last weekend's GB pointing's bonus maiden race first and second, Barito and Slay Girl who finished in that order will sell. 

Oxfordshire's Joe Hill sends Barito, a French-bred five-year-old by Manate who had previously finished a very close third at Chaddesley Corbett in December. 

Hill says: “I bought him at the sales in France as a two-year-old as a win and sell project. He was ready to run last spring but the drying ground went against us. 

“He ran a blinder first time at Chaddesley and then Sunday he had to do it the hard way making all and that impressed me. 

“He is a wonderful horse, who eats, sleeps and works.” 

Being the winner of the bonus race entitles new connections to a £15,000 bonus if he wins one of the following within the next two years: a class one hurdle or chase; any weight-for-age novice or maiden hurdle; a novice or beginners chase; and any Class two or three novices' handicap chase. 

Had Barito been British bred, the bonus would be £25,000.  

Slay Girl, also a five-year-old and by Blue Bresil. was making her debut. 

Ridden and trained by Gina Andrews ,she was beaten three lengths. 

Andrews said: “She is a really nice young horse, she is a big strong rangy type and her jumping late on let her down but I think a lot of her.” 

She also sends Azlad, a five-year-old Linda's Lad gelding. He won on debut at Alnwick in December and Andrews says: “He is a really nice young horse, still very raw and needs to grow into himself but  he is quite talented.” 

Making up the quartet is the Nick Wright trained Le Questionnaire. 

This French-bred gelding by Earnshaw finished second and third in Maidens last month and seems sure to make up into a future winner. 

Last weekend looked as if it was set to reward us with tantalising racing and some big clues as we head into towards mid-season, ever-changing leader boards and the championship hunter-chases. We were not left disappointed. 

The Kelly Morgan trained Music Drive is a personal favourite and whilst he got beaten on Saturday at Revesby Park he will only improve for that outing. 

Connections can now look forward to a return to Cheltenham in March for the St James’ Place Foxhunters in which he was fourth last season. 

He was beaten by the useful Linelee King, whose fragility prevented him from remaining under Rules with Olly Murphy. 

He is now in the care of his wife, Camilla, and has shown himself to be a useful recruit in the grassroots sport. 

Last season he won and was placed hunter-chasing and whilst Saturday’s run might have been a ‘box tick’ to open up his eligibility to run in the grassroots hunter chases, we must embrace horses of his calibre when they turn up between the flags. 

Camilla has enjoyed many victories under her maiden name “Cotton”. 

Regarding Linelee King’s colours, she told Nico Morgan, our on course National Digital Content Creator: “They were my grandfather's colours, we have all ridden in them. My grandparents, my mum, my aunties, myself and my sister so they are very special. I expect he will go hunter chasing now, but I would love to run him in another point-to-point. It is what I love.” 

Dale Peters rode a fabulous treble at Revesby on Saturday and a double at Sheriff Hutton on Sunday. In the process, he went beyond the 200-career winner mark. He trained all except one of his winners. 

He was particularly taken with Largy Pearl and said: “I think he is very talented and could possibly be one for the John Corbett novice hunter-chase at Stratford at the end of the season.” 

Another from his stable is Byorderofthecourt, a lightly raced eight-year-old who blew Peters away with his Restricted win at Sherrif Hutton. 

“I just don’t know how good he could be, if he stays sound he will take me places I have only ever dreamed of,” he said. 

Byorderofthecourt is one to follow. With a bit more experience, I doubt Peters will be afraid of aiming higher.  

Another favourite of mine from Sunday’s Yorkshire meeting was Fumet d’ Oudairies, a wonderful little horse who was making a return to the course after 16 months on the sidelines. 

Ridden and trained by Andrews, he was a popular winner of the conditions race and many of the partnership were all smiles afterwards. 

Now running in the D'oudes partnership name, this 11-year-old has continually pleased connections showing versatility and although he is tiny has the heart of a lion. He has now won nine point-to-points and three hunter chases.  

At the same meeting, Cheshire-based trainer Joe O’ Shea was pleased with Barton Snow's impressive Ladies’ Open win under Amber Jackson-Fennell. He said: “He would hate that softening ground, ye he has won like that. He will go to Hereford next in a hunter-chase and then on to Aintree for the Foxhunters. His 25/1 price for that looks very attractive. Amber said I will have to drag her off him.” 

At Larkhill, in Wiltshire, the highlight of the day was the Clive Hitchings-owned Grace A Vous Enki, above, winning his ninth race at the course. 

Winning jockey James King said: “He was an emphatic winner, carrying a 3lb penalty beating some useful types. He did his usual thing of racing behind the bridle and then quickening up nicely to put the race to bed. I am just very grateful to owners and connections for putting me up.”  

Hitchings added: “I have never had a horse like him. I have had a lot of good ones but not such a consistent winning machine. He is an exceptional horse who has been handled expertly by Chris Barber and before him Matt and Nicki Sheppard. We will come back down for the Coronation Cup but the most important thing for me is that he is OK.” 

Douglas Longbottom ran a blinder to finish second and is certain to be back in the winners’ enclosure soon. 

On the National Hunt circuit this week, it was great to see 16-year-old Lucas Murphy ride his first winner under Rules on the Fergal O'Brien trained Queen Of Steel at Leicester. 

The son of Grand National winning jockey Timmy Murphy has a bright future. 

Unfortunately, we lost the Scottish meeting at Friars Haugh last weekend due to frozen ground. 

This weekend's four meetings promise to bring more competitive racing across the country.

Horseheath, Cambridgeshire, CB21 4QP. First race 12.00pm. 6 Races.  

Chipley Park, Devon, TA21 0QU. First race 12.00pm. 6 Races. 

Alnwick, Northumberland, NE66 3AE. First race 12.30pm. 6 races. 

Cocklebarrow, Gloucestershire, GL54 3PP. First race 12.35. 6 races.