Point-to-point column: Barton Snow among entries for opening fixture

The wait is almost over - the 2026-27 British Point-to-Point season gets underway this Sunday (November 1) at Lower Machen in Wales. 

Horses, Jockeys, keepers and supporters across the country are preparing for another exciting season, and headlining 58 entries for Sunday’s six-race card is Barton Snow, winner of both Hunter Chase Championship races at Cheltenham and Aintree last season. Should he line-up in the Men’s Open under regular jockey Henry Crow, he will be hard to beat. 

Two victories at Cheltenham last weekend for former winning pointers shone a light on the strength in depth emerging from the British Point-to-Point field, offering another reminder of the talent developing in the grassroots sport. 

Five-year-old Kingofthefrontier, a Charm Park Maiden winner in March, became the first horse to trigger the GB Pointing young horse maiden £25,000 bonus, which is funded by HBLB, when winning a hurdle race at Southwell in June. He took a step forward on Friday landing the Grade Two Oddschecker Novices’ Hurdle for Northern-based trainer John Dawson, who also rides in point-to-points, and owner George Critchley. 

24 hours later, the flag was flying again for British pointers. Six-year-old Woodstock Octo, owned by long-time point-to-point supporters John and Sonia Gardener, was prolific between the flags last season, winning six and progressing through the grades. Trained then by Josh Newman, a transfer to his wife, Kayley’s licensed premises was the obvious plan and on rules debut stepped up to win the William Hill Extra Place Every Day Novices’ Hurdle, meanwhile securing connections the £15,000 GB Pointing bonus for an Irish-bred horse winner. 

Results of this nature continue to underline the importance of the sport as a stepping stone to the highest level, whilst also realising the quality of the horses competing at the top end of Pointing. 

Last season, the introduction of three new race series was a great success, and this season The Jockey Club Hands and Heels series has been extended to fifteen races. The jockey Club 0-110 series will once again also accumulate in a Hunter-Chase final at Warwick racecourse, whilst the GB Pointing young horse maiden series will also be supported by a new £10,000 bonus to the winning connections of British-bred winners. The scheme, designed to boost demand for British-bred national-hunt horses has been backed by ARC, Goffs, Tattersalls Cheltenham and HBLB. 

Developed by David Redvers, breeder and Chair of Gloucester Races and Naomi Mellor, CEO of the Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association in Collaboration with The Point-to-Point Authority, the initiative will award the registered owner(s) of an eligible British-Bred horse winning one of the 15 qualifying four-and-five-year-old maiden races and it has been introduced in response to the continuing decline in the British National-Hunt breeding population and the need to strengthen the competitiveness of British-bred horses. Sunday’s fixture hosts a GB Bonus race and of the 17 entries, nine are British bred, offering a high chance of the new £10,000 being won. 

Paul Miller, Point-to-Point Authority CEO says: “I am really looking forward to the new season and seeing how it unfolds. The weather has played it’s part in affecting meetings during the early season, however I am really hoping we can repay our participants patience and dedication with some great competitive racing when the weather breaks. I can’t wait to see how the various GB pointing bonus races go, not to mention the revamped 0-110 rated series and the Mares Maiden series. We have been working closely with fixtures, encouraging them to deliver hospitality for owners in line with under-rules and many have embraced this.” He adds: “Rider license applications are already over 100 with lots of first-time applicants, it is great to see so much enthusiasm, and it will be interesting to see if we build on last year’s numbers. We are trying to keep costs as low as we can and appreciate the cost of living is affecting everyone.” 

SUNDAY: Lower Machen, Newport. First race: 12 noon (six races).