Point-to-point column: Leading trainers have new recruits

The 2025/2026 British point-to-point season saw the introduction of three new race series, two of which came to an end last weekend. The aim of these was to celebrate achievements, to embrace and encourage the commercial growth within the sport and to bring new opportunities for participants. 

The 15 race GB-Pointing Young Horse Maiden Series, supported by Goffs UK and Tattersalls Cheltenham saw its last race staged at Eyton-on-severn on Monday. The initiative was designed with an aim to strengthen the commercial link between British Pointing and under-rules racing, similar to the Irish system, meanwhile advertising the standard of four-and-five year olds running within British point-to-points. 

Winners are allocated a £15,000 bonus if bred outside Britain and a £25,000 bonus if bred within Britain. The bonus is then triggered if one of the following are won within two years of that initial British Maiden win.

- All Class One Hurdles or Chases.

- All weight for age Novices’ Hurdles, Maiden Hurdles, Novices’  Chases and Beginners Chases.

- All Class two or three Novices’ Handicap Chases.

- Horses must be in training with a BHA-licensed trainer who is based in Great Britain at the time of winning any of the qualifying races.

The series has attracted 100 runners, and of the 15 winners, only two have remained running in British point-to-points. Woodstock Octo has since won four more points and jointly heads the table for leading horse.

Trained by Joshua Newman, and owned by John and Sonia Gardener, it is possible he may transfer at some point to Newman’s wife, Kayley’s licensed yard to attempt to trigger the bonus. Briskalo, trained in Hertfordshire by Bradley Gibbs, has been placed in three Restricted races since his debut win. 

Baron Du Brizais won the first qualifying race and was subsequently sold to Ben Pauling for £90,000 at the Goffs Coral Gold Cup Sale in November. He finished second on his first start for Pauling in a NH Flat race and he said: “We were very pleased to buy him out of a British Point, he will be a proper stayer in the future and I expect him to be amongst my better novices for next season and beyond.”

British-bred Kingofthefrontier won a Charm Park qualifier in March and was sold privately to licensed trainer John Dawson. The five-year-old son of Frontiersman finished third in a Maiden Hurdle at Uttoxeter last weekend, a race which would have triggered the bonus if he had won, proving the reality of his purchase to be fruitful.

Dawson explained: “We liked what we saw when he won at Charm, we like the sire and buying a five-year old means he was ready to go and do the job that the owners we were buying for wanted. With the £25,000 bonus available it was a no-brainer to buy him.” 

Support from top trainers has been pleasing and four-year-old Magnifaik, a French-bred filly, was sold for £110,000 to Nicky Henderson at the Goffs Aintree sale three days after her impressive maiden win. Bloodstock agent Jerry McGrath said: “I bought her for Max Kendrick as a store and I am thrilled for him to have produced such a nice one. Nicky and I loved her at the sale.”

Six Two Three is considered to be the most impressive winner of the series. He won a Badbury Rings maiden in February, interestingly on the same track and trained by the same man, Will Biddick as the classy No Drama This End.

He was bought privately by Champion Trainer Dan Skelton, who said: “The bonus is a great series, any incentive is a good one. We have bought three this season out of British points, not all qualify for the bonus, but I am a keen supporter of point winners over here. Six Two Three is a lovely horse and we will look forward to him.”

Point-to-point handler Chris Barber has trained three winners of this series, Titi Montmartre who won at Alnwick in February was subsequently sold privately to Philip Hobbs and Johnson White. Rockatansky and Chasing Good Times, who have won the last two races of the series, each head to the Goffs Doncaster May Sale.

Barber said: “The bonus series is a welcome initiative, we are slowly heading the right way to proving our British-maiden winners can compete. I send Rockatasky and Chasing Good Times to Doncaster sales who, being Irish-bred both will be eligible for the £15,000 bonus."

Lambourn-based trainer Jamie Snowden and his owners have used the series to their advantage. Snowden explained: “Owners in our yard have Wendigo’s half-sister Kapella Grey. We sent her to Will Biddick with an aim of winning a bonus maiden to then later on hope to win us the bonus. Being Irish-bred, it would be £15,000. She got beaten at Maisemore by Midem De Berce, who we then bought out of a Thoroughbid Sale - we felt he must be decent because we really liked Kapella Grey.“

This is an example of something we need British licensed trainers to sit up and notice and wouldn’t it be brilliant if, in time, the series can grow in terms of number of races and extend the bonus to placed horses?

Goffs' George Stanners said: “It has been a great series and winners have sold well and to the right people. We need more yards that want to support it and to make it a justifiable business, we need more Gina Andrews, Fran and Charlie Postes, Chris Barbers, Jack Teals and so on. Those commercial yards then need to know there are people to sell to and come back to the spring store sales and re-invest.” 

The Jockey Club and PPA Hand and Heels Novice Rider Series staged its final race at Godstone, Surrey on Saturday, and sixteen-year-old Dewi Haddock won it on his own Up For Appeal.

This win took him to the top of the table, one point clear of long-time leader Lucy Pickford, becoming the first champion of this ten-race series. 

Haddock, who is based with licensed trainer Christian Williams, has enjoyed a fantastic first season, riding three winners from 24 rides so far and said: “It has been a brilliant start and winning this championship tops it off nicely.”

Haddock has dreams of becoming a professional jockey in time, but appreciates the benefit of time spent within the Point-to-Point circuit. “I will have at least one more season pointing, I am learning so much," he added.

Holnicote, Somerset, TA24 8TJ. 6 races, First race 2pm

Kingston Blount, Oxfordshire, OX39 4SG. 6 races first race 2pm

Upcott Cross, Devon, EX21 5AE. 6 races, first race 2pm.