Point-to-Point column: bumper entries this weekend!

We head into the tenth weekend of the 2025/2026 point-to-point season on Saturday, and there is potential for some tantalising clashes and exciting seasonal debuts to savour. I love it when seeing the entries excites you and this weekend certainly does that.

Eight-year-old Music Drive finished his debut season within the grassroots field with a superb run when winning the Jonathan Neesom Memorial Open Hunters' Chase at the Cheltenham evening meeting in May and is set to return to action in the Mixed-Open at Revesby Park in Lincolnshire on Saturday.

That Cheltenham victory followed a superb performance and being best of the British when finishing fourth in the St. James Place Festival Challenge Cup Open Hunters' Chase at Cheltenham in March.

Trained in Leicestershire by Kelly Morgan, he will be partnered by Ellie Callwood on Saturday and Morgan said: “I have never kept it a secret that this horse is the apple of my eye. Last season was a dream, there is no pressure this weekend at Revesby, we are qualified for Cheltenham in March and that is the main aim.

"He is in good form, bucking and squealing, and we look forward to Saturday. He is now running in the ownership of Ali and Tim Wheeler who were in the syndicate last year - I really hope he is lucky for them as they really deserve it.”

Callwood added: “I can't wait to be reunited with him, I will go out there and enjoy every minute.”

Joe O'Shea has confirmed that his useful Barton Snow will take up his engagement in the Ladies Open under Amber Jackson-Fennell at Sheriff Hutton on Sunday, so therefore, the Camilla Murphy-trained Linilee King looks the most likely danger to Music Drive.

Of Linilee King, his jockey James King said: “He is an intentional runner and the rain has been welcome. He is a lovely horse and this is the perfect stepping stone to head back hunter-chasing which having run in a point-to-point he will be eligible for the grassroots hunter chases.” 

One of the most exciting looking mixed-opens of the season looks likely at Larkhill and we have confirmation that several of the high-class entries will run. Grace A Vous Enki will be seeking his ninth course victory and trainer Chris Barber said: “He is in great form, it was nice to win last time and to know we have him in the same form the Sheppards always had him in was great. It is a very good race and that is brilliant for the sport, our lad is a strong stayer and the rain will only help.”

King, his regular pilot added: “It will take a good one to knock him off his throne.” Two winners from the Cheltenham hunter-chase evening last May are also intended runners, including the locally-trained Douglas Longbottom, who will be partnered by Martyn McCintyre.

Trainer Bea Coward said: “I am excited to run Douglas on Sunday, he will relish the return to three miles and the rain is welcome, we hope for another super run.”

Josh Newman is looking forward to being back on board Crawter and commented: “He may need his first run of the season, we all have Grace A Vous Enki to beat, but Harriet will have him in good form.”

Seven-year-old Crawter won the Intermediate final and on that occasion, it would be fair to say he did it the hard way hanging right up the run-in and is open to further improvement.

Highstakesplayer, who was a useful chaser under-rules and who also ran well to finish second at Cheltenham in May, ran a good race at the last Larkhill meeting and could well serve it up to the main contenders here.

Having lost the early January Larkhill meeting to frost, Frairs Haugh is Scotland is relishing the opportunity to host the first of  the new hands and heels series. It has been well supported and has ten entries.

Will Ramsay, who is the brains behind the new series named 'Jockey Start', says: “We run Harjo and Jesika Rennie takes the ride. It is great that point-to-points can now have a series like this. Young jockeys need to learn and practice the skill of encouraging a horse without the stick.”

With over 300 entries spread across the weekends four meetings, we have barely scratched the surface of what is sure to produce fantastic results, shake up leaderboards and give us some instrumental indicators toward some of the bigger targets later in the season. 

Thursday saw Java Point under Fred Philipson-Stow win the hunter chase at Ludlow - the first of seven hunter chases supported by the Pointing Pointers Podcast and Pointing Forum. Gordon Phillips, one of the series' main supporters, said: “We had a fantastic day at Ludlow. The weather was gloomy, but it didn't dampen our spirits. The racecourse looked after us well and we had a box. It was a well-supported race and we selected Frontal Assault as our best turned out winner. The connections of race winner Java Point were understandably delighted and the first four were all very close.”

With the first two in the market - the Joe O'Shea duo of St Cuthberts Cave and Gracchus de Balme both pulling up, the race became open and was a fine example of having to be ‘in it to win it.’

Trained by Newmarket-based Brazilian Lemos de Souza, who is better known for his Flat accomplishments, Java Point won nicely. Owner Heather Haddock said: “We have had the most fabulous day, we have had him forever and he is just the loveliest horse, over the years he has given us some fantastic days and always tries his best. It was ironic to beat Henry and Nick Oliver and I felt guilty, Henry trained him previously and we had so much fun with him.

"The horse had recently moved to Newmarket because, in time, the idea is that my nephew rides him and Newmarket is where he is based.”

Haddock continued: “Fred is a great family friend and he gave him a lovely ride, and the future, there are no targets it will be very much one race at a time.”

Another fine example of the wonderful stories our sport provides.

Revesby Park, Lincolnshire, PE22 7NB. First race 12.00 pm. 6 races.

Friars Haugh, Scotland, TD5 8LT. First race 12.30 pm. 6 races.

Larkhill, Wiltshire, SP4 8QR. First race 12.00 pm 6 races.

Sheriff Hutton, YO60 6TN. First race 11.45 am 6 races.