Point-to-Point Column: Big names out in force in sales ring

During the third week of May, Doncaster in South Yorkshire becomes home to not only the racing fraternity, but also the Point-to-Point world.

The Goffs Spring Store Sale and the following Horses in Training and Point-to-Point sale becomes a hive of activity for point-to-point owners, trainers, jockeys and supporters. 

This week has seen numerous point-to-point horses bought and sold and as we near the end of the season, dreams are already alive and appetites are increasing ahead of the next. 

Herefordshire's Chris Barber was happy to sell his two winning four-year-olds both winning debutants of a GB pointing bonus young horse maiden. 

Both being Irish-bred, new connections will receive a £15,000 bonus when they win a developmental hurdle or chase within two years of their Point-to-Point win. 

Charm Park winner Rockatansky sold to Ben Pauling for £60,000 and Chasing Good Times to Jeremy Scott for £50,000.

Pauling said: “I am delighted to get Rockatansky, his performance was really impressive and he deserved to make plenty of money. I think he has a huge engine and I look forward to getting him in our regime.” 

Scott was equally upbeat about his purchase and told me: “Chris rode for us a bit pointing so I am delighted to support him and British pointing. We feel the British pointers are under-rated, especially with the bonus scheme and we particularly liked the look of Chasing Good Times who has the size and scope to progress into an exciting National Hunt prospect.” 

Barber himself added: “They will both be very nice horses, I am excited the Maxios has gone to Ben and Jeremy had been to look at the Affinisea before the sale. He is big and raw but in time will be a really nice horse. They have both gone to very good places and I look forward to following their careers.” 

Barber was also busy on Monday buying stores, horses which he hopes will follow the same path as the aforementioned two and is looking forward to getting them home. 

David Redvers, better known for his involvement in Flat racing and breeding is a keen point-to-point supporter and bought Lot 103, a three-year-old Blue Bresil filly. He told me: “I intend on sending her to Chris Barber, I wanted to support a local point-to-point trainer and Chris is doing very well. She isn’t overly big but moves beautifully. I am a mad-keen pointing supporter - I am chairman of Gloucester races and I feel I need to do my bit.” 

Licensed trainer Jamie Snowden is another fully on board with the GB pointing bonus scheme and during this season sent Kapella Grey, a half-sister to his useful Wendigo, to Will Biddick to capitalise on the opportunity of the scheme. 

She was beaten at Maisemore but Snowden then bought the winner of that race, French-bred Midem De Berce, which confirms his belief in the abilities of his filly.

Snowden bought Lot 116, a three-year-old gelding by Shirocco and said: “The GB pointing bonus series is a very exciting route to take with these young horses, it is a great incentive. He has gone to Caroline Keevil’s, she will break him in and get him going. 

"He has been bought by Jamie Drummond who is a massive supporter of British pointing. He has Move With The Beat with us who won lots of points before coming to us and has now won four of his last five over fences. Chris Barber trained him pointing so this youngster will head to him for next season.” 

Kayley Woollacott, wife of dual champion Point-to-Point trainer Josh Newman, has been busy all week looking to add to the string and said: “Stateman’s Glory will run pointing to gain some confidence but then will probably run for me. The Bloomsbury Boy has been bought by John Symes as a pointer. We hope he can go through the grades and make up into a nice horse for John who loves his pointing. We hope they are two nice horses.” 

She added: “Doncaster is a great place to get stuck into finding next season’s team. Trade has been competitive and it has been hard work but there are plenty of nice horses on offer and securing a couple is a great way to get excited about next season.” 

Station Yard, fronted by the powerhouse team of Fran and Charlie Poste were busy buying and selling. Sold from the yard were Silver Salver and Farfromaway. The former, a four-year-old who is yet to win but ran very well on debut to be second, and had his excuses when disappointing at Aintree, and the latter a five-year-old who has won three points-to-points this spring. Both were bought by Harvey Smith.

Poste said: “Silver Salver should reach a decent level of ability, looked the winner on debut but made a mistake at the last. Farfromaway was a bit green and having not won early on we decided to go a different route with him to see if we could maximise his value. 

"We always liked him so it was no surprise to see him win three of his seven starts, as he strengthened up he showed us what a tough, hardy horse he was. He sold for £26,000 and this is a route we will explore again.” 

Three stores were purchased by the team on Monday - a Frontiersman, a Masterstroke and a Golden Horn. The Golden Horn is a 100% GBB filly and Poste says: “She cost us £16,000. The covering fee alone for that stallion is £10,000 so you hope she can do the job. She is an attractive filly from a family we have had luck with from the Chugg’s.” 

Whilst the commercial part of the business is very much in the foreground, Station Yard also purchased Barbar Esko, a five-year-old Poet’s Word gelding, Poste says: “He was only beaten three-and-a-half lengths on UK debut by Rockatansky at Charm. He is a big, good-looking horse and was an expensive foal. He has been bought as a fun horse to stay in the yard and we are looking for an owner.” 

Edward Rees, based in Glamorgan on the Welsh coast has enjoyed a good season training five winners from his small string. He purchased Lot 238, a five-year-old gelding called Jazz Fantasia who has run in three Irish maidens, finishing third once. 

Rees said: “He isn’t my usual type - I usually go for smalI, firecracker-type horses but he is a big traditional type. I went up with Amber Jackson-Fennell who has been a great asset to my team this season and she liked him too. He will benefit from a summer at grass.” 

Oxfordshire’s Joe Hill is another looking forward to his new recruit for the pointing field. Lime Burner has been bought by the Cranfield family who have long supported the Hill yard. 

Lime Burner has ran in three point-to-points and Hill says: “We are delighted to have him, he is a Kingston HiIl five-year-old who has been second behind the useful Carillo who has won three and was third at Aintree in the bumper. We are thrilled to buy one from within our own sport.” 

Disappointingly for connections, last week's point-to-point bumper winner, Wise Maiden, who 12-time women’s point-to-point champion Gina Andrews trains and rode didn’t reach her reserve and owner/breeder Richard Evans said: “We were offered decent money outside the ring but we chose to leave it. We will probably have her home for a holiday then send her back to Tom (Ellis) to try and win a mares' bumper and we will go from there.” 

That's a brave move from connections - however she won at Aintree in impressive style and holding onto her for now could prove fruitful in time. 

Island Jetaway, the second from that Aintree bumper was sold to Billy Aprahamian for £45,000 and Myles Osborne, her previous trainer said: “We really liked her, I think she will really suit Billy’s and I think she will be one to keep an eye on.” 

Lots to look forward to and plenty of names to remember for next season, but for now we look forward to the remainder of the 2025/2026 season. 

Ffynnon Druidion, Wales, SA64 0LD. 6 Races, first race 2pm 

Bratton Down, Devon, EX31 4SG. 6 Races, first race 2pm 

Kingston Blount, Oxon, OX39 4SG. 6 Races, first race 2pm 

Chaddesley Corbett, Worcestershire DY10 4QT. 6 Races, first race 2pm. 

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