News

19 May 2013 Scene & Heard: United Hunts at Fontwell - May 16th

Hawkeye Native proved that his shock Dunraven Bowl victory was no fluke when following up in the 32RedPoker.com Open Hunters' Chase under trainer-rider Mathew Barber. READ MORE

17 May 2013 Scene & Heard: Southwell - May 14th

Penmore Mill tuned up for the pointtopoint.co.uk John Corbet Cup at Stratford with an easy and impressive success in the 3m tfrost.co.uk Suppliers To Horse Racing Open Hunters’ Chase. READ MORE

15 May 2013 Scene & Heard: Melton Hunt Club - Garthorpe

"Retirement is under discussion," smiled Heather Kemp after Phil York had taken the Conditions race on Ungaro. Not for Phil, who was recording his 300th career success [see Landmarks] but for the 14-year-old Ungaro, on whom the jockey was sitting for the first time. READ MORE

09 May 2013 Scene & Heard: Fakenham - May 7th

A 90 minute delay en route had no effect on Little Legend, who made all the running under Cynthia Haydon, for whom it was a first success at the track, to take his current winning run to four and his overall tally to 12. READ MORE

04 May 2013 Scene & Heard: Cheltenham Hunter Chase Night

The Connolly's Red Mills Intermediate final is one of the sport's most sought-after prizes, and since its inception in 2008 has unfailingly attracted a quality entry. The 2013 renewal looked to be as strong, if not stronger, as any which had gone before, with tremendous strength in depth, but the high-class field was left for dead by the outstanding prospect Harbour Court. READ MORE

29 April 2013 Scene & Heard: Berkeley - Woodford

There was quality in abundance on show at Woodford, and Tom Lacey, as he has done so often in the past few seasons, produced two stand-out prospects in New Work Rouge and Virtuoso Rouge, successful in the 4&5yo 2m4f Maiden and the 3m Maiden respectively. READ MORE

29 April 2013 Scene & Heard: Chepstow - April 26

"A dream come true" was how Mathew Barber described his delight at scoring an easy victory on Hawkeye Native in the Dunraven Bowl Novices' Hunters' Chase, the most sought-after prize in the Welsh amateur calendar. READ MORE

26 April 2013 Scene & Heard: Kimblewick - Kingston Blount

"He's Gaby's horse, and our pet - God forbid anything to happen to him", summarised Lawney Hill after Ocean Du Moulin, ridden by son Joe, garnered the family a third victory in the feature Southern National in four seasons. READ MORE

23 April 2013 Scene & Heard: West Norfolk - Fakenham

Caulkin's easy victory in the combined Members' race brought up a century of winners, including ten under Rules, for trainer-rider David Kemp [see also Landmarks]. READ MORE

17 April 2013 Scene & Heard: Ludlow - Bitterley

Shernally took her winning record since joining Dick Baimbridge to 11 when taking the Ladies' Open under Jane Williams. READ MORE

11 April 2013 Scene & Heard: Pytchley - Guilsborough

In April 2012 Newmarket trainer Don Cantillon saddled Grand Jesture to win the 4yo Bumper at the Punchestown Festival, and in 12 days time he is aiming for a repeat performance with Classic Move, who tuned up with an easy victory, in the second fastest time of the day, in the Maiden Division Two under Nico de Boinville. READ MORE

09 April 2013 Scene & Heard: Tranwell

The Waugh family took the honours at Tranwell, with a training and riding double, her first, for Amie, and a success apiece for her father Simon and his brother Adam. READ MORE

08 April 2013 Scene & Heard: Sedgefield

In what will surely rate as one of the training performances of the 2012/13 season, Alison Christmas produced Palos Conti to win the Albert Hill Commercials Open Hunters' Chase after an absence of 814 days. READ MORE

05 April 2013 Scene & Heard: Croome & West Warwickshire - Upton-upon-Severn

"I think he's been secretly riding him out!", trainer Jo Priest jokingly claimed of owner Colin "Bampa" Basterfield, after Skyhawk had secured them the spoils in the Mixed Open for Novice Riders under Annabel Dalton. READ MORE

04 April 2013 Scene & Heard: Fakenham

Trainer John Ferguson and his jockey son James won the Queen's Cup Hunters' Chase last season with Earth Dream, and they retained the trophy this time with Macklin, owned by John's mother Margaret. READ MORE

01 April 2013 Scene & Heard: Belvoir - Garthorpe

There was a treble for trainer Antonia Bealby at this rearranged meeting, and doubles for owner James Henderson, the meeting secretary, his jockey son George, and trainer Gerald Bailey. READ MORE

15 March 2013 Scene & Heard: North Hereford - Whitwick Manor

The victory of Over The Phone in the Confined Hunts race at this rearranged North Hereford fixture was a result that could literally have been described as a heart-stirring one - as well as being the first part of a four-timer for rider Tom Weston on the day. READ MORE

13 March 2013 Scene & Heard: Sir W W Wynn's - Bangor-on-Dee

A "Rowley rout" was the only way to describe Sunday's meeting at Bangor, where Shropshire handler Phil Rowley became the first person to send out six winners at one meeting, five of them partnered by Alex Edwards. READ MORE

11 March 2013 Scene & Heard: Brecon & Talybont - Llanfrynach

Trainer Luke Price and jockey Nick Williams teamed up for a double initiated in the Men's Open by Khachaturian, a first success for joint-owner, with Luke, James Fuge. READ MORE

11 March 2013 Scene & Heard: Leicester - March 8th

Since the start of the season the target for Sorted has been the Mallard Pawnbrokers' Hunters' Chase, and despite giving weight to all his rivals he duly landed the valuable prize in the hands of Will Biddick, who was sitting on his back for the first time. READ MORE

07 March 2013 Scene & Heard: Curre & Llangibby - Howick

"Maybe he'll buy the drinks now", smiled senior steward and proud father William Tudor, after the victories of The Rubber Man and Rosies Peacock brought up the career tally of 200 Point-to-Point successes for son James on the opening day of the South Wales & Monmouthshire season. READ MORE

05 March 2013 Scene & Heard: West Of Yore - Whitcliffe Grange

Richard Smith was the man to follow at Whitcliffe Grange, and he doubled his seasonal tally by recording his first treble. READ MORE

04 March 2013 Scene & Heard: Thurlow - Horseheath

Just four weeks after breaking her wrist in a fall at Horseheath, Gina Andrews returned to the saddle on the same track to take the Ladies' Open on Karen Exall's remarkable Mid Div And Creep, who was recording her eighth course success. READ MORE

25 February 2013 Scene & Heard: South Easts Hunts Club - Charing

Phil Hall, aged 39 years and 364 days, gave himself an early birthday present with a double at Charing on Glint Of Steel and Broughton Green, the duo which formed part of his Godstone treble (Tobougg Welcome being the other) a fortnight earlier. READ MORE

22 February 2013 Scene & Heard: Huntingdon - February 21st

"He isn't a superstar - one thing he hasn't got is class, but he's a real street fighter!" This was the realistic description by Stevie Fisher after Freddies Return, the horse he co-owns with Peter Rhodes and Richard Gurney, had recorded his eleventh success on the bounce in the hands of his trainer Phil York. READ MORE

18 February 2013 Scene & Heard: Midlands Area Club - Thorpe Lodge

However many winners Richard Spencer rides in the future, none will give him more pleasure than Legal Legend, who returned to an emotional reception after winning the first division of the Maiden.
The six-year-old was carrying the colours of the late Sir Mike Connell, whose funeral and thanksgiving service had taken place just six days earlier. Many of his immediate family were present to witness the victory, and the tearful embrace between Richard and Mike's widow Annie spoke volumes as to how much this had meant. READ MORE

17 February 2013 Scene & Heard: Fakenham - February 15th

There was a dream first ride under Rules for Joe Hill, who won Fakenham's Walter Wales Cup on Ravethebrave, on whom he had also made a winning debut between the flags just under 15 months earlier. READ MORE

15 February 2013 Scene & Heard: Southdown & Eridge - Godstone

"We like Godstone. It's a nice, easy course to ride - as long as the jockey doesn't muck it up", laughed owner-rider David Maxwell after victory aboard Noakarad De Verzee had secured the middle leg of a treble on the afternoon for trainer Kim Smyly. READ MORE

11 February 2013 Scene & Heard: Cambridgeshire University Draghounds - Cottenham

"Unbelievable!" was the reaction of owner Sarah Dawson, whose shrieks of delight following Qrackers's Ladies' Open victory could probably have been heard for miles around. READ MORE

08 February 2013 Scene & Heard: West Percy - Alnwick

"We didn't really know he'd stay 3m, but he has done here in the slowest time ever seen at Ratcheugh!", laughed owner-breeder Frank Walton after the Restricted success of Coquet Head completed a riding double for Catherine Walton on the first day of action in the 2012-13 Northern Area season. READ MORE

08 February 2013 Scene & Heard: Huntingdon - February 7th

Carolyn Tanner reports on the CGA Foxhunter Trial Hunters' Chase at Huntingdon on February 7th. READ MORE

05 February 2013 Scene & Heard: Cambridgeshire with Enfield Chace - Horseheath

"Naughty boy!" was trainer Phil Rowley's reaction to the Men's Open victory of Sybarite, whose presence among the entry appeared to have frightened off some of those who might have been his main opposition. READ MORE

16 January 2013 Scene & Heard: Yorkshire Area Point-to-Point Club - Sheriff Hutton

"We're back! First of the season!" was the jubilant cry of trainer David Easterby on returning to the winner's enclosure, after the victory of Mens Open favourite Classinaglass had indeed got both him and rider Thomas Greenall off the mark for 2012-13 on day one of the Yorkshire Area season. READ MORE

15 January 2013 Scene & Heard: Dunston Harriers - Ampton

Gina Andrews's star was in the ascendancy at Ampton, where a treble propelled her to the head of the championship table. She won the Ladies' Open on Start Royal, the Restricted on Don't Tell Nina, and the Maiden Division Two on Filibuster. READ MORE

08 January 2013 Scene & Heard: Larkhill Racing Club - Larkhill

"My rebellion has worked!" exclaimed a delighted Sally Alner after saddling Master Medic, the only horse still carrying the well-known colours of Jim Chromiak, to win the AGA Ladies' Open in the hands of Emily MacMahon. READ MORE

02 January 2013 Scene & Heard: Cambridgeshire Harriers Hunt Club - Cottenham

"It's nice to have a horse like that to ride - I don't get many of them," grinned Phil York after winning a quality Men's Open on Herecomesthetruth, a former smart Chaser for Paul Nicholls, for whom victories included Sandown's Scilly Isles Novices' Chase and the Ladbroke Chase at Down Royal, in which he beat Forpadydeplasterer. READ MORE

12 December 2012 Scene & Heard: Point-to-Point Owners & Riders Club - Barbury Racecourse

Joe O'Shea is not a man to hide his light under a bushel, and on this occasion his supreme confidence was not misplaced as he saddled the winners of both Opens. READ MORE

07 December 2012 Scene & Heard: Black Forest Club - Black Forest Lodge

Just over 12 months on from the Mixed Open victory which proved the first act of a fruitful, Classic-winning season, Divine Intavention defied going softer than ideal to land the same event for the second successive year under regular pilot Mark Wall. READ MORE

27 November 2012 Scene & Heard: Cambridge University United Hunts Club - Cottenham

Battling through the floods near their Worcestershire home proved worthwhile for William and Angela Rucker, who enjoyed an opening-day double courtesy of Sagalyrique and Just Dave. READ MORE

30 August 2012 Scene & Heard: Pauline & Doug Harkin's Open Day

When Pauline Harkin paid £500 for a failed Point-to-Pointer as a hunter for her husband Doug, it fleetingly crossed the latter's mind that his wife was trying to get rid of him. "He was horrible," Doug recalled. "The first time I took him hunting he stopped at the first set of post and rails and I went over his head." READ MORE

28 August 2012 Scene & Heard: Bank Holiday Monday

Bank Holiday Monday proved a productive day for trainers, riders and horses who have had, and in some cases still have, strong connections with Point-to-Pointing. READ MORE

24 August 2012 Scene & Heard: Will Kinsey's Open Day

Many Point-to-Point trainers have made the leap into the professional ranks in recent seasons, but surely none has achieved the instant success enjoyed by Will Kinsey, whose first two runners with a licence, Alpha Victor and Kykate, gave him a memorable double at Sedgefield in January. READ MORE

05 June 2012 Scene & Heard: Stratford - June 1st

Carolyn Tanner reports on all the news, views and gossip from a thrilling evening's racing at Stratford last Friday. READ MORE

29 May 2012 Scene & Heard: Golden Valley - Bredwardine

Championship leader Jane Williams registered her 100th career success - 94 in Points, four National Hunt and two on the flat - when landing the Ladies' Open on Jim Squires' and Judith Healey's The General Lee, but the two-length verdict in no way reveals the drama of the closing stages. READ MORE

19 May 2012 Scene & Heard: United Hunts Meeting at Folkestone

Mid Div And Creep, who was in outstanding form in 2010/11 but for whom little has gone right this year, returned to winning form in the Shepherd Neame Open Champion Hunters' Chase, despite taking some time to warm up and requiring a couple of reminders in the early stages. READ MORE

14 May 2012 Scene & Heard: Melton Hunt Club - Garthorpe

Blarney Highwayman confirmed Adrian Maguire's high opinion of him by winning the Mixed Open under Richard Armson, outspeeding Coolefind, who at 14 is twice his age, on the flat. The Irishman, who at one time had Denman in his care, had considered Blarney Highwayman to be possibly the best he had handled. READ MORE

09 May 2012 Scene & Heard: Warwickshire - Mollington

Jimmy Tarry has been the winning-most rider at Mollington since it originally opened in 1972, his tally including a five-timer in 1999, so it was perhaps fitting that he should saddle the first winner when the course re-opened its gates after a five year gap. READ MORE

08 May 2012 Scene & Heard: Tredegar Farmers - Lower Machen

After her all the way victory in the Ladies' Open, her sixth success of the campaign, Chesnut Annie remains on course to regain the Connolly's Red Mills leading horse award which she won in 2008/9. READ MORE

04 May 2012 Scene & Heard: Cheltenham Hunter Chase Evening

Carolyn Tanner reports on a thrilling evening of racing at Cheltenham on Wednesday night. READ MORE

25 April 2012 Scene & Heard: Braes of Derwent - Corbridge

Sea Scout has the Northern area's coveted Heart Of All England Hunter Chase in his sights after justifying favouritism in the Ladies' Open under Claire Metcalfe. READ MORE

22 April 2012 Scene & Heard: Bangor - April 21st

Carolyn Tanner reports from Saturday's meeting at Bangor. READ MORE

21 April 2012 Scene & Heard: Southwell - April 20th

Carolyn Tanner reports on the action from Southwell last Friday evening (April 20th). READ MORE

17 April 2012 Scene & Heard: Pytchley - Guilsborough

Lake Legend, six times successful under Rules from Alan King's yard, made a winning debut between the flags when taking the Men's Open under a perfectly-timed ride from the very promising Leo Mahon. READ MORE

04 April 2012 Scene & Heard: Ledbury - Maisemore Park

Findlay's Find's Mixed Open victory owed everything to an outstanding ride from first-time pilot Liam Payter, who was booked three days earlier - "And you don't turn down a horse like that," he commented. READ MORE

03 April 2012 Scene & Heard Extra: Pointing Proposal

Most people celebrate a winner by having a drink or two. Rob Keyes, owner of the Horseheath winner Thehookybooky, showed his delight in slightly different fashion. READ MORE

02 April 2012 Scene & Heard: Teme Valley - Brampton Bryan

It was déjà vu for David Manning's Fourty Acers, who for the second successive year made a winning seasonal debut at Brampton Bryan by taking the Men's Open in the hands of Josh Hamer. READ MORE

28 March 2012 Scene & Heard: Badsworth & Bramham Moor - Whitcliffe Grange

Mark Walford must wish that every Yorkshire meeting was held at Whitcliffe Grange, as having ridden a double at the inaugural meeting in 2011 he repeated the feat on Sunday, taking the Confined on Go Moss Go and the Men's Open on The Viking. READ MORE

26 March 2012 Scene & Heard: Belvoir - Garthorpe

Ungaro, whose most recent success came in Kempton's prestigious Feltham Novices' Chase in 2006, was a surprise winner of the Mixed Open under Heather Kemp, staying on well on the run-in to repel the challenges of the odds-on My Old Piano and Menchikov. READ MORE

21 March 2012 Scene & Heard: Curre & Llangibby - Howick

The remarkable Chesnut Annie recorded her 30th success between the flags, and her ninth at Howick, when taking the Ladies' Open, although not before giving her supporters a fright. READ MORE

20 March 2012 Scene & Heard: South Wold - Brocklesby Park

It's next stop Cheltenham for Billyvoddan, who won his second AGA Ladies' Open qualifier of the campaign under Jane Williams despite being hampered by loose horses leaving the back straight, and will return to Prestbury Park to defend his crown. READ MORE

13 March 2012 Scene & Heard: Sir W W Wynn's - Bangor-on-Dee

Seldom can a Members' winner on a nine-race card be named as producing one of the most impressive performances of the day, but there was no doubting the credentials of What A Laugh to take that accolade. READ MORE

13 March 2012 Scene & Heard: Kingston Blount Racing Club - Kingston Blount

Late arrivals to the meeting would have missed one of the day's most impressive performances, that of Penmore Mill, who showed his rivals a clean pair of heels in the Members' Conditions race. READ MORE

06 March 2012 Scene & Heard: Cottesmore - Garthorpe

First-time blinkers and a front-running role worked the oracle for Sheriff Hutton, who battled on gamely to land the Men's Open under trainer Oliver Greenall after looking likely to be swallowed up approaching the last by the gallant veterans Coolefind and Border Fusion. READ MORE

05 March 2012 Scene & Heard: Thurlow - Horseheath

John Ferguson saddled five runners at the meeting and went home with three first and two second places. This took his winning tally between the flags this season to ten, on top of the 22 successes he has achieved under Rules since September 30. READ MORE

28 February 2012 Scene & Heard: Essex Farmers & Union - Marks Tey

There was no more popular winner at the meeting than the Confined scorer Evening Echo, the first leg of a double for jockey Andrew Braithwaite, his trainer wife Lauren, and owner Roy Green. READ MORE

20 February 2012 Scene & Heard: North Hereford - Whitwick Manor

It was a day of doubles at Whitwick, with two winners apiece for trainers Sheila Crow, Sarah-Jayne Davies and Tom Lacey, and for jockeys Sam Drinkwater and Jeremy Mahot. READ MORE

30 January 2012 Scene & Heard: Midlands Area Club - Thorpe

Joe Docker, whose father John is Chairman of the meeting, recorded his 100th success between the flags when taking the Maiden Division One on the Holly Campbell-trained Popaway. READ MORE

24 January 2012 Scene & Heard: West Percy - Alnwick

John Dawson rode his first winner since undergoing three operations on his anterior cruciate ligament in the summer when landing the Men's Open on Maria Myco's Top Dressing, despite reporting that his mount had not been too happy on the track's undulations. READ MORE

16 January 2012 Scene & Heard: Dunston Harriers - Ampton

The last-minute decision to give Divine Intavention a Men's Open entry bore fruit at Ampton, Mark Wall's forcing tactics on the final circuit seeing his mount home ahead of the odds-on Ballyeightra Cross. READ MORE

10 January 2012 Scene & Heard: North Cornwall - Wadebridge

The evergreen Southwestern recorded his 23rd victory for the Exmoor Partners, and his second of the season, when justifying favouritism in the Men's Open under Neil Harris. READ MORE

10 January 2012 Scene & Heard: Larkhill Racing Club - Larkhill

Description left his dismal Barbury display behind when given a fine front-running ride by Gina Andrews to take the Ladies' Open. READ MORE

03 January 2012 Scene & Heard: Cambridgeshire Harriers Hunt Club - Cottenham

John Ferguson has sent out some smart recruits to score under Rules this season, but none of his 14 winners will have given him or his wife Fiona as much pleasure as seeing their son James record his first success in the Mens Open on Earth Dream. READ MORE

20 December 2011 Scene & Heard: South Midlands Area Club - Whitfield

Claire Hart's long-held dream came one step closer to reality at Whitfield, where Palypso de Creek annihilated his rivals in the AGA Ladies' Open. READ MORE

06 December 2011 Scene & Heard: Point-to-Point Owners' & Riders' Club Day 2 - Barbury Racecourse

Both winning Open race riders had more than tactics on their minds at the start of the day, as the first hurdle that Angela Rucker and Nick Sutton had to overcome was that of watching their respective offspring making their debut in the Dodson & Horrell Novice Riders' contest. READ MORE

05 December 2011 Scene & Heard: Point-to-Point Owners' & Riders' Club Day 1 - Barbury Racecourse

Master Medic, who was trained by Robert Alner to win several Chases and is now in the care of his wife Sally, returned from illness to take the Mixed Open from another former useful Rules performer The Polomoche, who failed by just a head to peg back his rival on the run-in. READ MORE

29 November 2011 Scene & Heard: Cambridge University United Hunts Club - Cottenham

Trainer Gary Hanmer took the honours at Cottenham on the season's opening day, travelling two horses from his Cheshire base and capturing the spoils with both. READ MORE