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Weatherby’s http://www.pointtopoint.co.uk will answer most questions you may have on the sport, and it is from there that the following passage is lovingly purloined;
“Point-to-Point racing is amateur horseracing over fences for hunting horses. Horses running in Point-to-Points must be registered thoroughbreds, except in Hunt Members races and certain other Club Members races (e.g. Pegasus Club Members race). The horses have to obtain a certificate (Hunter Certificate) from a Master of Foxhounds stating that they have hunted for at least 4 days in the season, in addition the Riders must obtain a certificate from the Hunt Secretary”.
So yes, the Foxhunters is still to be contested by hunters and hunters alone.
There are strictures with regards to what qualifies for the race, however. Aspirants need to have recorded a fixed number of wins or seconds in hunters’ chases, or else two wins in Open point-to-points, within the designated time limit. Happy Jack or Adrian will put me right if necessary, but I think I’m right in saying that in order to qualify for the 2009 Foxhunters, these wins / seconds need to have been accrued between the start of the 2007-8 pointing season and March 1st 2009.
There are also limits in place to exclude winners of any prize under Rules over a set value. Again, I need to check the rulebook, but I think it’s a figure northwards of £25,000 or £30,000.
Either way, as a first-season pointer / hunter, Burntoakboy needed to meet the wins / seconds criteria between December of this year and March 1st next, which he has done very easily before the better Open horses come out to play.
It’s the return of Ballycassidy that me and Zome are particularly awaiting, though.
Jeremy
(graysonscolumn)It seems to me that ,now it seems to be accepted, that point to pointing in Ireland say,like PWN does,is a better preperation for jump racing for the young horses ,than the traditional bumpers,then any reticence about racehorses coming back to Foxhunters ,is futile. Paul Barber ,Graham Roach et al are all convinced of this Looks like we are all going to go down this route. In any case ,the difficulty we have had getting into bumpers this season may force us to think that way with next seasons youngsters.
Re Ballycassidy ,we are entering him for the Foxhunters at Chelt,subject to winning our two points which by the form he is showing at home,is pretty certain
I’d love to see Ballycassidy win the Foxhunters at Aintree like my beloved Lean Ar Aghaidh did all those years ago….
Anyone know if Bon Accord is likely to run in this again?
He was beaten into second last season on ground that may have been against him.
I’d love to see Ballycassidy win the Foxhunters at Aintree like my beloved Lean Ar Aghaidh did all those years ago….
Oh for sure we will be there Moe. We love Aintree. Still excited by the memory of Bally flying over the Aintree fences in the National. Apart from the fact I would have won a fortune if he had won. Will also run Iron Man in the Topham probably.
Ballycassidy won his open comfortably at the weekend so progressing well for the Chelt Foxhunters.
Slightly squiffy, been drinking since 6, want to put a bet on Royal Auclair. What is the news?
Agus A Vic entered up at Leopardstown on Sunday – a race he won last year and still freely available at 20’s for Cheltenham.
Surely far too big – they have old stagers like Juveigneur and Kingscliff amongst those to the fore.
Would be slightly worried about Agus a Vic after his disappointing run last year.
Re-watched last years race yesterday and was struck by how well Amicelli won – he has to stand a decent chance of following up; also noticed that Bon Accord was absolutely flat to the boards for the last mile and probably doesn’t have the pace needed to win.
Southwestern was given a huge amount to do (flat last with a circuit to go), and was taken very wide all the way. If he’s gained from the experience and ridden a smidgen more handily I’d give him a squeak, certainly each way, at a big price.
Disappointing or not he’s tough to beat in these Hunter Chases – on a flat track like Aintree’s Mildmay course he’d be a 4/1 or so shot in a race like this. Have taken 5 times the price as last year wasn’t his running at all – think he’ll win this weekend and follow up
Nice to see Cappa Bleu win at Chaddesley Corbett today, (though something might be amiss with Burntoakboy). Saw him absolutley hack up at Horseheath two weeks ago and better judges than me reckon he will have a great chance if he runs in the Foxhunters for which he is now qualified.
Just been on the Jumping for Fun site and the news from Broclesby Park is that Amiceli, last year’s winner, fell going out on the final circuit – horse is believed to be okay.
From Horseheath comes the news that Rydal Park won the Men’s Open. comfortably at long odds on. He was beat out of sight at the last meeting by Cappa Bleu last week’s Chaddesley Corbett winner. Cappa Bleu is in quite a few books as a Cheltenham banker.
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Surely An Siorrac, a winner at Fairyhouse this afternoon, is going to take some stopping, bbobbell?
Form ties in with Agus A Vic via Carronhills Equitrack. Put’s An Siorrac right in the frame for it
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Is Agus A Vic still being aimed at Aintree, rather than Cheltenham, Martin? Carronhills has impressed in points (though I can’t claim to have anything approaching even a working knowledge of the subject) and An Siorrac’s beating of him in December would look to be incredibly solid form. The stiff finish should also suit.
The 12/1 with Victor Chandler looks fair.
The trainer mentioned that Aintree was the plan but given the weak nature of the hunter chase division (both here and in Ireland) they’d have to consider it.
I got a nice price about Agus A Vic, and thought Limerick Boy looked good, until I read his form at Cheltenham (all but his first hurdle race there, which full of promise). Not that it was was much better at Aintree.
I was puzzled by the betting on Cappa Bleu, and having read some of these posts know why, now. Some bets are sexy and dud, but this one sounds the deal to me. Hope I’m right. At least, it’s apparently planned for him to run here.
I agree about Amicelli though, Grey Dolphin. That performance last year looked well above average.
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