First point-to-point of the season at Barbury Racecourse - ahead of a major new international Barbury venture
Next Sunday (December 4), the equestrian tradition created by Nigel Bunter at the Barbury Castle Estate comes alive again with the first point-to-point of the season.
And it will be a season which changes the face of point-to-pointing with a new international fixture welcoming horses and riders from Ireland - a first for point-to-pointing in the UK which has till now forbidden entries by overseas riders or horses.
But the first meeting of Barbury's four fixtures for 2016-2017 brings six races organised by the Point-to-Point Owners and Riders Association (PPORA) on December 4.
The racecard will start with the Dodson & Horrell PPORA Club Members race for novice riders at 12 noon.
This will be followed by the Jockey Club Mares Maiden, a Mixed Open, the PPORA Club Members Conditions race, the Connolly's Red Mills Intermediate race and finally the PPORA Club Members Maiden for four, five and six year-olds.
And, of course, there will be the usual local stalls, food and a bar - and the Barbury landscape to marvel at.
The highlight of the Barbury season will be the first fully international point-to-point meeting to be held in the United Kingdom: the Barbury International Point-to-point on Saturday, January 14. It is being staged by the Barbury International Racing Club which is chaired by Nigel Bunter.
It will be one of the most valuable Point-to-Point events in the UK or Ireland, with prize money of £5,750. The card will include a three mile six furlong Veterans Chase and a three mile Mixed Open, both with prize funds of £1,000. No race will run at less than £750.
The opening race is for Maiden four, five & six year-olds over two miles and four furlongs. A corresponding Maiden race for mares & fillies follows, and there is a third Open Maiden later in the card, and a novice riders’ race.
The day concludes with a point-to-point bumper over two miles - the first time a bumper has been staged at a point-to-point course.
Nigel Bunter The meeting is the brainchild of point-to-point enthusiast and racehorse owner Nigel Bunter, who has spent the last few months selling the Barbury Castle Estate.
Nigel Bunter is delighted with the response to this initiative: “We wanted to do something to stimulate pointing in the UK, and with the advice and support of many folk, including Ronnie Bartlett, Richard Fuller, Richard Pugh and David Minton, together with the Point-to-Point Authority, we arrived at this unique set of races.”
With the Select sale at Cheltenham two weeks afterwards, it is expected that a strong contingent of quality Irish runners will make the trip. Stabling is provided on the Barbury Estate for runners travelling long distances for the meeting.
Many more Irish pointing horses than British ones graduate to race under National Hunt rules. As Highflyer Bloodstock's David Minton puts it: “Point-to-point in Ireland is 80 per cent business, 20 per cent fun. While in the UK point-to-pointing is 80 per cent fun, 20 per cent business."
"Bringing these two contrasting approaches together affords us an excellent opportunity both to stimulate the UK market for point-to-point horses for sale, and to encourage owners and riders to see this as a route to bring on young horses of their own.”
Laura Thomas, who trains 20 Pointers at nearby Hackpen Farm, uses the Barbury gallops, and always supports the meetings there: "The range of races at the International meeting can help to stimulate the commercial development of our sport and narrow the price differential between point-to-point horses brought on in the UK versus their Irish counterparts."
"I’m particularly keen to support the bumper, which gives young horses an introduction to racing without the complication of jumping as well.”
Now that Penny and Nigel Bunter have sold the estate and both the equestrian events and Alan King's tenancy are assured, local fans and comeptitors can breathe a sigh relief - and look forward to Barbury's equestrian future.