PPORA Barbury Preview 2010

A date for the point-to-pointing diary

By Brian Armstrong

Point-to-pointing has entered its Christmas break, but the two-day Point-to-Point Owners & Riders Club (PPORC) meeting at Barbury Racecourse, near Marlborough, Wiltshire, is now less than four weeks away on Saturday 9th January and Sunday 10th January 2010.

First held at Barbury Racecourse in 1994 and run as a two-day fixture since 2005, the PPORC meeting provides high-class racing and attracts horses and riders from right across the country.

Yahoo – famously second to Desert Orchid in the 1989 Cheltenham Gold Cup and a Lady Dudley Cup winner during his point-to-point career – top-class hunter chaser Teaplanter, Horse & Hound Cup winner Grimley Gale, Cheltenham and Aintree Foxhunter hero Cavalero, Lady Dudley Cup winner Irilut and subsequent Grand National third Lord Atterbury are among the leading horses to have appeared.

Cheltenham Festival winner Thisthatandtother and Charlie Fox’s Turthen, runner-up to Cappa Bleu in the Christies’ Foxhunter two months later, both rewarded favourite backers in 2009.

Riders to visit the winner’s enclosure include future professionals Tom Scudamore, Joe Tizzard and Champion Hurdle winning jockey Robert “Choc” Thornton, while recent National Point-to-Point Champions Richard Burton, who landed a treble on the opening day of the 2006 fixture, Thomas and Oliver Greenall, Claire Allen, James Tudor, Rachael Green, Polly Gundry, Julian Pritchard, Ashley Farrant, and Evan Williams have all faced the starter.

Barbury Racecourse was first used in 1953 and has a history of famous races – Olympic Gold Medal winning horse Salad Days II beat debutant Baulking Green, who became the most popular Hunter Chaser ever, in a maiden race in 1961. The course provides excellent viewing and the downland turf on chalk normally ensures perfect going for the meeting. For many point-to-point fans, attendance is a “must”.

Point-to-Point Owners' & Riders' Club Meeting at Barbury Castle - 9th & 10th January 2010

 
Please be reminded that entries close on Sunday, 3rd January for this meeting and that there will be NO POSTAL DELIVERIES ON 25TH-28TH DECEMBER AND 1ST & 2ND JANUARY so please mail your entries very early!