Point-to-Point racing returns to the Midlands area on Sunday, 8th of March for the Pytchley with Woodland meeting at Guilsborough (NN6 8SR). Tickets are available online from midlandspointing.com/tickets or on the gate on the day, for £15. Under 16s are admitted free of charge.
Clerk of the Course Robert Johnson and his team have done a superb job given the difficult conditions in the early part of 2026. At the time of writing their going is the good side of soft and the forecast for the days running up to the fixture is very encouraging.
Guilsborough is one of the most inviting courses in the Midlands and there will be plenty to do for all the family. In addition to various catering options there will be a licensed bar and a whole avenue of trade stands, as well as a dog show.
The day’s racing begins with pony racing at 12pm, with three races for ponies of different heights and experience. This really is the nursery for future jockeys and there are some very familiar names among the entries, as children of jockeys and trainers start their careers.
Following the pony racing there is a six-race card starting at 1pm with the Maiden Race.
There are six point-to-point fixtures over this weekend and inevitably there will be a number of horses entered at other meetings as well as this one, and in other races on the same card. Please take note on the day of the horses declared to run.
The feature race of the day is the Berrys Mixed Open Race, at 2.45pm, for which six horses are entered. Aramax will lead the field based on point-to-point form and rating. This German-bred 10-year-old is trained in Newmarket by Jennifer Owen for the Whiskey & Water Partnership. An accomplished East Anglian performer, he is entered on Saturday at High Easter as well as Guilsborough and will be well-backed wherever they decide to go. Bowtogreatness (Dale Peters) pulled up in a hunter chase at Leicester this week but will be strong contender if all is well. They are entered both here in the Open and in the level two Conditions race later in the day. In Our Dreams runs for Francesca Poste having won here this time last year, and subsequently at Paxford. Clara Brewitt takes the ride in this one or the next. Ryans Fancy is entered here, looking for a first win with novice rider Rebekah Bell in the plate.
Christian and Geri Horner have Cartesien entered in two races here at Guilsborough, and two races at Didmarton the day before. Wherever it runs it will be a points debut for this French chaser which won over 2m 3f. Similarly Coachman is a hurdle winner under rules, making his debut between the flags, and hedging his bets with entries in the Open, Conditions (Level 2) and Conditions (Level 3).
We start the day with a Maiden race, kindly sponsored by Billing Finance, which has 12 entries, ranging from fairly experienced maidens to horses making their racecourse debut. Among the better rated horses are Corra Bheinn, trained by Francesca Poste for the Picnic Partnership; Caractacus Potts, trained by Maxine Filby for Christian and Geri Horner; Just Four Fame, owned and trained by David Dennis, and Right Lets Go, trained locally by Stuart Morris for Judy Wilson.
Following this is the Restricted Race kindly supported by Mr and Mrs Latilla-Campbell. Marina Bealby has had a decent season so far, with two wins on board Easy Rider for her parents who train and own the eight-year-old. Cash Or Card (Dale Peters) will be looking to improve on third last time out, and along with Easy Rider carries a 5lb penalty. Ahead of them in that Brocklesby Restricted was Suttons Hill (Clara Brewitt) who was narrowly beaten on that occasion by L’Aventara. Ben Case’s Seek Him There won his maiden last time at Horseheath and hasn’t been out of the top two in points so far. Bradley Gibbs trains Bluescape, with the mare’s allowance of 7lb, third on her first run this season at Kingston Blount.
The are some well-rated runners among the eight entries for the Ace Gearboxes Intermediate Race, at 2.10pm. Francesca Poste trains Glancing Hill (Zac Baker), with wins at Hursley Hambledon and Horseheath this season already, while Joe O’Shea makes the trip from Northumberland with Boley Bob (Henry Crow) having won at Larkhill last time out. Gina Andrews trains and rides Arctic Oscar, fourth at Charing at the end of January, and Ask Elli looks to take advantage of a 7lb allowance for Bradley Gibbs and Mr J. M. Castle, having won in January at Horseheath. Fame And Concrete (Cian Murphy) should be a contender for Nick Wright if he benefits from his first run at Charing where he was 4th. Local interest is strong in this race: Cash Or Card has an entry here in addition to the Restricted, and Stuart Morris has Champagne Glory (Charlie Case).
After the mixed open, fourth on the card, we have two Conditions races. The first of these is a level two Conditions race, sponsored by Fox Land Rover. Cartesien, Coachman, In Our Dreams and Ryans Fancy all have second entries in this one as well as the Open. Among the seasoned campaigners also entered are Clashhill, trained by Nick Wright and ridden by Cian Murphy, a multiple point-to-point winner with two second-place finished this season, and No Risk des Flos, trained by Gina Andrews, with a first and a second from their two starts. Top show horse producer Matthew Ainsworth trains Rock House, a capable pointer looking to return to form. Kelly Morgan saddles two in this one. Bothwell Bridge (Ellie Callwood) is owned by a Midlands syndicate and finished third at Brocklesby, and Dusart (Tom Chatfeild-Roberts), having his first start of this season.
Our last race of the day is another Conditions Race, this time Level 3, sponsored by Foxton Construction, for which we are very grateful. 14 horses are entered for this race, many of which have other entries on this card and may race earlier in the day. Major Dundee is enjoying his first season between the flags, with two second-place finishes to date. Another new to pointing is Ted’s Friend, second last time out with part owner Alexandra Ingram in the plate. Stuart Morris trains Clare Richmond-Watson’s Master Malcolm, a second season runner with a second and third this season so far. Shanty Alley beat Ragnar Lodbrok last season but is yet to finish this year. Fat Sam is owned and trained by David Dennis, returning to pointing after a spell under rules. Diplomate Sivola is a well-known veteran pointer, now owned and trained by Juliet Thornhill. Miss S. Thornhill will ride.
Sunday looks set to provide some excellent racing. We look forward to seeing you there.