Point to point season under way

The point-to-point season is now in full swing, having got under way in the south east at the beginning of February at Charing where the area's Hunt Club held its meeting. The good crowd enjoyed some excellent racing with plenty of runners and some close finishes.Punters had their fair share with three of the six races being won by the favourites.

The closest finish came in the Ladies' Race where the judge had some difficulty in giving placings as the 6-1 shot Fiery Ring and the 4-6 favourite Millennium Way were virtually locked together stride for stride as they approached the winning line. Fiery Ring, ridden by Jenny Gordon, just got her nose in front on the line.

This was a great performance for the rider and trainer of the horse, who was having her first ride back after having had a baby a few months previously. For owner Simon Tindall, who had run the horse previously under Rules in Ireland over 2.5 miles taking on crack horses such as Moscow Flyer, it was a satisfying victory.

Fiery Ring is now 11 years old and won six races and 100,0000 Euros in Ireland. Possibly past his best for top class chasing, he certainly looks as though he will be a major player in point to points and hunter chases this season.

Simon Tindall was back in the winner's enclosure in the next race, when Jenny's husband Chrios rode Sanamour to win, giving the stable a well-deserved double.

Owner Ann Reed, who lives on the Isle of Wight, saw her horse Saffron Hill win the first of the Maiden races, over 2.5 miles and for four, five, six and seven-year-olds. The horse had previously finished second on five occasions and was biven an excellent ride by Richard Bandy.

Ian Heaney had his first winner as an owner when Aslapoftheeuro won the Restricted race, ridden by Phil York. Rhythm King took the Men's Open in the fastest time of the day, adding to his other two wins outside this area this season.

Horsham owner Carol Gorman, sent out Change the Plan, ridden by her husband Marcus, to win the three-mile maiden.

The next meeting in the area will be on Sunday February 26 at Charing when Mid Surrey Farmers have a fixture.

Locally at Parham, near Storrington, there is racing on Saturday March 25, when the Crawley and Horsham Hunt stages a fixture. The Chiddingfold, Leconfield and Cowdray meeting at Parham, normally held in February, takes place this year on Saturday April 29.

There will be pony racing at both Parham fixtures, in addition to the normal racing, though none at Charing.