LEADING figures in the point-to-point world have welcomed news of five additional National Hunt fixtures to be staged this month, in response to the extended suspension of point-to-point racing.

Three of the five meetings will be open to horses with hunter certificates and trainers with a point-to-point handlers’ permit can make entries.

Colin Bowe, multiple champion handler, said: “This is brilliant news. Any port in a storm will do. I’m fortunate in that I have a trainer’s licence and so I have always had the option of running horses in all bumpers and maiden hurdles, but a lot of handlers do not.

“Personally, I will probably run four-year-olds in bumpers and only run the older horses in maiden hurdles. Potential purchasers of four-year-olds would prefer if the horse was still a novice next season.”

Bowe added that the extra meetings will also help breeders with store horses to sell this summer. “The sales are going to be hard anyway, but at least now we have some breathing space. If there are races, there will be trade, and that will give us space to buy new horses.”

Derek O’Connor, senior amateur rider, commented: “The first two fixtures are not open to pointers but they will ease the congestion in bumpers and maiden hurdles.

“What I would like to see is a full card of bumpers for point-to-point horses, catering for both sexes, over different distances and for horses of different ages.

“The majority of pointers are for sale and the reality is that their commercial value is lessened if they win a maiden hurdle at this time of year and lose their novice status. We need races to showcase their potential but also leave as much as possible for the purchaser.”