A TOTAL of 27 point-to-point fixtures have been scheduled for the autumn season, the same number as programmed a year ago. The new season will start on Saturday, October 4th and finish on December 7th.

There are four meetings scheduled for the Northern region, four in the West, seven in the Southern region and 12 in the East. The Irish National Hunt Steeplechase Committee (INHSC) promotion of maiden races for older horses continues with a bonus of €800 being allocated in six races, which will ensure the winning owner will receive in excess of €2,000 when the bonus is combined with the prize money on offer for these races.

The INHSC will also sponsor a race with a bonus of €1,000 to the winning owner at the Golden Vale (F) fixture on Sunday, November 16th at Turtulla near Thurles, which is confined to point-to-point handlers who held a permit during the 2024/’25 season and have not trained more than 10 winners under any rules, including points.

A total of 14 novice riders races have been scheduled with at least one race confined to novices (under 21) scheduled on each of the 10 weekends during the autumn season, all of which will form part of the INHSC 2025/’26 Novice Riders Series.

Three races confined to lady riders have been scheduled and will take place on October 25th at the Island Hunt meeting, November 8th at Quakerstown and November 23rd at the Stonehall fixture.

INHSC chairperson Jill Farrell said: “The INHSC is pleased to financially support point-to-point races this autumn with €10,900 in race sponsorship. The INHSC Novice Riders Series is now entering its fifth season and will run through the autumn, comprising of seven open lightweights, one winners and six maiden races which are confined to riders, that at midnight on Monday prior to the closing of entries, have not ridden more than 15 winners under any rules.”

The autumn programme of hunter chase races remains unchanged for 2025, following Horse Racing Ireland’s publication of the National Hunt provisional summary up to the end of the year.

Fairyhouse will stage the first hunter chase of the new season on Tuesday, November 11th, with the winners-of-two contest run over three miles.

The remaining two hunter chases in 2025 will take place over the Christmas period. Down Royal’s open hunter chase takes place as usual on St Stephen’s Day, while the maiden hunter chase at Limerick remains on the final day of their four-day Christmas Festival.

The Fairyhouse card on November 11th will also continue to feature a point-to-point bumper.

Autumn Hunter Chases

Nov 11 Fairyhouse

Dec 26 Down Royal

Dec 29 Limerick

Inhsc Bonus Older Horse Maidens

Oct 12 Galway Blazers (F)

Oct 25 Island Hunt (F)

Nov 1 Tipperary (F) Lisronagh

Nov 8 Co. Clare (H) Quakerstown

Nov 23 Killinick (H)

Dec 7 Louth (F)