THE start of a new point-to-point season is always a landmark in the events of the year and as it draws nearer the sense of anticipation grows strong.

This year was no different but, with the meeting originally scheduled to start the new season cancelled, it meant that the first races were held on a Sunday and somewhat belatedly by the standards of recent years: the second Sunday in October.

This meant the venue was Castletown Geoghegan right in the middle of the island of Ireland. With no other competition it meant that supporters from every part turned up to provide a very good and appreciative crowd probably the best ever attendance for the autumn meeting at this long established track.

It was a proper autumn day and though showers were nearby the afternoon stayed dry and gave the feel of a true point-to-point day. There having been no late false summer this year also meant that the ground was in very raceable condition as confirmed when only 16 of the 77 entries did not meet their engagements. Nine came from the four-year-old race and, of the other seven, two were double entered both running.

It is always good to get the new season off well and this was undoubtedly a flying start with good racing from both established performers and from potential stars of the future. With three young riders all recording their first victories, it was also good to see Don Atkinson starting his 40th campaign.

NEW DATE

THE hunter chase traditionally run at Leopardstown’s Irish Gold Cup meeting, will, this year move to Punchestown on Sunday, February 11th. The amalgamation of the three January/February Leopardstown meetings into the Dublin Racing Festival meant that the big hunter chase had to find another home and it will now still be run the same week in the calendar as last year.

Dublin Racing Festival not all good news

FROM the day it was announced by Leopardstown racecourse that they intended to concertina their three January and February meetings into one weekend at the beginning of the latter month there has been a near euphoric welcome for this venture.

However, from the start it was stated that there would be a full card of races on both days and that no race would carry less than €75,000 in prize money.

ALARM BELLS

That very proposal rang alarm bells for hunt racing fans as it was inconceivable that they would stage a hunter chase with that kind of prize fund: it should be remembered that Punchestown’s champion hunter chase – Ireland’s most prestigious race of this kind carried only a prize money total of €30,000 this year.

Sure enough when the programme of races was recently published the 15 races scheduled did not include a hunter chase.

Although owners and handlers would have been more than happy to run for a prize fund of €25,000, I am sure this would not have suited the promotors as such a race would have been perceived as lowering the quality of the festival.