THE inaugural Barbury International race meeting –the first ever point-to-point in Britain to welcome Irish-based and professionally-trained horses, and the first to include a bumper, provided an eight-race card and 92 runners, of which six travelled across the Irish Sea, including five from Shark Hanlon’s yard in Co Carlow.

The highest-profile Irishman present was 20-time champion jockey Sir A.P. McCoy, who arrived early with sponsor Ronnie Bartlett and stayed all day, presenting the prizes for both divisions of the bumper.