THE point-to-point fixture list for autumn has been published and it contains a number of measures designed to give more opportunities to smaller owners and handlers, as well as inexperienced riders.

Starting on the first weekend in October, the autumn season will cover 27 fixtures. The INHSC is offering a bonus of €800 to the winning owner in six maidens and a €1,000 bonus to the winning owner of a race at the Golden Vale meeting on November 17th which is confined to handlers who held a permit last season but did not train more than 10 winners under any rules.

Three open lightweights have been programmed which exclude horses that have won a Grade 1, 2 or 3 hurdle or chase. A race for horses which have not won on the racecourse but can have won an unlimited amount of point-to-points will take place on the final day of the season at the Louth meeting.

A total of 14 novice riders’ races have been scheduled with at least one race in each of the 10 weeks of the season which will all form part of the INHSC 2024/’25 novice riders series.

Three races confined to lady riders have been scheduled.

The autumn season features over €10,000 in race sponsorship from the Irish National Hunt Steeplechase Committee [INHSC]. Jill Farrell, INHSC chairperson, said: “Following on from the introduction last autumn of open lightweights that excluded horses which had previously won a graded race, three such opens have been retained.

“Having endured a challenging spring season due to unprecedented levels of rainfall, hunt committees who applied for an autumn fixture are thanked for their resilience as the vast majority successfully held fixtures earlier this year.”

FIXTURE LIST >>7