Point to Points

S. Goodspeed

Hey all,

Just a few general questions on Point to Points and where they fit in the bigger national hunt picture.

Are they typically treated as a learning ground / stepping stone for horses before they move on to jumps on the track? I was at a P2P last weekend with a few maiden races, what are the prospects for the winners there? Would most stay point to pointing or try their hand at track at some stage? If stepping up to track what is usually their first type of race, maiden steeplechase, bumper etc?


Or are they two very different events with differently bred horses which rarely overlap?

I'm sure many of you have been before but its a great day out, highly recommend.

Cheers

ComplyOrDie

S. Goodspeed wrote: »

Hey all,

Just a few general questions on Point to Points and where they fit in the bigger national hunt picture.

Are they typically treated as a learning ground / stepping stone for horses before they move on to jumps on the track? I was at a P2P last weekend with a few maiden races, what are the prospects for the winners there? Would most stay point to pointing or try their hand at track at some stage? If stepping up to track what is usually their first type of race, maiden steeplechase, bumper etc?


Or are they two very different events with differently bred horses which rarely overlap?

I'm sure many of you have been before but its a great day out, highly recommend.

Cheers

Various types of horse run at P2Ps. some will be track bound, some will mix it, some will be primarily for P2Ps.


As a general rule (not set in stone)

Types of races and guide of what run in them:

4yo maidens - babys, winners usually bound for sales and make big prices when sold. when people refer to learning ground they generally refer to this group. Very competitive races with many Cheltenham winners starting here. To win one you’d need a decent horse.

5yo maidens - babys, may make it to track, winners worth a fraction of 4yos at sale, some races hot some not so much. Basically you could be lucky enough to not bump into a superstar

6 year old and up maidens - these are 6yos that have not won, then may have struggled as 4yos and 5yos or may be backward/slow learners having 1st run, unlikely to be smart

winners of 1 and up - for winners of a P2P, 6yo+ may struggle here, picking one up over time, smarter sorts who win back to back P2P will likely be track bound.

open lightweights - Usually former track stars on decline (haven’t won in x days (think its 2 years, i'd need to check rule), also horses that won multiple P2P will have to run here if they decide to stay pointing as no other races for them. Runners in these races are also eligible to run in hunter chases (races on track with bigger price money that are only for P2P horses) the big race for these is the race after the gold cup in Cheltenham (the fox hunters)

Above is a general guide not set in stone.

WickIow Brave

Which point were you at, OP? If you were at Ballinaboola you would have seen the winner of the 4yo maiden, 'Envoi Allen'. That horse will be sold now and could well make north of £250,000. Impressive 4yo maiden point winners are highly coveted by wealthy owners. You could possibly be looking at a future Gold Cup winner.

Charlie George

Faugheen won a point to point in Ballysteen in Co. Limerick.