UK Point-to-Point Round Up 12th February 2020

Five UK point-to-point meetings were scheduled to take place at the weekend however due to the threat of Storm Ciara the three fixtures for Sunday did not go ahead.

All three meetings from Sunday 9th February at Vine & Craven at Barbury Racecourse, Western at Wadebridge and Sinnington at Duncombe Park have been rescheduled for this weekend.

Irish point graduates racked up five winners from the races that took place across the two cards on Saturday. We take a closer look at some of the former Irish pointers who recorded wins below.

Saturday, 08th February 2020

Chaddesley Corbett, Worcestershire

Former Irish pointer Hidden Charmer won by two lengths in the six-runner Ladies Open for handler Diana Ralph. The son of Stowaway made his UK point-to-point debut in March 2019 when he was runner-up at Brampton Bryan point-to-point before going onto win a hunter chase at Ludlow over a week later.

The eight-year-old got off the mark in UK points at the third time of asking and he started off his career in Irish points with Pat Doyle when running in a four-year-old maiden at Ballynoe in 2016.

The Denis Pugh-trained Doc Carver found success in the Novice Riders Conditions race when battling it out with Minerfortyniner over the final two fences, with the son of Lakeshore Road and Rebecca Pugh hanging on grimly for a half-length success.

The nine-year-old finished a promising third on his debut in UK points at Buckfastleigh back in January.  Originally handled by Mark Clifford in Ireland, the gelding got off the mark in Irish points at the sixth time of asking by ten lengths at Monksgrange back in 2017.

Getaway Flyer recorded back-to-back successes when landing the restricted race by five lengths for Roger Willcox in the hands of Jessica Hughes. The daughter of Getaway has been an improving performer since beginning her UK points career back in February 2019, having finished fourth on this debut success and then going on to finish second on her next start.

The seven-year-old started out life with Sean Doyle when running in Irish points with her final run best being her best effort when she finished third in a five-and-six-year-old mares’ maiden at Oldcastle in 2018.

Cottenham, Cambridgeshire

The James Owen-trained favourite Just Cause secured his seventh UK point-to-point victory by a distance of 12 lengths in the men’s open race on Saturday, providing owner Simon Stearn with a thoroughly deserved winner.

The son of Court Cave began his career in Irish points for handler Mouse Morris when winning his four-year-old maiden at Boulta on debut. The 10-year-old has also enjoyed a total of five hunter chase career successes.

Manicman, a former Denis Murphy inmate, made his debut performance in UK point-to-points a winning one when taking the open maiden for his handler Annabelle Sowray when coming home six lengths in front of his rivals.

The son of Getaway made his debut in Irish points in October 2018 when finishing fourth at Toombridge, with his best effort being third at Loughbrickland two weeks later before being sold at the Tattersalls Ascot sales for £8,500.