The Cottesmore Point-to-point is making a few changes for this season’s event, which takes place at Garthorpe Racecourse in Leicestershire on Sunday 25th February.

The Mixed Open race, fourth on the card, will have a £1000 first prize on offer, kindly sponsored by chartered accountants Saffery. There will be no penalties for previous wins, a cheaper entry fee of £35 and a declaration fee of £45.

The Cottesmore Committee have put a lot of time and thought into their choice of races, hoping to create a race card which has something for everybody, and races for different horses on the same yards.

One such race is the longer 3 mile 6 furlongs Conditions Race (Level 3), an unusual race, as most longer races are for the higher condition horses. This race, however, provides an opportunity for stayers that otherwise get limited opportunities in the point-to-point world, which is dominated by 3m and 2 1/2-mile races.

After racing there will be at least one schooling trial, similar to that which ran after the Melton Hunt Club fixture earlier in the month. Jockeys will not wear colours and there will be no gambling on the race, which will be purely for practice purposes. Owners and trainers have really embraced these trials which have been attracting good numbers of entries.

Owners and trainers frequently now enter horses at more than one meeting over a weekend to give them options, especially when weather and ground conditions will play a major factor with final decision making. The ground staff at Garthorpe go to a great deal of trouble to produce the very best ground possible, and hope those efforts will be rewarded by a good number of entries and subsequent declarations across the whole race card.

In an effort to work with the Point-to-Point Authority to improve the race-day experience of owners, The Cottesmore meeting is inviting owners of declared runners to their hospitality area, usually for sponsors and farmers. Invitations will be given out at the declaration desk and it is hoped that as many owners as possible will come and share their thoughts on the day.

The meeting is sure to be a great day out with high quality racing expected. There will be lots of trade stands, bookmakers and childrens entertainment, a public bar and a delicious selection of food stands including the legendary “Grumpy Huntsman”.