The first meeting of the Midlands point-to-point season is Revesby Races 2024, at Revesby Park in Lincolnshire on Saturday 20th January, with the first race scheduled for 12pm. Tickets are available online or on the gate, including reduced rates for members of the Young Farmers Club and the NFU (bring your cards). There are still some Picnic tickets available which include forward parking, more space and tickets for four people.

Revesby Races are held in the grounds of Revesby Abbey, on the A155. Full details are available on the course page. A lot of care has gone into protecting the ground from the frost and the most recent going report from Clerk of Course Crick Stamp found that the ground was good all the way round the track.

There are 60 entries across six races.

The feature race of the day will be the third, the Mixed Open (kindly sponsored by Pat Barthorpe, Wilf Wallis and Steve Alcock), with entries from some class horses. Fier Jaguen will be having his first trip out from Bradley Gibbs' yard since winning the two mile chase at Cheltenham in May and is likely to be well-fancied. Kate Gowing's ride is the Tom Ellis-trained Not That Fuisse while Dale Peters looks to start his Midlands campaign on Peacocks Secret which he trains. Paddy Barlow has the ride on The Whistle Blower which will be hoping for a return to the form which saw him win at Hornby Castle last April. Willewonga has had a second and a fifth this season on soft ground and may enjoy better going. Slievegar makes the long trip from Cheshire for Toby McCain-Mitchell having last won in a hunter chase at Kelso last season. Dounikos is trained by Caroline Robinson and won twice between the flags last season.

The first race of the day is a Conditions race for Novice Riders, sponsored by PCS Pedersen, which has nine entries, including the highly-rated first season pointer Hidor de Bersy. Lucy Pickford trains Write It Down which was placed several times last season under Immy Robinson. Tom Ellis brings Killinkere for jockey Molly Legg, while Bradley Gibbs brings My Little Toni who won over hurdles. Tom Hutsby has the ride on veteran pointer Neumond, trained by Stuart Morris, while owner/rider J. J. Simpson rides Padjoes Legacy, trained by Nigel Padfield. Joanne Priest trains hurdle winner Western Cowboy, which will run for the first times in points.

The Maiden Race, sponsored by Mr Hewison of Annandale Caravan Park, follows for horses yet to win between the flags. Thirteen are entered for this one, including a number of horses starting a point-to-point for the first time after careers in National Hunt racing. There are lots of weight allowances among the runners, including a stone for Just Our Milly, trained by Kelly Morgan and ridden by Ellie Callwood.

The NFU Mutual Intermediate race after the Mixed Open has nine entries. Buzzard Trix, Camdonian, I'm Spellbound and Runwiththetide carry penalties of 5lbs. Runwiththetide (11st 12lbs) and Grenadine Save (11st 7lbs) both have the 7lb mares allowance. Happy Victory (Dale Peters), No Dice (Milo Herbert), Our Brother John and Another Furlough have all won this season already.

After this we have the last of the jump races, a Level 2 Conditions race for veteran horses of 9 years old and older sponsored by The Jockey Club and Retraining of Racehorses. Highest-rated of the nine entries in this one is Myth Buster, with second and fourth placed finishes this season, and is ridden by Lily Bradstock for Sara Bradstock. Another of interest is Knight of Dubai, between the flags for the first time but a dual chase winner under rules. Rupert Stearn rides for Jennifer Owen. Neumond, Silver Sheen and Write It Down all have entries in this race as well as the first. Back Bar is a very capable pointer and will have Izzie Marshall on board for Alan Hill. Benefaktor returns to pointing after a season out, definitely one to watch.

Finally we have a point-to-point flat race for four and five-year-olds, kindly sponsored by JRL Group. This race is run over two miles rather than the usual three and bypasses all the fences. There are representatives from trainers far and wide so this promises to be a very interesting race.

Revesby Races is always very well supported and there will be a range of trade stands and food outlets to keep the whole family busy. We look forward to seeing you there.