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Point-to-Point column: Welsh dominate as season gets underway

Last Updated: Wed 4 Nov 2026

The new Point-to-Point season got under-way at Lower Machen in Wales on Sunday. 39 of the 58 entries went to post producing a competitive afternoon of racing accumulating in plenty of talking points and a welcome return to action for the pointing fraternity.

Dai Walters, landlord of the course was present to witness his four-year-old homebred filly, Stroke Of An Angel put up the most impressive performance of the day in the closing Flat race. Ridden by Harvey Barfoot-Saunt and trained by Tori Thomas, she sauntered 16 lengths clear of her nearest pursuer Who’s Your Father. Walters said: “It is very nice to do it with a homebred, she will now go under rules with Sam Thomas.” She certainly looks one to follow.

The Welsh dominated the day and Bradley Gibbs enjoyed a riding double aboard Avivi In The Park and Broadway Dreamer, both trained by his Fiancée Claire Sherriff. Gibbs has over 280 winners to his name and is a well-known figure within the sport. Career highlights include winning the 2023 Cheltenham Foxhunters aboard Premier Magic, who he also trained. Gibbs, who is soon to take out his professional training license, has passed over responsibility of training the point-to-pointers to Sherriff, who was thrilled with Sunday’s results.

The couple have recently relocated their operation to a new yard near Bridgend, at David Brace’s former Dunraven Stud premises. Brace continues to have an involvement and owns one of the team's Sunday winners, four-year-old Broadway Dreamer who won the three-mile maiden by 18 lengths. Sherriff said: “It has been a busy summer with the move and it is fantastic to have started the season so well.”

Gibbs added: “When you move to new premises you worry they may not be fit enough to win first time whilst you are getting used to the new facilities, so I am very happy to have started the season so well.”

Barton Snow is a potential mount for Ellie Callwood after she rode St Cuthbert's Cave to victory in the Ladies Open at Lower Machen on Sunday. (Pic: Point-to-Point Authority)

Go Down Rockin, a Walk In The Park five-year-old with notable placed Irish form was the winner of the GB pointing bonus race in which 12 went to post. They went a good gallop from the off and winning jockey Ed Vaughan confirmed: “He was finding life so easy throughout, trying to keep a lid on him was the hardest bit and he won nicely. There was no let up and we quickened up again from two out, I would say that race will work out well.”

Kap De Triomphe made his debut between the flags in the Mens Open a winning one in what ended up being a match following the refusal to race of favourite Bumpy Evans. Ridden and trained by another Welsh-based trainer-rider Dewi Haddock, the outsider of three won well and Haddock said: “I got him out of Christian Williams yard, he had won a few under rules but we have done a few different things with him and he should be fun for the season.”

Haddock, who made an impression last season when winning The Jockey Club-sponsored Hands and Heels series, also said: “I have recently moved to work for Bradley Gibbs and I am hoping to gain rides for him along the way.”

St Cuthbert’s Cave justified favouritism to hold on to win from Hurricane Highway in the Ladies Open. Winning for the second year running at the fixture, the Joe O’Shea-trained eight-year-old took a keen hold throughout and provided Ellie Callwood with a welcome winner. O’Shea said: “Ellie is a hardworking girl that deserves a break. She has impressed me the past two seasons and gave him a great ride and rode to instructions.”

He added: “I won’t hesitate to put her on Barton Snow in the Ladies at Hexham at the end of next month.”

We look forward to Buckfastleigh in Devon this weekend and 69 entries have been made ⬇️

Weekend fixture

Sunday

Buckfastleigh, Devon, TQ11 0LT. Gates open 10 am, First Race 12 noon. 7 Races.

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