Following the cancellation of many fixtures this point-to-point season due to Covid-19, some amendments to the qualification criteria and eligibility for national series have become necessary.
Below follows a summary of the qualification criteria for the various national series and championships, with any changes in italic/bold.
The Print Concern Supports the NHS Restricted Point-to-Point Series
The first four horses past the post in any Print Concern Restricted Race (now 13-race series) will qualify for the Final at Stratford’s Hunter Chase evening on Friday 28th May. In addition, the winner of any Restricted Race up to and including Sunday 16th May, will be eligible for the Final.
Horses will be eligible to earn points for the Restricted Series Championship once they have taken part in a series qualifier. Points can be scored retrospectively once horses have qualified and points will not be scored in hunters’ chases. The leading points scorer at the end of the series (up to and including Sunday 16th May) will be presented with a cheque for £1,000 at Stratford’s Hunter Chase evening on Friday 28th May.
The Retraining of Racehorses & Jockey Club Veteran Horse Series
The first four past the post in any Retraining of Racehorses & Jockey Club Veteran Horse Series (now 12-race series) race will qualify for the Series Final at the Melton Hunt Club meeting at Garthorpe on Sunday 23rd May, providing they remain eligible.
In addition, the winner of any other Veteran Point-to-Point Conditions race (must comply with the description of a Veteran Horse as described in the Point-to-Point Regulations, that is 9 years and over in races up to 31st December 2020, and 10 years and over from 1st January 2021 until the end of the season) up to and including Sunday 9th May, will be eligible for the Final.
The Veteran Horse Series Final will be exempt from the regulation stating that a horse can only have won three Conditions races in the current season.
The Oriental Club Owner-Trainer Series
All horses completing in any race in the Oriental Club Owner-Trainer Series (now 8-race series) will qualify for the Final at the Mid Surrey Farmers Draghounds meeting at Godstone on Sunday 2nd May, providing they remain eligible. There will be no Owner-Trainer Series Final this year, due to the cancellation of Godstone. Any horses qualifying this season will be eligible for the series final in 2022, providing they still remain eligible as per the series criteria.
The Skinner’s Pet Food Ladies Open Point-to-Point Series
Horses placed first, second and third in any Skinner’s Ladies Open Race (now 16-race series) will qualify for the Final at Stratford’s Hunter Chase evening on Friday 28th May. In addition, horses placed first or second in any Mixed or Ladies Open up to and including Monday 17th May, will be eligible for the Final.
The Jockey Club Mares Maiden Series – Champion Novice Mare Award
The first three past the post in any The Jockey Club sponsored Mares’ Maiden Race will score points for The Jockey Club Mares’ Maiden Series. Points can be scored retrospectively once horse have qualified, and the leading points scorer at the end of the season will be presented with a cheque for £500 at the national awards ceremony in Autumn 2021. This points series is likely to change due to cancellations, resulting in a 6-race series – TBC.
The Mixed Open Final
All horses aged five years old and upwards which have been placed in the first four in any Mens, Ladies or Mixed Open Point-to-Point Steeple Chase during the current Point-to-Point season (2020/21), and prior to April 24th 2021, will be eligible to enter the Mixed Open Final Hunters’ Steeple Chase at the Cheltenham Evening meeting on 30th April 2021.
ELIMINATION PROCEDURE – Horses who have finished in 1st or 2nd place in any Mens, Ladies or Mixed Open Point-to-Point Steeple Chase in the current season will be protected from elimination. Should it be necessary to eliminate some but not all horses with the same profile, random balloting will apply.
The Intermediate Final
The first four horses past the post in any Intermediate or Conditions Point-to-Point Steeple Chase (to include Confined, Club Association, Service or Society Point-to-Point races), or any horse who has won a Restricted or Maiden race (not including Point-to-Point flat races) after September 30th 2018 and prior to April 24th 2021, with the exception of four-year-olds, will be eligible to enter the Intermediate Point-to-Point Championship Final Hunters’ Steeple Chase at the Cheltenham Evening meeting on 30th April 2021.
Point-to-Point Bumpers under rules
Three point-to-point bumpers under rules have once again been scheduled, with races set to take place as follows:
Exeter April 22
For maiden four, five and six yrs old only, which have not run under any recognised Rules of Racing and which, after October 2019 and before April 16th, 2021, have, on at least one occasion, finished first, second or third in a Point-to-Point Flat race or any category of Maiden Point-to-Point steeple chase staged in Great Britain.
Aintree May 14
For four, five and six yrs old only, which have not run under any recognised Rules of Racing, except the "Point-to-Point" Bumper staged at Exeter, and after October 2019 and before May 8th, 2021, have, on at least one occasion, finished first, second or third in a Point-to-Point Flat race or any category of Maiden Point-to-Point steeple chase staged in Great Britain.
Stratford May 28
For four, five and six yrs old only, which have not run under any recognised Rules of Racing, except the two "Point-to-Point" Bumpers staged at Exeter and Aintree, and after October 2019 and before May 22nd, 2021, have, on at least one occasion, finished first, second or third in a Point-to-Point Flat race or any category of Maiden Point-to-Point steeple chase staged in Great Britain.
Once again the TBA will be kindly offering a bonus of up to £3,000 for fillies and mares in these three Point-to-Point Bumpers, more information here.