On parade for the big one at Wetherby

Such a lovely Saturday at Skutterskelfe Park, Hutton Rudby with my family alongside. Henry Crow won 24 hours after Cheltenham, Summerville Boy won 8 years after Cheltenham.

Nothing like a busy numbers board as a throwback thing of beauty.

issuu.com/weatherbys/d... Link to the Combined Services racecard at Larkhill tomorrow

The Combined Services point-to-point is the Military point and takes place this Sunday at Larkhill. 147 entries featuring the Coronation Gold Cup, the second classic race of the season. First race of a minimum seven at 12 noon.

There have been a few improvements at Catterick in recent years. This Horseshoe bar is lovely and toasty on a cold, grey day.

68 entries for Cocklebarrow on Sunday, featuring the first classic race of the season, the Lord Ashton of Hyde's Cup. First of six steeplechases at 12.35 with three pony races from 11.00.

Answers: TL Cheltenham before the 1980 reconfiguration, TR Kempton Park sprint course, BL Newcastle home turn, BR 3 out at Wetherby. Merry Christmas 🎄

Happy Christmas Eve. Four more racecourses to name from 1970s and 1980s action - answers and credits later.

Today's answers: TL: Turning out of the home straight Haydock Park; TR: Top of the hill Warwick; BL: Rag Trade at Stockton; BR: pre All Weather hurdling at Lingfield Park. Well done if you got any of those - I may do a final set of four tomorrow.

Here we go, a Bonus quiz from Mike and its in colour.

No UK racing today so a coffee time puzzle - four UK racecourses to name from 1979s and 1980s. Usual hat tip to @allmanbros2.bsky.social for his efforts throughout the year. Answers and credits later.

Smashing day calling the action at the Border point-to-point, before the rain arrived. Hexham is such a splendid venue.

Rough notes and prep done for four meetings this weekend - and the tape measure is out for the Christmas tree 🎄

The correct answers were TL Friars Haugh, TR Didmarton, BL Bonvilston, BR Siddington. Three out of four guessed correctly across the different platforms.

Will give this until about 6.30pm if anyone else fancies a go.

Sunday puzzle - four British point-to-point tracks to name.

Drawing up and learning colours and their numbers in lines of four for spotting duties at York. Before and after annotations.

Busy, enjoyable day's pony racing at Bangor-on-Dee. Plenty of education and race experience for young riders. The beginners races divided twice.

Link to Tir Prince's prestigious card on Saturday - a mix of quality and quantity along the way v2.bhrc.org.uk/media/g44bfj...

Nine race card at Tir Prince on Saturday - a stellar harness fixture including the Derby, Oaks, Futurities, Crock of Gold Gold and Silver, STAGBI Mares and two Le Trot handicaps. First race 3.30, last race 6.15.

Juddmonte International ready

Calling a novelty today - 10 runners in Argentina's longest race later today, the Group 3 General Pueyrredon over 3,000 metres. There was an application to reduce the race to 2,400m which was knocked back so still a unique race for those who follow the Argentinian circuit.

My spotting chart after the John Smith's Cup.

I see that admission at Nottingham is only £9 on Saturday evening - admirable and I hope that they get lots of takers.

If you haven't caught this yet, an enjoyable, nostalgic hour watching Further Flight's wins youtu.be/jg5CZDmWeTY?...

Enjoyable to be back on the North Wales coast at Tir Prince for the start of their 2025 season.

Huge half hour for Eduardo Pavón who has ridden Group 1 double at San Isidro, firstly on 25/1 shot Ardiendo in the 2yo Criterium, then landing G1 Gran Premio 25 de Mayo with Honest Boy, hot Peruvian challenger Don Feres wilting tamely. Charm and Martin Valle won G1 2yo fillies.

Gorgeous day at Hexham for the Haydon point-to-point. That the reservoir resembles a beach a reflection of the hard work that goes into keeping the show on the road during this dry spell.

Lovely afternoon at Haydock Park for the Area 4 Pony Club raceday. About 60 ponies and 50 odd young riders receiving education and racing experience.

Over 60 ponies declared for the Area 4 pony raceday at Haydock Park tomorrow, that's more competitors than the last three points that I've attended put together. Hopefully one or two stars of the future in the saddle.

There are 70 entries for the Warwickshire point-to-point @MollingtonRaces on Bank Holiday Monday with the first of seven races due off at 2pm.

The sausages have arrived at Wetherby

Sunset in Paris.

67 entries for the Cirencester Races at Siddington on Saturday, the first fixture at the course for three years. First race of six due off at 1.30. #gopointing

Summerville Boy (2018 Cheltenham Festival winner) wins again on the Yorkshire PTP circuit at the age of 13 - a fine battle with Red Opium and Cullin Hills in the £1,000 Mixed Open at Hutton Rudby.

There are 66 entries for the Hurworth point-to-point at Hutton Rudby this Saturday, with the first of six races due off at 1pm. There is music and televised rugby after racing. It's a fabulous venue to #gopointing

Change of pace this weekend to watch our friends' daughter captain the Leeds Knights U16s. Love how you can get so close to the action.

Viroflay won the Coronation Gold Cup for the second time today at Larkhill, winning by a distance. Olive Nicholls rode the winner and Paul beamed that it was as good as Ascot.

Nice pic in Go Pointing this week - thanks Grace - nearly 400 miles further south this weekend...

Had a go at a Connections on Flat racecourses in the British Isles. Hope it works! connections.swellgarfo.com/game/-OJ0NfH...

An easy win for UK point-to-pointing would be a race of the week shared on socials and broadcast on racing channels. There were two or three compelling finishes at Friars Haugh on Sunday that deserved exposure way beyond the prohibitive paywall and private sales.

Now at the age of 17, Southfield Theatre holds an entry in the Ladies Conditions at Larkhill on Sunday. He's been placed in the first three in all 31 starts between the flags. #gopointing

Coronation Gold Cup entries include Cheltenham / Stratford double hero What A Glance, standing dish Viroflay who will looking to regain his title under Olive Nicholls, 5 time PTP winner One For Rosie and recent course winners and newer recruits My Drogo and Givega. #gopointing

youtu.be/JiiUKjS_n-Q?... A treasure trove of racing memories from 1987, the year SIS started pictures and commentary in betting shops. Note how the voices begin to transition from Cloudsley Marsham and Michael Seth-Smith to Lee McKenzie, more Raleigh Gilbert and more Robin Gray.

There are 58 entries for Combined Services point-to-point at Larkhill on Sunday with 11 in the feature Coronation Gold Cup, the second classic of the season. First of six steeplechases at 12.45, with the King's Troop flat race at 12 noon. #gopointing

Home after another enjoyable trip up to Scotland and a warm Kelso welcome. Lovely to call Chameron home again five years after I did at Larkhill.

The 360 from the commentary tower at Friars Haugh

It does make a nice change to wake up three minutes from a point-to-point rather than three hours from it. Looking forward to the Berwickshire today, with pony racing at 11.45 and seven steeplechases from 12.30.