All change at the top as new chief executive looks forward to resumption of British season

The new pointing season in Britain gets under way on Saturday and heralds the arrival of a new figure at the top of the Point to Point Authority.

Paul Miller has taken over as chief executive from Peter Wright, who stepped down over the summer, and will oversee the running of the sport, which this season consists of more than 130 fixtures scheduled on 78 different courses from Fife in Scotland to Cornwall in the south-west of England.

Scottish-born Miller, who has a background in recruitment, resource management, marketing and commercial strategy, is relishing the task ahead.

He said: "We have two new courses for this season and had to turn away a number of others, although hopefully they will get a chance next year. Last season saw some of the most competitive racing we’ve had for years and a good number of fixtures enjoying record crowds. We’re obviously doing something right and giving people what they want – we have a much broader offering than going racing under rules.

"Pointing is a day out for the whole family with something for everyone, whether it’s the racing, having a bet, enjoying a picnic, meeting family and friends, shopping, eating, walking the course with your dog or getting up close to the horses by the parade ring or by the fence. You can make the day what you want; every fixture is different with its own unique character often set in some of the most beautiful countryside. We’re not just a winter sport, but carry on through to warmer weather and brighter evenings.”

Miller is also keen to emphasise the links between pointing and mainstream jump racing.

"It’s sometimes easy to forget just where pointing fits into wider horse racing,” he added. “The numbers don't lie and 70 per cent of jockeys under rules started out riding in point-to-points, including current title challengers Harry Cobden and Sean Bowen along with his brother James. 

"Thirty per cent of licensed trainers started their careers training pointers – think big names such as Paul Nicholls, Nicky Henderson and Fergal O’Brien among others – and a number of equine stars had their first wins in points, such as Energumene, Ahoy Senor and Santini to name a few."

There have been several changes on the board of the PPA for the new season. Caroline Bailey, who held a trainer’s licence for a number of years, is the new chair and is joined on the board by Charlie Poste, who rode under rules and now runs a successful commercial operation with his wife Fran.

Miller believes he brings a different range of skills and experience to the sport. “It’s been pretty full on since I started in June, putting in a lot of groundwork and building relationships across the wider racing community. 

"Pointing is the grass roots of jump racing, we’re proud of where we fit in but also fiercely proud of our independence and who we are as a sport. There is a very positive vibe in pointing at the moment, it’s a sport full of passionate people with fantastic characters and great stories. We’re about to implement a new marketing strategy which will reach a wider audience and encourage them to come along and see for themselves.”

James King: reigning champion straight into action

Weekend preview

Reigning champions James King and Izzie Hill are both straight into action this weekend. The season's opener at Knightwick on “lovely jumping ground” has mustered a healthy 65 entries, among whom a real eyecatcher is the ex-Joseph O'Brien gelding Gracchus De Balme, who could make his British debut in the mixed open after being purchased at the sales over the summer months by Hannah Roach. Roach has four entries in the contest including top hunter chaser Time Leader.

Sunday's meeting at Dunsmore provides last season's champion trainer Joshua Newman with three good chances of getting on the scoresheet for the new season in Longshanks, Holiday Fund and El Capitaine. The maiden which opens proceedings has drawn only six entries but, if Dropemeatthestation forgoes an engagement at Knightwick 24 hours earlier, he would have every chance of giving Georgina Ellis her first winner of the season as a trainer after taking over from her husband Tom.

Weekend fixtures

Saturday
Knightwick, Worcestershire, WR6 5PH, first race 12pm. Six races, 65 entries

Sunday
Dunsmore, Exeter, EX5 4DU, first race 12.30pm. Six races, 49 entries

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