The penultimate fixture of the Northern Area Point-to-Point season takes place on Saturday 26th April at the brand new Pusk Farm course near Leuchars, where a seven-race card with 57 entries starts at 2.00pm.
Watch Law is the one to beat in the opening 3m Turcan Connell Conditions Race (7 entries). Nick Orpwood's mount was back to his best when beating She Is The Enemy in a good time over this trip at Overton a fortnight ago and a reproduction of that effort should be enough to account for the likes of Glory, Not The Chablis and Shantou Moon. Glory beat Ashjan by three-quarters-of-a-length in a weaker affair at Overton in March before finishing fourteen lengths 3rd to Watch Law last time, this season's Alnwick and Friars Haugh scorer Not The Chablis trailed in a well beaten third at Tranwell, while Shantou Moon is down in grade after twice finishing runner-up in Mixed Open contests at Overton.
Joanna Walton's mount Whatudoing heads the 8 entries for the 3m Restricted Race sponsored by The Cruise at Lower Largo. He stayed on well to land the Berwickshire Maiden on soft ground and is back in calmer waters after finishing ten lengths 5th to Slaney Opera in the Buccleuch Cup Maiden Maiden Hunters' Chase at Kelso last time out. Of the others, the consistent Something Golden was beaten around twelve lengths on each occasion when twice finishing third in this grade at Overton, Portgloriam beat Diamond Flush by one-and-a-half lengths on his first start for Lesley Coltherd's yard at Friars Haugh seven weeks ago and steps up in trip here, while Phantoms Cave is better than recent form figures of F35 over a shorter trip might suggest.
There are 7 entries for the 2m4f House of Design Architects Conditions Race for Novice Riders in which plenty of pace is guaranteed by confirmed front-runners Deerstalker and Fresh New Dawn who both made all when winning at Overton over this trip in recent starts. Clapton Hill and Economic Editor both scored at Tranwell but will need to show further improvement to be involved at the business end of proceedings here, dual Friars Haugh winner Diable De Sivola needs to bounce back after trailing in a well beaten third behind Paramaribo at Tranwell, the aforementioned Shantou Moon should be in the mix in this company, while the useful Diamond Flush had plenty in hand in both Overton victories and, dropping back in trip, will be ideally suited by a strong pace.
The 9 entries for the featured 2m4f Pentland Land Rover Mixed Open Race (£750 to the winner) include the aforementioned trio of Deerstalker, Diable De Sivola and Fresh New Dawn. The one they all have to beat is hat-trick seeking Western Run who finished full of running when recording a second Overton victory of the season a fortnight ago under Sean Cameron who currently leads the Northern Area Novice Riders Championship. Of the others, last season's Zetland Ladies Open winner Fightfortheroses hasn't reproduced that level of form in six outings this term, while Blouebrav's Overton wins in 2023 and 2024 both came over this trip in a lower grade.
The 9 entries for the 3m James Hambro Conditions Race include the aforementioned Economic Editor and Not The Chablis. Of the others, ex-chaser Ashjan and Yorkshire raider Bearwithmenow should both be in the mix. Ashjan was not beaten far when runner-up at Friars Haugh and Overton earlier this season, while Bearwithmenow was placed at Tranwell and Hornby Castle and seems to be heading in the right direction.
In the 2m4f Maiden Race sponsored by Lucinda Russell Racing with 13 entries, She Is The Enemy, Up With The Play, Phantoms Cave and Wherearethejudges are closely matched on ratings. Victor Thompson-trained Up With The Play produced a career-best effort last time when nine lengths 2nd to the useful Whats The Solution at Overton and drops in grade here, while the consistent She Is The Enemy chased home Watch Law at Overton having previously finished runner-up on three occasions in Maiden company. Phantoms Cave might be more effective over a longer trip in the Restricted Race, while Malton raider Wherearethejudges made a promising debut at Tranwell when nine lengths 4th to stable companion Lets Go Harry and would have been even closer had he not made a bad mistake four out.
The concluding 2m Bruce Farms Flat Race concerns Warwickshire raider Aldona Dino, Art Dancer and Tomintoul who are all making their debuts. Art Dancer's dam Artless won a Hexham Mares' Novices' Hurdle in October 2007 for Howard Johnson having previously scored twice on the Flat for Sir Mark Prescott.
The now retired Lucinda Russell-trained Corach Rambler, who won the 2023 Grand National and was also a dual winner at the Cheltenham Festival, will lead the runners down to the start for the opening Conditions Race on a historic day at Pusk Farm - 21 years after the last new Point-to-Point track in Scotland opened at Overton.
The going on Tuesday was Good, Good to Firm in places and watering continues on a daily basis until Saturday.
As usual, the main action will be preceded at 1.00pm by pony racing with a total of 14 entries received for the two contests.
Admission is £15 per person, with under 13's free.
The course is close to Balmullo village and Leuchars Railway Station, and the post code is KY16 0AD.