POINT-to-Point enthusiasts will converge on Upton-on-Severn on Tuesday when the Croome and West Warwick-shire stage their meeting at this popular venue on the banks of the River Severn.

Novice races were introduced a few years ago with the aim of providing riders with the opportunity to gain experience against jockeys of a similar standard and they have proved an outstanding success.

The Mixed Open is restricted to this type of rider and this year's event has attracted 36 entries.

There is a plethora of new riders in the area this season, all with differing degrees of ability and the difficulty predicting the outcome of these races is you could have a moderate horse with a good rider and vice-versa.

Matt Hooper is probably one of the more experienced riders in this type of event and he piloted Fine and Dandy to victory in a similar event at Garn-ons last weekend.

This provided the horse's Suckley-based trainer Maria Fieldhouse with her first training success and a repeat is on the cards here.

Father Tom has better form than most in this contest and his chances have to be respected if Clare Allen has recovered from her fall at the Ross Harr-iers.

There are 43 entries for the eight-year-old and upwards Maiden and 60 for the five, six and seven-year-old Maiden so both races are in danger of being split on the day.

l PAXFORD is becoming one of the most popular courses in the area, a fact emphasised with a record entry of 202 for Monday's fixture.

Thirteen horses have been entered for the Members and Coffee Morning should provide Stanton trainer Kim Smyly with yet another winning opportunity.