WITH 99 entries in the six scheduled races – and each of them attracting double figures – competitive racing looks assured at the Hampshire Point-to-Point at Hackwood Park this Sunday.

Clerk-of-the-course Bill Welling walked the course, near Basingstoke, last weekend and reported: “The going remains good, good to soft in places and conditions are likely to improve rather than deteriorate over the week.”

Meeting secretary Vanessa Vasey added: “The track’s in great condition. We build nice jumps and look after our course.”

The opening Restricted Race, over the new distance of two and a half miles, qualifies the winner for the Subaru Final at Stratford on May 20. Of the 15 horses entered, four are joint top-rated and one of the leading fancies, Luke Harvey’s Porlock Bay, won his only previous race at Hackwood.

The first two past the post in the Ladies’ Open qualify for the AGA Final, also at Stratford on May 20. There are 22 entries, the highest of the day, with rumours flying around that Victoria Pendleton and Terra Bleu might be in the field.

Quality rather than quantity is to the fore in the ten-entry Men’s Open, while the Veterans & Novices Riders Race features both up-and-coming youngsters and gnarled veterans amongst the 21 entrants. Tim Underwood, aged 67, whose ultimate quest is to ride a winner at 70, plans to have his first outing of the season on Kellystown Lad, subject to the ground. At the other end of the age range, 18-year-old Jack Andrews rides hat-trick seeking Done A Runner for Toby Hunt.

Hackwood Park is a left-handed course on a slope with a downhill back straight and an uphill finish. It is sharp, but by no means easy. The course has a mixture of permanent and portable fences and the top and bottom bends are now fully equipped with plastic rails. Hackwood is signposted off the A339 (Alton road), leaving the M3 at J6.

The first point-to-point race is at 1pm. It will be preceded by a pony race (11.30am) and adult charity race (11.50am) and then by a hound parade in the paddock.

For more information, visit http://hackwoodparkracecourse.co.uk