​Emerging online auction house Thoroughbid has introduced an innovative Point-to-Point bonus, called Point2Rules. The scheme offers horses aged 4, 5 and 6 sold in a ThoroughBid auction the chance to land a £5,000 bonus for their new connections if going on to win their first start under rules. In addition, any graduate of a British Point-to-Point winning on their rules debut will qualify for an extra £10,000. 

Leading Point-to-Point trainer Charlie Poste was delighted with the news and said: “I think it’s a fantastic incentive. To say to buyers that there’s a very realistic chance they can recoup a good chunk of their purchase price within 12 months is a big carrot, and even more so if you’re buying British.

“Fair play to ThoroughBid for throwing their weight behind the Point-to-Point scene and coming up with something innovative. It’s definitely something I’ll look to support.”

 To qualify for the bonus, horses must not have run in any race other than an English or Irish sanctioned Point-to-Point Steeplechase or Point-to-Point Bumper and the subsequent win under rules, Hunter Chases excluded, must fall within 12 months of the date of the ThoroughBid sale in which the horse was sold. Bonuses to be split: 60% owner, 20% trainer and 20% stable staff.

ThoroughBid’s next auction, the first sale where the new Point2Rules Bonus will apply, is the Christmas Sale on Sunday 19th December and entries close on Friday 10th December, just two days before the International.

Will Kinsey, co-founder of ThoroughBid, said “In recent years the Point-to-Point market has seen huge growth, not only in sales but also its importance within the industry. These bonuses are borne out of ThoroughBid’s desire to support vendors and provide another avenue for them to sell their stock."
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ThoroughBid’s presence in the bloodstock world continues to grow, most recently successful in selling Grade 1-winning hurdler Belfast Banter for £130,000. The winner of the County Hurdle and Aintree's Top Novices is headed to the USA to continue his career in east coast steeplechasing. 

Nimrod Veterinary Products is an innovator in medicines and other veterinary products for horses.  The company is to embark on a new partnership with National Hunt Point-to-Point fixtures across the West Mercian counties, including the Berkeley at Woodford. The partnership will provide veterinary care at each of the 21 fixtures of the West Mercian Point-to-Point Association, covering meetings across six counties: Gloucestershire, Hereford & Worcestershire, Staffordshire, Cheshire, and Warwickshire.  The grand finale of the Point-to-Point season at Stratford Racecourse in May 2022 is built largely on the support of the West Mercian counties.

The Nimrod organization was founded by David Renney, a veterinary surgeon and former Point-to-Point rider.  This experience provides Nimrod with a unique insight into the world in which horse vets are working.  Nimrod’s products for horses comprise pharmaceuticals, and fluid-therapy and diagnostic products.

The West Mercian Point-to-Point Association, chaired by Jim Squires, who is Clerk of Course across multiple West Mercian fixtures, and whose secretary is Nickie Sheppard, wife of Ledbury National Hunt trainer Matt, has been a market leader in innovation in the sport, from introducing digital ticketing to creative partnerships.
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Jim remarked, ”Our fixtures have largely been largely side-lined during two seasons when first weather then Covid contrived to thwart us. Yet there remains an undercurrent of enthusiasm for grass roots racing of this kind that remains undimmed, whether you are an owner of horses, rider or trainer, or a fan. We look forward to Nimrod’s support helping us get these events back to full strength this winter.”