THE Worcestershire point-to-point season opens up this weekend when the Harkaway Club hold the curtain-raising meeting at the Chaddesley Corbett track on Sunday.

Despite uncertainty over the sport retaining its current format in future years, with the recent legislation over hunting with dogs, enthusiasts have already been in action with success.

Lower Broadheath trainer Mike Hammond has already broken the ice when he sent out his Youwouldhavethat to win at the recent Weston Park meeting. This gave a welcome winner to ex-champion jockey Julian Pritchard who had been out of action following a collar-bone injury.

Hammond has 11 horses to race this season including Red Ringer "a lovely prospect" and Weiserbud, a faller at Weston Park on his last run.

Last season's national champion Upton Adven-ture, owned by Peter Corbett and trained at Eastnor by Nicky Sheppard, won eight races last season and a seasonal debut win at Larkhill on the season's first day confirmed her well-being.

"She will take a lot of beating in the local area," confirms Sheppard. "She will probably run again at the North Hereford".

Sheppard has nine horses to race this season including Lost in the Snow, owned by the local syndicate 'The Bean Club', Orient Bay and It's The Boss could also score in the future.

Shobdon trainer Steve Flook has a reputation for improving horses and this season he has two horses in Beauchamp Oracle and Guignol du Cochet who both scored impressively last season and who could make a big impression in Hunter chases this year.

"Beauchamp Oracle will take his chance in novice hunter chases this season, but his aim will be the Champion Novice Hunter chase at Stratford in May" confirmed Flook.

Guignol Du Cochet's target is the Aintree Foxhunters. "He will probably run at the next Ludlow meeting but I am very hopeful about him this year as he seems much stronger," said Flook.

Another horse with a big target is the Nick Shutts-owned Folly Pleasant, a horse the Kidderminsterbased owner bought from trainer Henrietta Knight's yard for £100,000. Connections hope he will qualify for the Cheltenham Foxhunters.

The eleven-year-old won by three lengths in the Men's Open at the Albrighton meeting with jockey Marc Barber on board. He must win two further Opens to qualify for the Festival meeting.

Local jockeys Adrian Wintle and Tim Stephenson are again sure to reward their supporters, while Stephenson has also taken over the full-time training at his Birtsmorton yard following the sad death of his father Mike last year.

Stephenson hopes to run previous winner Wind on the Common and his half brother Force Ten at Chaddesley Corbett this weekend.

"Both are well and should run well," said the Worcestershire trainer.