SCOTLAND'S first point-to-point of the season comes under orders on Sunday (January 27) when the Jedforest stages its 2013 meeting the first of the Northern Area, writes Hilary Mactaggart.

Arctic conditions forced the abandonment of last year's fixture, and this week's heavy snowfall hasn't helped plans, but organisers are battling the elements in the hope racing can go ahead as scheduled.

After one of the wettest spells on record, the Kelso track was moved in places to avoid lying water, and as we went to press on Wednesday had a 4.5 ins covering of snow, which course manager Jamie Innes reports has acted as a "blanket.

"The ground underneath is amazingly good," he enthused.

"The snow has prevented it freezing, and I'd describe it as soft underneath," he added.

As we went to press, the organisers were due to hold an inpection on Thursday morning and if cancelled they hope to reschedule to February 2.

A new website – www.friarshaughraces.co.uk – features regular going updates and information on the course's three meetings, while the Northern Area website – www.northernp2p.co.uk – and Talking Point provide up-to-the minute prospects for the entire season.

With a frozen track forcing the abandonment of last weekend's West Percy fixture – which plans to re-run on Sunday, February 3.

A seven-race card gets underway at 12.30pm with the Hunt members race, and the meeting also hosts a Dodson and Horrell PPORA novice riders' race – a qualifier for the series final at Tabley on May 19.

The ladies open race qualifies for the championship final hunter chase at Stratford on June 7, and there are also valuable points on offer for the series final in the Jockey Club PPORA mares maiden race.

The Jedforest is one of only two meetings in the north – the Percy on Feb 17 hosting the second – to be allocated a qualifier for a new mini men's open race series.

The first three horses past the post in the Bonhams men's open will be eligible for the final at the hunter chase evening on Wednesday, May 1 at Cheltenham Racecourse. Any winner of a men's open race throughout the season will also qualify.

A new venture this year is the concluding maiden race for sponsored horses. Devised by the Point-to-Point Authority and administrated through Weatherbys, the scheme enables point-to-point horses to be sponsored for any amount between £300 and £950 for the duration of one season.

Businesses that sponsor a point-to-pointer not only enjoy exposure for their company in the racecard and on paddock sheets/grooms' jackets, but monies spent by businesses on horse sponsorship are a legitimate tax deductible business expense.

February begins with the Dumfriesshire and Stewartry fixture, now run at Willie Young's Overton Farm home at Crossford, on Sunday 10, while the Percy stages the month's only other northern meeting a week later at Alnwick's Ratcheugh farm.

Ratcheugh farm is also the venue for the College Valley and North Northumberland point-to-point on Sunday, March 10, while Downhills at Corbridge hosts the Tynedale meeting the previous week on March 3, and the Braes of Derwent fixture the following month on Sunday, April 21.

Three point-to-points are held at Kelso's Friars Haugh course – the second being the host Duke of Buccleuch's meeting on Saturday, March 16, and concluding a fortnight later with the Berwickshire on Saturday, March 30.

The previous weekend, racing returns to Overton Farm for the Lanarkshire and Renfrewshire and Eglinton meeting on Saturday, March 23.

Easter Monday, April 1, is the sole meeting held at Holm Hill Parks, Dalston, when the Cumberland Farmers Foxhounds hold their popular fixture.

Five days later, all roads lead to Tranwell for the Morpeth Hunt meeting on Saturday, April 6.

The concluding April meeting is the Fife point-to-point on Saturday 27, held at Balcormo Mains, home of former Northern Area chairman Sir John Gilmour, the fixture secretary.

Northern Area secretary Tony Hogarth works tirelessly throughout the year promoting point-to-point racing, and his Mosshouses base, near Galashiels, is home to the Lauderdale meeting on Sunday May 5.

The following Saturday, May 11, it's off to Heathfield at Aspatria for the Cumberland meeting.

Hexham racecourse hosts the final two fixtures in the northern area – the Haydon on Sunday May 19, followed by the concluding Border meeting on Saturday May 25.

Pony racing continues to provide a valuable stepping stone for prospective jockeys, with the Tynedale meeting on March 3 hosting the first of five in the northern area.

There is also pony racing at the Lanarkshire and Renfrewshire and Eglinton fixture, and the Morpeth, the Lauderdale, and the Haydon.

Former champion NH jockey Peter Scudamore continues to provide valuable assistance and encouragement to a number of point-to-point riders with Lucinda Russell's Milnathort stable the base for a number of this term's jockeys, including Rachael McDonald, Hamish McNeill, Jamie Lyttle and Nick Orpwood.

Last season's leading novice rider, Blair Campbell has left his native Hawick to join the Fife yard of Nick Alexander, whose son Kit had a successful year last term.

Hawick jockey Jamie Hamilton, has gained valuable experience with Richard Fahey, and has made an early start to his point-to-point campaign, riding at Cottenham in November/December.

A number of last season's riders have now turned professional – Steven Fox, Craig Nichol, Dale Irving, Sam Drake, and John Dawson.

Regulations for this term include confirmation by the British Horseracing Association (BHA) that there will be no ban on tubed horses in point-to-point racing during the 2012/13 season.

The BHA and Point-to-Point Authority have implemented a new regulation regarding the eligibility of horses. The main change is when a horse has to be out of a licensed or permit trainer's yard. In previous seasons, the deadline for this was October 31, but now a proposed point-to-point runner must be out of a licensed / permit trainer's yard no later than 60 days before the registration of the Hunter Certificate.