'Hunter chasing is the pot of gold at the end of the point-to-point rainbow'

When January comes round so do hunter chases, standing out in racecards and as effective a harbinger of the coming spring as the snowdrops that dot grass verges at the same time. Hunter chases are a race apart, a snapshot of a parallel universe populated by hugely enthusiastic amateur riders and old favourites from the professional ranks.

The natural extension of the point-to-point sphere, hunter chases occupy a position in the sport that descends from its very origins, that has influenced jump racing considerably down the years. Many high-class horses and big-race winners have emerged from the world of hunter chasing, from the grassroots of the sport, and its health is connected with the wellbeing of jump racing on a broader level.

The accompanying table shows that field sizes have diminished slightly over the last decade, which may be cause for concern should the numbers continue to fall, but there is nothing diminished about the affection and enthusiasm its practitioners have for hunter chasing. The big days at Cheltenham and Aintree win the greatest share of attention, but there is much to appreciate and enjoy between January and June outside the main arenas.