A TOTAL of 144 entries have been received for the seven races scheduled at the first Vine & Craven point-to-point fixture of 2017 on Sunday at Barbury racecourse.

Clerk of the course John White has reported that the going is currently good to soft, soft in places, with fences have been moved and the majority of the racing line on fresh ground since the last meeting.

The Mixed Open at this fixture last year was one of the most competitive of the season with 19 runners and new national sponsors Timico will be hoping for more of the same this year as their contest, a qualifier for the series final at Cheltenham on Friday, May 5, has attracted 31 entries.

Joint top-rated on pointing form are Full Trottle – already twice a winner this season – and April Hunter Chase winner Ballytober, although the former’s trainer Laura Thomas was guarded about her eight-year-olds prospects of running, saying only: “I’ve put him in and will see what the race is like. He’s got plenty of options.”

Among potential rivals are impressive Larkhill winner Caesar Milan and last year’s Cheltenham United Hunts Cup hero Cousin Pete.

The latter, a nine-year-old, will be making his seasonal reappearance and Bibury trainer Dibby Brown said: “It’s been a bit of a stop-start season with him and we’ve given him time, but he seems in really good form and he galloped after racing at Cocklebarrow recently.

"He’s much stronger this year and – although it will be harder in Opens – we’re still dreaming of the Cheltenham Foxhunters.”

Those with recent pointing form seem stronger than the ex-rules contingent and others in with a shout on their performances between the flags are Thorpe Lodge winner Warden Hill, Wild Bill who scored at Chaddesley Corbett, Get It On – who unseated when going well at the same venue – the progressive Minerfortyniner and the useful Templebraden.

Another national sponsor – who are now into their third year – are Subaru, whose 19-entry Restricted is a qualifier for their final at Stratford on Friday, June 9.

Early season contests of this nature are usually highly competitive and this race is no exception, with six horses having scored last time out.

Among them is Tim Underwood’s Cheltenham Mati, who took the Mares Maiden at the last Barbury meeting.

Sally Alner’s Apple’s Queen also comes here off the back of a recent victory, at Larkhill, while Blazing Tom, Double Cool, Humpback Bridge and The Lizard King all won their last start in the previous campaign.

Highest-rated is another one from Thomas’ local yard in the form of Very Intense, who followed up a Black Forest Lodge debut success with a close second at the same venue last time.

Two more to watch could be Titan’s Approach, who won his first start in points at Larkhill then ran well in a hot race at Chaddesley Corbett, and Peter Mason’s Silver By Design, who caught the eye at Larkhill on his return from a long absence.

Chepstow Racecourse is a new sponsor at Barbury and has been rewarded for its support of the Novice Riders race with 31 entries.

It’s quality as well as quantity, too – the opposition to Underwood's prolific winner Tempelpirate, 2014’s Leading Horse.

Another to catch the eye is Rose Loxton’s classy Join Together, a recent Chipley Park winner who will probably be ridden again by Lorcan Williams, along with Black Banjo, who will be bidding to put a disappointing run at the same venue behind him.

Barbury-based Laura Thomas has enjoyed a great start to the season and will be hopeful of another good performance from Karinga Dancer. She’s already scored twice on the 11-year-old and the pair were unlucky when carried out at Black Forest Lodge last time.

Claire Hardwick has entered three and is most likely to rely on Orange Nassau – second last time at Thorpe Lodge in the hands of Tom Britten.

Simon Gilmore is cautiously optimistic of an improved performance from Sivola De Sivola.

Just 11 have been entered for the Countryside Alliance Mares Conditions race, but possible runners include two hugely-popular mares in Popaway and Dabinett Moon, as well as the useful She’s Real, Subaru Restricted Final second Exclusive Rights and Lostin A Fog, winner of the first ever point-to-point bumper at Barbury last month.

The two-and-a-half mile Fullers Brewery Maiden for four to six year-olds is a qualifier for the Goffs Aintree bumper and 20 are entered.

Those with the best form on paper are Troed Y Melin, a fast-finishing second at Barbury in December and Emtidaad, second in January when Irish-trained and subsequently bought by Bill Hawkins to run from Julie Mansell’s yard.

Eight of the entries are newcomers, including ones from notable yards such as Francesca Nimmo (Captain Simon), Tom George (Doctor Wong), Sophie Lacey (Space Safari) and Sally Alner (Truly Spoken).

A total of 25 are entered in the three-mile Ramsbury Vodka Open Maiden.

Sophie Lacey’s newcomer Amadoue catches the eye, while Jack Barber’s Ballyjim and Caroline Keevil’s Mrs Winchester are two from top yards who are sure to improve for their debut.

The meeting closes with the seven-entry Sporting Agenda Hunt Members race and, for once, meeting chairman Richard Fuller – who took this last year with Grand Gold - doesn’t have a runner.

Daughter Page will be looking to follow-up that victory on Peeping Thom or Romantic Composer.

Tracey Bailey has three entered and looks to hold the key, with her best hopes seemingly recent Larkhill second The Gunner Brady and ex-chaser Broadway Symphony, returning from a two-year absence.

The first race is at 11.30am and entry is £10 per person.

Advance bookings online at vineandcravenhunt.co.uk/ticketing will receive a free racecard.

Visit pointtopoint.co.uk for a full list of entries for this meeting.