Point-to-point: Gaye Trigger primed to shoot Green clear of rival in riders' championship

Rachel Green, currently leading Claire Allen by 23 to 19 in the race for the women's championship, can consolidate her lead on Gaye Trigger in the mixed open (1.35) at Bratton Down, today's only fixture.

Richard Barber, who trains Gaye Trigger, won the race last year with Caspers Case and the former looks to have more potential as he is unbeaten in all three starts in this, his first season.

Brought along steadily, he won two minor events before just holding off The Big Breakfast by a head in a competitive event at the Berkeley last month. The form of that meeting usually works out well and West Country-based Green is in a strong position to take the title back to her area for the first time since Polly Curling in 1995 as seven of the remaining 15 fixtures after tomorrow are in Devon or Somerset.

Bratton Down could again present the unusual spectacle of father and son competing on the same card. Oliver Carter's Early Edition, who is entered in the mixed open, sired his stablemate Gone Missing before he was gelded and the latter is engaged in the first division of the maiden (2.10). The pair ran at the meeting held on Carter's land near Ottery St Mary in March when Gone Missing did better than dad, who pulled up in the ladies' open, by finishing second in the maiden.

Another rarity, soft ground, should reappear at tomorrow's Gelligaer Farmers fixture at Rhydygwern, near Newport, where the going was reported good to soft yesterday with plenty of rain expected.

Conditions, therefore, should suit English raider Thompsons Wood in the mixed open (3.10). He looked one to follow when beating subsequent hunter-chase winner Lord Bush in a four second faster time than the ladies' race at Eyton-on- Severn in March, but was unable to act on the fast ground when a disappointing favourite at Mollington.

* The Lamerton meeting at Kilworthy in Devon which was postponed in March and then rearranged for Wednesday, 7 June at Upcott Cross, near Okehampton, will start at 5.45pm.

FIXTURES: TODAY: Dulverton West at Bratton Down. (First race 1.0). Alongside A399, 11m N of South Molton, 3m S of Blackmoor Gate. TOMORROW: Border at Hexham. (2.0). On NH course, 1m SW of town between B6305 and B6306. Clifton-on-Teme at Upper Sapey. (2.0). At Wolferlow; 6m N of Bromyard nr B4203; 15m W of exits 5 and 6; M5). Gelligaer Farmers at Rhydygwern. (2.0). 4m W of Newport on A468 at Lower Machen; exit 28, M4. WEDNESDAY, 26 May: 14th Regiment Royal Artillery at Larkhill. (5.0). 5m NW of Amesbury; 10m N of Salisbury; near A303, A345 & A360. South Pool Harriers at Buckfastleigh, Devon. (5.30). 1m W of town on old NH course; alongside A38, Use junction for Lower Dean; returning eastbound traffic must travel through outskirts and use the A384 junction east of town.