Under starters' orders for Saturday!

The 2022/23 pointing season kick-starts at Knightwick in Worcestershire on Saturday and the opening meeting, with a first race start time of midday, has attracted 46 entries in total featuring one or two familiar names among those who could potentially line up.

Cheshire-based trainer Joe O'Shea was quick off the blocks last season and it appears he is keen to repeat the dose this time around. He could send a raiding party of four horses south and the prolific scorer, Envious Editor, may spearhead the way in the Mixed Open with Henry Crow booked to take the ride.

The 8-year-old signed off last term with victory in a Cartmel hunter chase and prior to that outing had finished a good second behind Envoye Special at the Cheltenham hunter meeting as well as winning in fetching style at the likes of Sandon and Bitterley

He appears the class act on show on Saturday where good ground and the sharp nature of the course back at this level will surely play to his strengths as he is a horse with plenty of speed when it comes to the business end of races.

O'Shea could also be represented by Willewonga in the Conditions race for Novice Riders with the promising Amber Jackson-Fennell down to take the ride, along with Time Leader in the Conditions race and Legostar, who is entered in the Maiden for 6-y-o and upwards.

Both horses will be making their racecourse debuts for O'Shea with reigning champion point-to-point rider James King due to partner the ex-Tom Lacey inmate Time Leader and Legostar, formerly trained In Ireland, to be partnered by the aforementioned Henry Crow.

O'Shea has a canny knack of improving horses coming into his care and it would be no surprise to see Time Leader and Legostar, a maiden in Ireland, leave their previous exploits well behind and land a few nice prizes throughout the coming months.

Bradley Gibbs is no stranger to the winner's enclosure both as a rider and also these days as a trainer and Keaden Hill is obviously one to note in the Restricted where he is set to face a maximum of six rivals.

Gibbs' charge landed some decent bets for his supporters at Milborne St Andrew last March where he was sent off 4-6 favourite and never in any real danger after jumping well before readily stretching clear of his rivals over the 2m 4f trip for a clear cut call.

On his previous outing last spring at Kingston Blount, the 5-year-old appeared to have stamina limitations at 3m when collared close home after looking all over the winner, so this tighter circuit should significantly help his cause.

The Tattersalls Cheltenham Maiden has attracted only four entries and it looks a good opportunity for Sleek'N'Chic to make a winning British debut after being bought at the sales by Gibbs last May.

Leading point-to-point bookie Mark Hill has priced up the gentleman riders' championship for this season and he bets as follows-

7-4 James King

9-4 Bradley Gibbs

3-1 Jack Andrews

4-1 Will Biddick

20-1 Bar

Hill commented: “It’s going to be a hard fought race but I make James favourite and I think he will be hard to beat again as he tries to secure a third consecutive title."

The bookmaker will be standing at Knightwick on Saturday and can be contacted on 07831 293363 or via his website markhillracing.com.