Steeplechasing began in Ireland in 1752. Today the sport of point to pointing is thriving as a favourite rural pursuit and is for many their first experience of horse racing.

At hundreds of pop-up races around the country dramas are played out, and horses, such as Best Mate and Honeysuckle, and riders, including Derek O'Connor, Jamie Codd, Davy Russell and Rachael Blackmore, begin their glittering careers.

Read about the orgins of Point to Point, the courses countrywide, the horses, the riders, the handlers and the grassroots of Irish racing.