Racing is to return to Mollington, near Banbury, in 2012 after an absence of five years.

The popular course, which first staged point-to-points in 1972, was shut in 2007 after landowner David Jeffries applied to build two extra livestock buildings on the site.

The Bicester Hunt with Whaddon Chase, Grafton Hunt and Farmers Bloodhounds, who staged their meetings there, all found alternative venues.

But now Mollington is to host the Warwickshire Hunt on Bank Holiday Monday, May 7 following the closure of their Ashorne venue.

It’s understood Jeffries ran into problems in his quest for planning permission and was keen to see racing back at Mollington, while at the same time the course at Ashorne became defunct with the land being sold.

South Midlands Area secretary Sara Moule said that Mollington’s return to the calendar was exciting news.

“We are absolutely delighted that Mollington is back,” she added.

“I remember many a happy day there, and it is a great viewing track.”

The local fixtures kick-off with the Heythrop meeting at Dunthrop, near Chipping Norton on Sunday, January 22.

LOCAL FIXTURES

Sun, Jan 22: Heythrop (Dunthrop, nr Chipping Norton). Sat, March 10: Kingston Blount Racing Club (Kingston Blount, nr Chinnor). Sat, April 7: Kimblewick (Kimble, nr Aylesbury). Mon, April 9: Old Berkshire (Lockinge, nr Wantage). Sat, April 21: Kimblewick (Kingston Blount). Mon, May 7: Warwickshire (Mollington, nr Banbury). Sat, May 12: Kimblewick (Kingston Blount). Sun, June 3: Berks & Bucks Draghounds (Kingston Blount).

PALYPSO De Creek, who represented Chipping Norton trainer Charlie Longsdon in the 2010 John Smith’s Grand National, made a winning debut between the flags for trainer-rider Claire Hart at the South Midlands Area Club meeting at Whitfield, near Brackley.