Cothelstone Preview Wednesday 12th May
The final meeting of the Wessex Area Point to Point season takes place at Cothelstone on Wednesday when the Weston & Banwell hold their traditional evening meeting. Always well supported, it has attracted 133 entries and although owners are allowed, the public are still not able to attend. First race is at 4.30pm
Pony Racing sponsored by Brean Leisure Centre precedes the evening racing with jockeys of the future honing their skills before a Conditions race kicks off the main racing with an entry of 16. Trainer Chris Barber had planned to finish Famous Clermont for the season after his facile win here last time but the recent rain could have prompted a rethink. Moscow Prices too won at the course last time out and has an excellent record left handed under trainer/jockey Lucy Mager. Lucy also has Prince of Poets. First time cheek-pieces may have helped The Last But One take the Open at Trebudannon last time when he won by 15 lengths from Master Baker. Sam Loxton has Copain de Classe entered who was formerly useful for Paul Nicholls. He had a long break from racing before returning in a Ludlow Hunter Chase and may be best watched. Thumb Stone Blues won a Conditions race here for Byron Moorcroft in 2020. Now with James King, he has won his last three races and should be respected. Country Legend was scoring for the fourth time in 2019 when winning here. She hasn’t recaptured that form yet but could run well.
There are 27 in the shorter Maiden for younger horses and Francesca Nimmo has Hope des Blins, a French bred 4 year old filly who ran a nice race on debut when 3rd at Dingley. Will Biddick trains Lassue for father-in-law, Rupert Nuttall. This mare by Geordieland ran a race full of promise when 2nd here in April and could go one better. Neil Maclean has a once raced 4 year old entered in Park This One as well as Evron who ran a promising race at Trebudannon on his pointing debut and should improve. Alan Hill has acquired Le Grand Fromage, a full-brother to Ballyandy, from Tom Lacey and he has placed form under Rules.
Briarwood Products sponsor the Novice Riders Race and among the 15 entries is Diplomate Sivola, a winner of his last two races for trainer Alan Hill. The horse has several entries this week but would be fancied if coming here as would More Buck’s for the shrewd Mickey Bowen yard. Tom Malone may well choose this easier race for The Last But One under the promising Conor Houlihan. Others who could run well include Polo The Mumm who was running a good race before ducking out at the second last and unseating his jockey at Flete Park.
The Skinner’s Ladies Open is co-sponsored by The Clifton Club and has attracted 17 entries. The extremely classy Virak could be hard to beat if appearing here but holds several entries while Old Guard enjoyed his drop into pointing when winning a Conditions race nicely from Robin des People at Mollington in April. Old Guard had some serious form under Rules including a G2 hurdle win and it could turn out to be a fascinating clash between the two former stablemates. Zamparelli won a hunter chase cosily at Ludlow in March before falling at Cheltenham and could run into a place. Uppertown Hawk has won three times here but hasn’t run for two years while his stablemate Shometheway has run creditably this season bagging the runner-up spot twice. Purple ‘n Gold won five times in 2019 including two here, beating Moscow Prices (could re-oppose) on the second occasion.
The Maxwell Chartered Accountants Men’s Open has 15 entries with several already mentioned and it will be interesting to see which horses go where. Chameron won a hunter chase at Leicester in February beating the subsequent Aintree Foxhunters winner, Cousin Pascal. He then ran at Cheltenham and Exeter but jumped poorly on both occasions. If trainer Sam Loxton has managed to address this issue, he would be interesting. Luke Price has Los Alamos entered who opened his account when winning the Men’s Open at Trebudannon in April. The enigmatic Dom Bersy won here in a canter in 2019 but has since become temperamental. If his trainer has managed to sweeten him up, he has plenty of ability. Fifty Shades gave his young pilot, Daniel Ellis a nice win here in April before finishing third at Cheltenham. He should run well again.
The 18 entries in the Beachcomber Inn, Brean Restricted Race include Florrie Webb who won a Members race here in April easily under Will Biddick from Mixboy and should progress. Another entered who won that day is Clever des Assence who took the first division of the maiden. Man of Means was only beaten a length by For Rita at Aldington while Lucky Lucarno may have surprised under a canny ride by Tommie O’Brien when winning at Flete Park at the beginning of the month.
Junction 24 & Thorne Farm sponsor the finale, a Maiden Conditions race which has attracted 26. Of those Francesca Nimmo’s Hands Face Space should not be underestimated on his bare form. Luke Price’s Aracaras may have done too much at Flete Park when fading into 3rd. Henry’s Regime was third here last time and has placed form under Rules as does Teresa Clark’s Jasmin des Bordes. He finished second behind the useful Maitree Express on his pointing debut in December and should come on plenty for that run while Spring Break was 2nd last time for Will Biddick at Larkhill and has placed form here. Borrowed An Blue was 3rd last time and Businessman is another who could improve on his placed form.
