Joint Secretaries: Bridget Tully & Sharon Baker

Address:  Bincombe Barton, Over Stowey, Bridgwater, Somerset, TA5 1HR

T:  01278 732944

F:  01278 733059

M: 07970 781087

Entries:  Mrs F A'Brook

Address:  Venne Cottage, Upton, Taunton, Somerset, TA4 2JE

T/F:  01398 371279

E:  fabrook1@btinternet.com

Entry Fee: £30 per horse per race, £15 per additional race same horse

Entries Close:  Monday 23rd February, 12 noon

Races:  Members - 4,5,6,7 year old Maiden (2m4f) - Mixed Open - Restricted - 9 year old & over PPORA Club Members Conditions - Open Maiden

Bradley Brook and The Mythologist are the two suggestions from the 23 entries for the Quantock Staghounds Mixed Open at Cothelstone on Sunday. The former, from Nicky Martin’s in-form Withypool stable, has won four point-to-points and an Exeter Hunter Chase and showed his well being when third in a Black Forest Lodge Confined in January. The Mythologist, unbeaten in three UK point-to-points before pulling up at Larkhill when trained by owners Guy and Sophie Henderson, may make his debut for the UK’s current leading trainer Jack Barber, who achieved his first four-timer at Badbury Rings on Sunday. Bradley Brook’s Black Forest Lodge conqueror Welstonedruid, prolific ex-Northern Area star Buckstruther, Foynes Island, a good third in Buckfastleigh’s £1000 Westcountry Champion Chase Mixed Open, Minella Fifty, in contention when departing two out at Badbury Rings on Sunday, and Raffa, the first horse to win three races between the flags this season, are five more for the shortlist. Whenharrymetsally has won five of her last six races and may be the one to complete the placings behind Bradley Brook and The Mythologist.

Little Cornham will face stiff opposition if seeking a fourth consecutive Hunt race success. Black Forest Lodge and Wadebridge runner-up Iron Chancellor is the obvious danger, but course winners Golden Squirrel and Soul Native are two more to consider.

Mic’s Delight separated Welstonedruid and Bradley Brook at Black Forest Lodge, so may be the one for the Veteran’s contest. Foynes Island is among the 29 entries, along with former top hurdler Cockney Trucker – fourth behind Mic’s Delight a fortnight ago – five-time winner Dashing John and Coldharbour winner Hall Kelly. Gowran Park chase winner Harpsy Cord made a promising pointing debut at Chaddesley Corbett and may be Mic’s Delight’s strongest challenger.

Sonofaking will be the selection to complete a Nicky Martin double if turning out for the 27-entry Restricted. Golden Squirrel and Genermouse can complete the placings.

Two large entry Maiden races complete the card. Vine & Craven third Anglingforcharlie, the consistent Follow The Paint and Tom Lacey’s Maximus Meridius are three to consider in the 2m4f event, which has attracted 41 entries. Larkhill runner-up Crackacan, Chaddesley Corbett third Its My Island, Barbury runner-up Kelsey and The Mystro, placed in his two UK outings to date, are four suggestions from the 26 entries for the 3m contest.

The course lies north of Taunton off the A358, 3 miles NE of Bishops Lydeard (TA4 3DT). First race: 12.30pm. Admission: £25 per car and all occupants; £10 single occupancy.

Hunt Members (4 ran)

1. Little Cornham (IRE) (W Biddick, 10-11F); finished alone. 7min 11s. (Keith Cumings)

Open Maiden (Div 1) 456&7yo, 2m4f100y (13 ran)

1. Bishops Court (I Chanin, 5-1); 2. Road to Success (IRE) (Ben Clarke, 5-2F); 3. About Time Thomas (IRE) (S Houlihan, 10-1). 5min 52s. 8l, 8l. (Robert Chanin)

Open Maiden (Div 2) 456&7yo, 2m4f100y (13 ran)

1. Lansdowne Road (IRE) (J Newman, 8-1); 2. Darkgesture (IRE) (W Biddick, 4-1JF); 3. Looking Glass (L Muspratt, 10-1). 6min 07s. 7l, 3l. (Chloe Newman)

Mixed Open (8 ran)

1. The Mythologist (IRE) (R Henderson, 6-4F); 2. Third Chance (W Biddick, 3-1); 3. The Donserelli (Miss L Scott, 12-1). 7min 02s. 8l, dist. (Jack Barber)

Restricted (10 ran)

1. The Dapper Fox (J Veysey, 25-1); 2. Genermouse (J Newman, 8-1); 3. Driftwood Haze (B Moorcroft, 3-1). 7min 12s. 2l, ½l. (Jack Veysey)

PPORA Club Members 9yo+ (10 ran)

1. Harpsy Cord (IRE) (J Mathias, 4-6F); 2. Talab (N Lawton, 9-4); 3. Blinding Lights (IRE) (M Hampton, 5-1). 7min 15s. 4l, 8l. (Sam Butler)

Open Maiden (9 ran)

1. Petite Power (IRE) (W Biddick, 9-4); 2. Annwyl (R Henderson, 33-1); 3. Kelsey (IRE) (S Drinkwater, 4-6F). 7min 25s. 15l, 4l. (Sarah Gould)

N/A

The Mythologist returned to his best with an impressive Quantock Staghounds Mixed Open success on Sunday. The seven-year-old led after a circuit and cruised home under Robbie Henderson, who never let an inch of rein throughout the three mile contest. The Mythologist has now won four of his five UK point-to-points, suffering his only reverse when pulled up at Larkhill in January. “He bled a little and he never settled or jumped that day, but a first-time hood has helped,” said former trainer Guy Henderson, joint-owner with his wife, Sophie. “[Trainer] Jack [Barber] feels he will have the speed to cope with quicker ground but, as always, we’ll take it one race at a time.”

Will Biddick followed Saturday’s East Devon treble with a double to take his tally to 21, 12 clear of Darren Edwards in the standings. Will led off aboard Little Cornham, winner of the Hunt race for the fourth consecutive season. “He’s done it with four different riders as well and I’m pleased with the feat, but more importantly we’ve been part of a competitive hunt race contested by four good horses,” said Andy Pollard, who shares Little Cornham with Helen Stoneman and Janet Down.

Will doubled up aboard the impressive Sarah Gould-trained debutant Petite Power in the 3m Maiden. “Charles [Horton] gave me a budget to buy three horses in August and this is the first to run,” revealed Sarah. “He got into a good rhythm but could have gone a lot faster,” added Will, clearly impressed by the six-year-old. “I get the credit for six minutes work, but good for Sarah as this is the culmination of six months hard work educating and training the horse.”

Trainer Robert Chanin described Chris Tory’s Bishop’s Court as “our best maidens for a long time” after the five-year-old’s comfortable win in the first 2m-4f maiden. “And the good news is that I’ve got two half-brothers at home,” added Chris. A career under National Hunt rules with Limpley Stoke trainer Neil Mulholland could be on the cards.

Lansdowne Road made the perfect start in the second 2m-4f Maiden, although Josh Newman’s mount was still in third place when Oldedietherebel ran out at the last, carrying out closest pursuer Moontripper. “He was a show hunter eight months ago; his owner, Amanda Benson, wanted to aim at [Saturday’s] Duke of Beaufort hunt race, although that will come too soon now,” confided Woolminstone trainer Chloe Newman. “He’s still very green, but Josh feels he might have won despite the melee.”

Cullompton farrier Jack Veysey, 26, opened his account at the second attempt aboard his Ascot purchase The Dapper Fox in the Restricted. “Jack’s done hunting and team chasing, but it’s his first horse and first season and he’s almost in a state of shock,” smiled mentor Martin Sweetland, for whom Jack worked for three years.

Harpsy Cord went into many notebooks with an all-the-way success in the veterans event. “We got him from Henry de Bromhead in the summer and learned a lot when he was runner-up at Chaddesley Corbett at Christmas,” said jockey John Mathias. “He’s got a high cruising speed and while his next run will be in a point-to-point, don’t be surprised to see him contesting a Hunter Chase.”