Secretary: Mr Anthony Palmer
Address: Holdscroft Farm, Marshwood, Bridport, DT6 5QL
T: 01297 678525
M: 07804 163118
Entries: Mrs Marie Handel
Address: Rose Cottage, Furley, Axminster, Devon, EX13 7TU
T/F: 01404 881699
M: 07831 537684
Entry Fee: £30 for a single race, £15 per additional race same horse
Entries Close: Sunday 22nd March, 8.00 pm
Races: Members - CA Conditions - 4,5,6 & 7 year old Maiden (2m4f) - Mixed Open - Restricted - Open Maiden
Henley handler Jack Barber, the season’s leading point-to-point trainer with 22 winners, holds the key to Sunday’s Cotley Mixed Open with Chapoturgeon, Benedictus and Ask The Weatherman. The former, winner of his only point-to-point at Milborne St Andrew in 2012, finished runner-up to Salsify in the 2012 Cheltenham Foxhunter, but has not appeared since finishing second to Mossey Joe in the Stratford Horse & Hound Cup 22 months ago. Benedictus is unbeaten in two Larkhill outings this season, including the Coronation Gold Cup, one of the pointing season’s four Classic races, while Ask The Weatherman has won three of his four races, suffering his only defeat at Larkhill in January after he and his conqueror, Native Pride, had pulled 30 lengths clear of their rivals. Possible opposition includes John Symes’ pair Steeltown and Chipley Park winner Parkam Jack, four-time 2014 winner Level Spirit and The Wealerdealer, a certain winner at Larkhill until unseating trainer Ian Chanin at the last. The Symes’ selection may give the Barber runner the most to do.
Ask the Weatherman and Level Spirit are among the 11 entries for the Conditions race, along with Ask The Weatherman’s stable companion Subtle Sovereign, the winner of seven of his last eight races. The short list includes Canada Coombe, Holnicote winner Carrickmines and the Banks’ potential West Midlands raider Hall Kelly, but the Barber runner will be an automatic selection.
John and Floss Symes have a strong hand in the Hunt Members race with Parkam Jack, Robin Will and 2014 winner Steeltown. Stable companions Lajidaal and Mullins Mill and Holnicote winner Rush’N’Roll complete the potential line-up.
The 10 entries for the Restricted include On Your Max, a strong finishing runner-up at Larkhill a fortnight ago. The three to choose from are two-time Godstone third Shannon Smacker, Larkhill winner Wak A Turtle and Whataknight, who was Richard Barber’s final winner at Bratton Down in June but has been absent since.
Two Maiden contests complete the six-race card. Spendajennie can take the 2m-4f contest. Ten More and Village Whispers are two to consider for the 3-mile race.
The first of six point-to-point races commences at 1.30pm, preceded by four heavy horse and cob races from 11.00am and followed at the end of the afternoon by two pony races.
The course is signposted 1 mile off the A30, 1½ miles SW of Chard (TA20 3EP). Admission is £20 per car, with a discount of £10 for a single occupant.
Hunt Members (3 ran)
CA Club Members Conditions (6 ran)
Open Maiden 456&7yo, 2m4f (6 ran)
Mixed Open (4 ran)
Restricted (5 ran)
Open Maiden (5 ran)
Two pony races concluded the afternoon’s racing, providing wins for Alfie Godfrey, 9, riding Mocking Bird (138cms) and Harriett Godfrey, 15, aboard Goldwell’s Gucci (148cms).
Will Biddick natched up a four timer at Cotley with local trainer Jack Barber providing the champion’s first three successes.
The pair led off with Ask The Weatherman who sauntered clear four out after leading throughout the Conditions race. Paul Barber, joint owner with David Martin, reported that Ask The Weatherman would contest one more race between the flags this season.
Coronation Gold Cup winner Benedictus led approaching the last for a facile success under Will, who never moved a muscle throughout the three-mile contest. Benedictus is now unbeaten in three 2015 races, including the classic Coronation Gold Cup, for enthusiastic owners Graham Cotton, Ray Barrow, Robert Trevarthen, Michael Twyford, Cyril Moate and John Irish.
Whataknight came well clear from the third last in the Restricted for an equally impressive success. Whataknight has now won twice for owners Martin Dare, John Snook and Terry Hamlin, although Terry was absent acting as chief steward at the East Cornwall’s Great Trethew meeting.
Will completed his four-timer aboard Maiden winner Trumpet Master, who was making his second appearance for owners Pete and Kathy Musgrave and trainer Teresa Clark. Trumpet Master was bought from Teresa’s brother-in-law, Michael Green, after finishing third behind Dave’s Venture – trained by Teresa – at Larkhill in February.
The same three horses turned out for the Hunt race as in 2014 and they produced the same result. John Symes’ Steeltown made all the running under Jamie Thomas to lead home Rush’N’Roll and Lajidaal by 25 lengths and a distance.
Robbie Henderson, who had arrived at Heathrow at 6.30am after watching Prince Bishop’s Dubai World Cup win, showed no sign of jetlag aboard Robin Pike’s 2m-4f Maiden winner, Morbihan. The seven-year-old made all the running and had the race in safekeeping when challenger Tempestatefloresco crashed out at the last.
The four heavy horse and cob races raised over £4,000 for the Cotley’s chosen charities, the Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance and Hospicecare.
Wessex Area Point to Point, Troakes Farm, Ford, Wiveliscombe, Taunton, Somerset, TA4 2RH
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