Secretary: Katherine Cooke

Address:  Brook Farm, Bath Road, Upper Langford, Bristol, BS40 5DN

T: 01934 853330 (No Fax)

Entries:  Mrs Lucy Kenny

Address:  Headweir House, Wick, Stogursey, Bridgwater, Somerset, TA5 1TL

T:  01278 653367

F: 01278 588084

E:  dwkenny.murphy@btopenworld.com

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

Entries Close:  Sunday 17th May 2015, 8.00 pm

Races:  Members - 4,5,6 & 7 year old Maiden (2m4f) - Open Maiden - Mixed Open -  PPORA Novice Riders - Restricted

Posh Totty and Cock Of The Rock are fancied to fight out the finish of the West Somerset Vale Mixed Open at Cothelstone on Sunday. The former has finished first and second in 15 of her 20 races between the flags to date, including providing two of Will Biddick’s record 61 successes this season, while Cock Of The Rock is joint leader in the 2015 National Leading Horse Award standings after taking his unbeaten sequence to six at Upper Sapey on Saturday. Other contenders include the Teresa Clark-trained Bathwick Scanno – another to provide Will Biddick with a brace of victories this season – the enigmatic Robin Will and Posh Totty’s stable companion Kostaquarta. Ed Walker has a strong hand with Fiulin, who finished strongly when runner-up at Bratton Down on Sunday and dual Flete Park-winner Level Spirit, and his chosen runner can complete the placings.

Cock Of The Rock is among the 14 entries for the Novice Riders’ race and will be an automatic selection if connections take up the option. Presentandcorrect is a major candidate on his Weston & Banwell-winning form along with Le Clo De La Londe who returned to winning ways at Trebudannon. Itsonlyalfie, Vertige Dore and Tiermore will be supported, but the danger is Coeur De Fou who provided Noel George, 16-year-old son of licensed trainer Tom George with an initial success at Chaddesley Corbett and is likely to be suited to the sharp Cothelstone track.

Holnicote winner HMS Intrepid can follow up in the Restricted race, which has attracted 14 entries. Earthpower, who has proved expensive to follow since winning at Bishops Court in February, Golden Squirell, a good runner-up at Bratton Down on Sunday and Vauterhill third Templeton may be the three to fight out the placings.

Bathwick Scanno will be a confident selection if connections target the Hunt race. His stable companion Redlynch Rock and Littlewindsor winner Knight Blaze look the biggest dangers.

The 2m4f and 3m Maiden races look challenging, with 15 and 18 entries respectively. Course runner-up Amber River, Another Coalition and Mystery Edition, who has finished third in two of his three races to date, are three possibles for the shorter contest. A Real Cliche, Kilcolman Wizard and Nothing Personal are three sporting suggestions for the longer event.

Pony racing commences at 1.00pm, followed by the first of six point-to-point races from 2pm.

The course is off the A358, north of Taunton and 3 miles NE of Bishops Lydeard (TA4 3DT). Admission is £25 per car, £10 for sole occupancy, £5 pedestrians. Racegoers can look forward to having a flutter, courtesy of the West of England Bookmakers, with a free £3 bet on presentation of their racecard.

Hunt Members (3 ran)

1. Bathwick Scanno (IRE) (W Biddick, 1-7F); 2. Knight Blaze (N Lawton, 3-1); 3. Dandooley (D Edwards, 8-1). 6min 97s. 7l, dist. (Teresa Clark)

Open Maiden 456&7yo, 2m4f100y (5 ran)

1. Ernest Speak (IRE) (M Woodward, 5-2); 2. Four Plus (Philip Thomas, 6-1); only two finished. 5min 21s. 8l. (Emma Oliver)

Open Maiden (7 ran)

1. A Real Cliche (IRE) (W Biddick, 2-1); 2. Kilcolman Wizard (IRE) (M Hampton, 6-4F); only two finished. 6min 06s. Dist. (Michael Weir)

Mixed Open (5 ran)

1. Kostaquarta (IRE) (W Biddick, 4-5F); 2. Theatre Evening (IRE) (T Bishop, 11-4); 3. Glenwood Present (IRE) (J Newman, 7-2). Dist, 2l. 6min 02s. (Jack Barber)

PPORA Club Members (Nov Rdrs) (6 ran)

1. Presentandcorrect (IRE) (James King, 1-2F); 2. Vertige Dore (FR) (Miss E Pickard, 5-1); 3. Lajdaal (USA) (D Andrews, 14-1). 6min 07s. 20l, ½l. (Tim Sage)

Restricted (7 ran)

1. Golden Squirell (IRE) (Robert Hawker, evensF); 2. Templeton (IRE) (Jamie Thomas, 7-1); 3. Cider ‘N’ Black (D Noonan, 25-1). 6min 05s. 8l, 1l. (Charlotte Budd)

he three pony races were won by Finn Muirhead riding Jobanker Morning Mist (138cms Div 1), Hamish Clark with Talponciau Perfect Print (138cms Div 2) and William Cox aboard Two The Manor Born.

Will Biddick extended his record seasonal tally to 64 with a Cothelstone treble on Sunday. Bathwick Scanno (Hunt race), A Real Cliché (3-mile Maiden) and Kostaquarta (Mixed Open) provided the champion-elect’s three successes.

The former made all in his now customary style for a seven length win. “He’s my hunting pet and I’m so pleased to have won the race,” beamed delighted local trainer, Teresa Clark.

The well-hunted A Real Cliche – the eight-year-old was out for 40 days last season – cruised home by a distance to provide a popular success for his owner-trainer, West Somerset Vale master, Mike Weir. The eight-year-old, who had returned from a three year absence to finish third at Flete Park, led at the third last from pacesetter Kilcolman Wizard, who jumped right for much of the contest. “I bought him for £720 at Ascot in July 2013, but he missed last season after sustaining an overreach on the final day of the hunting season, hence the layoff,” said Mike.

Kostaquarta added a Mixed Open race victory to his CV with another bold front-running display. The eight-year-old goes into summer quarters after winning three of his last four races. The win took trainer Jack Barber onto the 48-winner mark, seven behind his grandfather Richard’s best-ever score.

Hennock Primary School head teacher Nicky Dunford opened her account – with her first horse – when the Emma Oliver-trained Ernest Speak was left clear by Amber River’s final fence fall in the 2m-4f Maiden. “My daughter attends the school and our string goes past every day – that made the connection,” explained Emma.

Tim and Irene Sage’s Presentandcorrect recorded his 15^th career success under regular rider James King in the Novice Riders’ race. “I saw James out hunting as a 12-year-old, noted him as a keen lad and decided then that I would use him as a jockey one day,” said Tim, who has provided four of James’ career successes.

Charlotte Budd took time off from her catering business to saddle Restricted winner Golden Squirell. Patiently ridden by Robert Hawker, Golden Squirell forged clear of his six rivals in the straight. “I set up a wedding reception at Lydeard St Lawrence yesterday and I’m off to clear up now,” smiled Charlotte. Golden Squirell, who will not enter his horsebox unless a stable companion is there to provide company, had been placed in five of his eight outings since opening his account at Cothelstone 12 months ago, so was not winning out of turn.

The three pony races were won by Finn Muirhead riding Jobanker Morning Mist (138cms Div 1), Hamish Clark with Talponciau Perfect Print (138cms Div 2) and William Cox aboard Two The Manor Born.