Secretary: Valerie Kemp

Address:  Broadhayes Farm, Stockland, Honiton, Devon, EX14 9EL

T:  01404 881353

M: 07974 808318

E: rmkemp@btinternet.com

Entries:  Mrs Fiona Walker

Address:  Greenway Farm, North Newton, Bridgwater, Somerset, TA7 0DB

T/F:  01278 663801

E:  fionajwalker@live.co.uk

Entry Fee: £30 per horse per race, £10 per additional entry same horse

or enter online at: www.pointtopoint.co.uk

Entries Close:  Monday 21st March 2015, 12 noon

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

The ever popular Bank Holiday fixture of the Taunton Vale Foxhounds & Harriers, has been transferred from its regular venue, Kingston St Mary, to the adjacent Cothelstone merely 3 miles away. A second meeting for the course, it is sure to draw a large crowd for the Easter break.

The day kicks off with the Joint Hunts Members Race with a good entry of 13. Likely favourite Applesolutely is one of two for Ces Mitford-Slade. Still only a 5yo, she has done nothing wrong in three starts so far winning twice including last time out in a Restricted at Wadebridge in December beating subsequent winners Sutton Storm and Northgeorge. The second of the Mitford-Slade horses is the more experienced Imperial Circus. This former winner at the Grafton has four placings to his name this season and could run well again. Amber River fell here last time in May when favourite following a course second the time before. Fountains Cider was a fair second to the promising Road To Success here at the last meeting for Teresa Clark.

In the 2.5 mile Maiden the newly formed Culverwell’s Racing Club has two entries including Marguerite St Just who showed up well for a long way at the Quantock meeting. The club, whose horses are trained by Teresa Clark, is run by commentator Nick Child. Southfield Fairy has a couple of fair 3rds to her name and this mare who likes to be prominent may take some pegging back on the quicker surface.

Bathwick Scanno holds entries in both the Conditions Race and Mixed Open. He ran well for a long way here on his seasonal debut last time out before pulling up and may appreciate a less tacky surface. Crackacan ran a fine race in defeat only going down by a neck here last time. This was his first run for nearly 10 months and he can improve. Kernel Victor from the Ed Walker stable hasn’t been out of the first two in six runs, however this son of Old Vic may prefer a softer surface. Sea Bear made all with some fine jumping to win last time at Buckfastleigh. This horse, who is a former Restricted winner at the track, is the selection if choosing this race over his other entry in the Mixed Open. John Pearn’s Commanche Conflict won his Intermediate well last time out at Black Forest Lodge under Sean Houlihan with Paddycards well held in 3^rd. He could be the danger to Sea Bear.

Ed Walker fields two entries for the Connolly’s Red Mills Intermediate in The Flying Doc and Doyen Dynamo. They met on their racecourse debuts with the mare The Flying Doc getting the better of her stable companion by 3.5 lengths. Both hold alternative entries elsewhere but either would be interesting should they compete. Carrig Dubh held on well last time at Didmarton but this son of Rock Hopper may prefer a softer surface.

The Mixed Open has an entry of 17 with many entered elsewhere on the card. Former Evan Williams inmate, Tin Pot Man looks the pick of these. This 4 time winner under rules appears to handle any ground and has a Men’s Open at Hackwood Park already in the bag this year. Former Exeter Hunter Chase winner, The Wealerdealer is the obvious danger. An early faller at Taunton in February, he was well held when falling again last time at Kingston Blount. A clear round could put him bang there. Consistent Steeltown could fill the places.

Entered in the Intermediate, Creative Inerta created a good impression when winning easily at Black Forest Lodge in January under Ben Clarke for trainer Harriet Brown. He then fell when in with every chance at Barbury Castle before a 2^nd last time to the promising Itchymei'mscratch back at Black Forest Lodge. It may pay to stick with him however. Guerrilla Tactics has just the one run to his name but it was a winning one at Badbury Rings and in beating subsequent Cothelstone winner, Road To Success, this Camilla Scott trained Presenting gelding looks to have a bright future. The Lizard King stayed on well to beat newcomer Dewi’s Mate at the last Cothelstone meeting and could be of interest. Porlock Bay owned and trained by racing pundit Luke Harvey, won his maiden easily at Hackwood Park last season. He was then unlucky to bump into the Waley-Cohen hotpot, Mr Simpkins on his reappearance at Larkhill before fading into 4^th last time out again at Larkhill after racing prominently. He could be forgiven this run and his presence adds to an already fascinating contest.

The finale sees 23 entries for the Open Maiden. Looking Glass was in the process of running a good race at Black Forest Lodge when running out 2 from home. Made favourite next time at Buckfastleigh she was again in the lead until coming down 3 out. If she can get her jumping together, she would be a clear choice following some good placings at Wadebridge earlier in the season. Teresa Clark has several in this, including Our Chief. He started favourite for the second division of the Open Maiden here last time, running with promise before pulling up 2 out. He could be worth another look.

Rainbow Stripes would also be of interest if turning out again quickly after his excellent 2^nd to Rakasba at Millborne St Andrew last week, as would The Editor who departed at the first at Ston Easton.

Racing starts at 1.30pm, followed by pony racing afterwards. Dogs welcome on leads. The course is N of Taunton, 3m NE of Bishops Lydeard off the A358 (TA4 3DT).

Hunts Members (4 ran)

1 Imperial Circus 1/2 N Lawton; 2 Fountains Cider 5/2 M McIntyre; only two finished. 6mins 54s. 5l. (Richard Mitford-Slade)

Open Maiden 45&6yo 2m4f (9 ran)

1 Wild Murphy 14/1 L Drowne; 2 Ruby Fool 7/2 S Houlihan; 3 Wy Worry 10/1 Rex Dingle. 5mins 54s. Nk, 1½l. (Ian Chanin)

WAPP Club Members (4 ran)

1 Kernel Victor 1/3 J Newman; 2 Bathwick Scanno 100/30 M McIntyre; 3 Tres Bien 8/1 Miss N Dickenson. 6mins 59s. 18l, 15l. (Ed Walker)

Intermediate (3 ran)

1 Alright John 4/1 N Lawton; 2 Applesolutely 4/6 S Houlihan; 3 Paddycards 5/4 M McIntyre. 6mins 55s. 1l, 9l. (Janet Ackner)

Mixed Open (9 ran)

1 Steeltown 5/2 Jamie Thomas; 2 The Wealerdealer 2/1 M Legg; 3 Louis Pasteur 7/1 R Withey. 6mins 48s. 16l, 5l. (Kayley Woollacott)

Restricted (7 ran)

1 Crackacan 6/4 D Edwards; 2 Creative Inertia evens Ben Clarke; 3 Askers Lad 8/1 M Legg. 7mins 03s. Nk, 15l. (Julie Pocock)

Open Maiden (10 ran)

1 Looking Glass 5/4 M Legg; 2 Morpet 12/1 Robert Hawker; 3 Village Whispers 14/1 Miss C Emsley. 7mins 12s. 5l, 10l. (Ben Clarke)

Despite the weather warnings, a healthy crowd supported the meeting, which kicked off with three pony races. Freddie Gingell riding Wee Anthony took the first division of the 138cms, while Elena Nikou and Dutchess claimed the second. Ben Godfrey, who is sponsored by Race Tech, took the race for the larger ponies riding Calypso.

The anticipated fall-out from Storm Katie turned the ground at Cothelstone to a tacky good to soft for the second meeting at the course hosted by jointly the Taunton Vale Harriers and Foxhounds. Moved from its regular venue down the road at Fennington, the course had been put back into shape by joint Clerks of the Course Ces Mitford-Slade and Alan Walter and it was the former who kicked off proceedings in the Hunt Members with a popular winner in the form of Imperial Circus. This very consistent gelding was getting a much deserved confidence boost after several good runs this season and although Fountains Cider tried to make a race of it from the open ditch, the odds-on favourite ran on well to win by five lengths under Nick Lawton. Owned by The Clown Club, the plan is to keep him to pointing, with a return to Flete Park looking likely.

Nick Lawton was back in the winner’s enclosure again later in the day aboard Alright John for Janet Ackner. In a three-runner affair for the Connolly’s Red Mills Intermediate, Lawton brought the outsider of the field with a well-timed run to surprise a tiring odds-on favourite in Applesolutely. It was a welcome result for the Ackner stable after a sad time at Kilworthy.

Nine went to post for the Mixed Open sponsored by Mitchell’s Accountants and saw the consistent Steeltown rewarded with a 16 length win under Jamie Thomas. Looking superb in the paddock, this former 135 rated Irish chaser, relished the uncontested lead on the sticky ground and with favourite The Wealerdealer making several mistakes, he ran out a comfortable winner to the delight of connections. He is also credited with being the only horse in the Woollacott yard considered safe enough to be the trainer’s ride while pregnant!

A similar sized field went to post for the Jackson Stops 2½ mile Maiden and three came to the last with a fighting chance. At the winning post it was 14-1 shot Wild Murphy who just held a fast finishing Ruby Fool with Wy Worry a close 3^rd. The winner, a lovely five-year-old by Winged Love, had always shown plenty at home according to trainer, Ian Chanin. Chanin drafted in brother Tom to school the horse after injuring his shoulder, but decided to stay loyal to booked jockey Lee Drowne, even after Tom became available after the loss of Trebudannon. Chanin thought the horse may go for a point-to-point bumper and clearly holds the horse in high regard.

The Ken Coles Conditions Race went to Kernel Victor, who put the race to bed a long way out, recording an 18 length victory under Josh Newman. Trainer, Ed Walker explained he had had a hard race last time out, so this would be a boost for the horse. There was a possibility he may go for a race next weekend, with one of the Intermediate finals at Cheltenham or Exeter being a goal. It was a welcome tonic for part-owner Evelyn Targett, who had lost her husband recently.

Crackacan was a popular winner of the Savills Restricted Race under Darren Edwards for trainer Julie Pocock. A neck second here on his seasonal debut, Crackacan held off a strong challenge from even money favourite, Creative Inerta. Darren Edwards felt he got lonely in front and was looking about a bit after he took up the running at the open ditch. Askers Lad was 15 lengths back in 3^rd.

The final race for all aged Maidens saw 10 runners and was sponsored by Fennington Fibres. Looking Glass was made favourite on the strength of her recent form, despite fluffing her lines the last twice. However, this daughter of Westerner shows no signs of doing so and ran out a comfortable five length winner from Morpet and Village Whispers under Michael Legg for trainer Ben Clarke. Clarke explained that she was slightly quirky but had loads of ability and he was delighted to get a win on the board with her. He had decided to leave off the cheek pieces she had formerly worn so she wasn’t so keen and coupled with front running tactics, the mare rewarded his decision.

Despite the weather warnings, a healthy crowd supported the meeting, which kicked off with three pony races. Freddie Gingell riding Wee Anthony took the first division of the 138cms, while Elena Nikou and Dutchess claimed the second. Ben Godfrey, who is sponsored by Race Tech, took the race for the larger ponies riding Calypso.