Spring finally looks to have arrived bringing warmer weather and better ground and the popular Cotley Point to Point held near Chard on Sunday looks to have attracted some nice types among the 105 entries. A gamble by organisers introducing a new race in the form of a 2.5 mile Ladies Open looks to have paid off with 15 at the entry stage. Sponsored by Carter Jonas, entries include the admirable Posh Totty from the Jack Barber stable who is a dual Ladies Open winner this season. The mare has really gelled with Cheltenham Foxhunter winning jockey, Bryony Frost and despite not being able to reel in useful rival Ni Sin E Mo Ainm last time at Charlton Hawthorne, she may revel in the quicker ground once more. Martin Weston has the interesting 4 time NH winner, Cut the Corner who was just touched off on his point to point debut at Hackwood Park 2 weeks ago. The Kayley Woollacott trained Parkham Jack, looked to enjoy dropping back to this trip last time at Black Forest Lodge when easily accounting for favourite, Rockinrolldixie and he also has a hunter chase win at Wincanton over 2m4f to his name and another at Newton Abbot over 2m5f while stablemate, Too Scoops may also be one to note. A Listed winner over hurdles for Henry de Bromhead, he was a fair 6^th in the Galway Hurdle and despite 2 ordinary runs for the yard this season, may be another to benefit from the race and ground conditions. Chloe Roddick has a useful recruit in Polisky (also entered in the Men’s Open). Formerly with Paul Nicholls, he won a Hunter Chase at Ascot last season under Bryony Frost while Template won twice over hurdles for Harry Fry and makes his point to point debut for Bob and Marilyn Bracher. 

The meeting commences with a well-supported Restricted race sponsored by Barleymow's Farm Shop and Restaurant with 22 entries. Air Glider heads the list and his trainer Dean Summersby has a highly impressive 64% strike rate this season having had 9 winners. Come on Joey had been improving with every run until pulling up last time in heavy ground at Wadebridge behind Air Glider having won there the time before. A winner under Will Biddick at Black Forest Lodge last season, Bruton looked in need of his run last time out at Cothelstone and should strip fitter for owner/trainer Fiona Read. Cloudy Lady ran well to finish second in the same race and is another who should be considered. Pauls Conn, Culverwell, Just Imagine It and Anwyl all met at Bishops Court last time with Pauls Conn finishing best in 3^rd. However Just Imagine It was returning from a long lay-off and had looked useful for Jack Barber when last seen. She’s Dapper and Mr Jaggers filled the placings behind comfortable winner Fly West at Buckfastleigh last time out. 

The Men’s Open is sponsored by Bailhache Solicitors and has 14 entries headed by Back in June. Not out of the first 2 in his runs last season, he may have not enjoyed the sticky ground at Buckfastleigh last time. Browns Brook won in a three-way photo at Flete Park last season for Marie McGuiness and may come on from his debut this season at Cothelstone. This former dual winner for Venetia Williams may not want the ground to dry out too much. Golden Hoof showed his toughness when bouncing back from a heavy fall at Milborne St Andrew in early February to easily win his next 2 starts under Will Biddick for trainer Jack Barber. He may well not have stopped improving. Robin de Souza may have been idling when accounting for a fast finishing Welstonedruid (who reopposes) last time at Black Forest Lodge. Only a 7yo, he looks one to keep on the right side of. Sacre Toi won this race last year with ease and is also one to consider despite his penalty but his younger rivals may give him something to think about. 

The Conditions Race has the 2 promising 6yos Chosen Lucky and Athreeothree. The former, trained by Dean Summersby, is currently in the lead for most wins this season with 4 under his belt. He is also entered at Kilworthy. Athreeothree may have just run into a rejuvenated Iron Chancellor last time out when unable to peg him back but had formerly won in style at Chaddesley Corbett. The consistent Devon General would also be one to consider as would Le Clo de La Londe who surprised when overturning favourite Join Together last time at Charlton Hawthorne while The Dapper Fox comfortably won his Intermediate at Black Forest Lodge 3 weeks ago. 

The Hunt Race is made up of 4 entries with 2 being from the Gordon Herrod stable in If It Be Your Will and Kenmare Bay but preference is for Titans Approach, a good winner at Larkhill earlier this season. Sea Bear may give him most to do. 

The shorter of the maidens may go the way of Troed Y Melin for trainer Chris Honour. Unlucky not to win first time out at Barbury Castle, he ran another good race when second last time to The In Thing at Buckfastleigh. He may have most to fear from the unraced Jack Barber trained Cereal Killer and the Kayleigh Woollacott trained Tamastone. An interesting entry is Tucks Bergin who was prominent for a long way on debut and is trained in North Staffordshire. The last race on the card, the Open Maiden could go to Iwouldntliketosay for Kayley Woollacott who also has the unraced Pointview Gale. Sudski for trainer Sarah Bingham looked to be going the right way last time with a 3^rd at Parham. 

First Race is at 1pm being preceded by 2 pony races commencing at 11.45am. The meeting is at Cotley, Chard, Somerset TA20 3EP and can be found 1 mile south of the A30 and 1.5 miles south west of Chard. Admission is £10 per person (max £30 per car).

Meeting: Cotley @ Cotley

2^nd April 2017

Race 1 – Restricted Div 1:

1^st: Culverwell 2^nd: Air Glider (Ire) 3^rd: Prince of Poets

Runners: 8                       Time: 6min 56.9s                        Distance: 9l 8l

Race 2 – Restricted Div2:

1^st: Creative Inerta (Ire) 2^nd: Tackler (Ire) 3^rd: Just Imagine It

Runners: 8                        Time: 6min 55.0s                        Distance: 10l, 12l

Race 3 – Open Maiden 4,5 & 6yo 2m4f:

1^st: Cereal Killer (Fr) 2^nd: Troed Y Melin (Ire) 3^rd: Poopy Tree

Runners: 7                        Time: 6min 02.8s                        Distance: 20l, 16l

Race 4 – Men’s Open:

1^st: Billy Merriott (Ire) 2^nd: Welstondruid 3^rd: Robin de Souza (Ire)

Runners: 4                       Time: 6min 50.9s                        Distance: dist. 6l

Race 5 – Hunt Members:

1^st: Titans Approach (Ire) 2^nd: Sea Bear (Ire) 3^rd:

Runners: 2                        Time: 7min 15.2s                        Distance: 6l

Race 6– CA Conditions:

1^st: Chosen Lucky (Ire) 2^nd: The Dapper Fox 3^rd: Le Clode la Londe (Fr)

Runners: 15                       Time: 6min 52.5s                        Distance: 3l, 6l

Race 7 – Ladies Open:

1^st: Parkam Jack 2^nd: Otis Tarda (Ire) 3^rd: Florence Mary

Runners: 7                           Time: 5min 59.8s                           Distance: 3l, 25l

Race 8 – Open Maiden:

1^st: Iwouldntliketosay(Ire) 2^nd:                                     3^rd:

Runners: 9                           Time: 7min 21.8s                           Distance:

Pony Racing had preceded the point to pointing and the first race for ponies 138cm and under was won by Wee Anthony under a very polished ride from Freddie Gingell with Churchill ridden by Megan Bevan and Mayday Black Mink ridden by Archie Stamp filling the placings. The second pony race for those 148cm and under was won by Alfie Godfrey who sent Calypso clear going into the straight and never looked like being caught. Charlie Sprake on Goldwell’s Gucci and Chad Bament on Dandy Heights chased them home.

A large crowd at the Cotley Point to Point on Sunday were rewarded with sunny spells and some excellent racing. Overnight rain had produced good to soft ground but the drying conditions during the afternoon led to sticky going and some tired horses. One horse who made light of this was Billy Merriot in the Men’s Open on his point to point debut and first start since May 2015. Owned by Devon & Cornwall racing correspondent and long-time pointing supporter, Granville Taylor, the Ciara Fry trained gelding shrugged off the persistent efforts of the well-regarded and in-form Robin de Souza to triumph in easy fashion with Welstonedruid who had looked booked for third, running on well to snatch second. Given a confident ride by 17yo Ben Godfrey, the horse who was clearly race rusty early on, bounced back to form and repaid his owner’s faith in him. Granville explained that his partner, Gail Hill had sourced him at the Derby Sale as a 3yo and looked after and ridden him out ever since. Their patience paid off but understandably she was too nervous to attend. 

New race, the 2.5 mile Ladies Open went to the Kayley Woollacott trained Parkam Jack under a copybook ride from Bryony Frost with the Suzie Berry trained and ridden Otis Tarda finishing well in second. Bryony who was all smiles in the winner’s enclosure said “he pulled my arms out and really enjoyed himself!” Owner John Symes confirmed he may go back for a hunter chase over this shorter trip as he clearly appreciates it. Trainer Kayley Woollacott then completed a double with Iwouldntliketosay finishing alone in the Open Maiden after the remainder of the field found the tiring ground too much. Kayley missed the win having had to return home but members of the jubilant 20 strong Big Brook Racing Club were clearly thrilled as their horse made light work of conditions under jockey Jamie Thomas. Jamie was concerned that he had hit the front too soon but added the horse was very genuine. 

Another who was wreathed in smiles was trainer Ben Clarke who was registering his first ever double thanks to Creative Inertia in the second division of the Restricted race and Titan’s Approach in the Hunt Members. Creative Inertia had been frustrating for his followers but Ben said he was a horse who gave his all in races and needed time between them. He gave credit to and thanked his patient owners, Norman and Monica Tory and felt the horse was capable of going hunter chasing eventually. Titan’s Approach had won nicely at Larkhill earlier in the season and easily won the Member’s race after sole rival Sea Bear made a bad mistake 5 fences from home. Ben felt the ground hadn’t really suited Titan’s Approach but he had enjoyed not getting crowded by other horses. Special mention must go to connections of both runners in this race as their horses’ turn-out in the paddock was outstanding. 

The first division of the Restricted was won by Culverwell for trainer Teresa Clark who outstayed favourite Air Glider to win by a cosy 10 lengths under regular rider Martin McIntyre. Martin later completed a double courtesy of Titan’s Approach. A surprised Teresa hadn’t expected to beat the favourite but there was nothing to suggest he wouldn’t again next time and looks an improver to follow. Culverwell was named after Teresa’s yard near Spaxton by point to point commentator Nick Child who helped set up The Culverwell’s Racing Club. Currently working in Singapore, Nick was thrilled to hear the horse had won. 

After the slight disappointment of Air Glider’s defeat, in-form trainer Dean Summersby resumed his winning streak when Chosen Lucky took the Conditions Race from The Dapper Fox and Le Clo de La Londe with market rival Athreeothree capsizing 4 fences out. With 5 wins now this season, the well-named Chosen Lucky has gone back in front of the leading horse of the season and this 6yo who has been well placed by his trainer looks to have a bright future. Jockey Darren Edwards felt it was a messy race and the horse was travelling too well for the others, eleven of whom pulled up. Dean who said the horse had failed to reach his reserve at the recent sales at Cheltenham, would avoid Open Races as he was still only a youngster and would possibly go for a Confined or Novice Riders event next. 

The classiest performance of the day came in the 2.5 Maiden courtesy of the Jack Barber trained Cereal Killer under Will Biddick with a very slick display of jumping. Making his racecourse debut, this French-bred 5yo certainly took the eye in the paddock and toyed with the opposition including even money favourite Troed Y Melin who had been most unlucky not to win last time at Buckfastleigh.