Secretary:   Mrs Rachel Stamp

Address:   Bowbridge Farm Southwick Rd Mark Highbridge Somerset

TA9 4LJ

Contact Details 

Tel: 01278 795587   Mob: 07980 001330

E Mail: rachelstamp30@yahoo.co.uk

Entries Secretary:         Sue Francis

Address: - Teal Farm Sand Wedmore Somerset BS28 4XD

Tel: - 01934 710198       Mob: 07811 452849

E Mail: - suefrancesp2p@outlook.com

or

Entries to:   The Secretary or The Point to Point Racing Co Ltd

Entries close:   Thursday 11^th May 2017 12.30pm

Races:   Confined – CA Members Conditions 7yo+ Nov Rdrs, Ladies Open, Open Maiden, Mens Open, Restricted, Young Maiden 2m4f

First Race:   4.30pm

Wednesday sees the traditional evening slot hosted by the Weston & Banwell Harriers for the second of 3 meetings held at Cothelstone this season. With unsettled weather forecast prior to entries closing, the event has attracted a great entry of 134 with plenty of quality amongst the quantity. 

The evening gets underway at 3.15 pm with 2 pony races with the first main race, the Confined due to be run at 4.30pm. With 16 entries, this looks to be a competitive affair with Jack Barber’s Athreeothree heading the ratings. The 6yo has had a mixed season but won cleverly last time out at Axe Vale and this gelding who is by Presenting may enjoy the quicker surface. Others to consider are dual course winner Champagne Rosie who won well at Milborne St Andrew on her last completed start whileDancing Olga was third at Holnicote last Sunday in a thrilling finish to the rejuvenated Swansbrook. Moscow Prices, who is also entered in the Novice Riders is looking for a hat-trick after wins at Barbury and Woodford. 

The first of 2 maidens has 24 entries with several of interest amongst them. As a 4yo filly, Sam Allwood’s Look At That can claim a large weight for age allowance and was a decent second last time at Eyton-On-Severn. Nikki Frost’s Burning Desire boasts a fairly regal pedigree being by the mighty Galileo and is a half-brother to high class Group winner on the Flat, Lahaleeb. He has had 2 runs since joining the stable finishing second on both occasions. Harriet Brown’s Country Legend made a pleasing debut at Cothelstone when 3^rd to Norman Conquest last time. Doctor Tiger also put in an improved run last time on firmer ground at Badbury Rings as did Old Town Hero at Littlewindsor while Gentleman Farmer was unlucky to be edged out in a 3-way photo on his debut. 

The Novice Riders event could go to Sacre Toi who was a fast finishing second at Bitterley and then just failed to get up at Little Windsor under “newcomer” David Redvers. He may face some determined rivals in Laura Thomas on her own, Karinga Dancer who has been in great form this season winning 3 times and probably would have won at Black Forest Lodge but for going the wrong side of a marker. On that occasion, Imperial Circus took advantage and reopposes while Lucy Mager has struck up a good partnership with Moscow Prices winning their last two races. 

Among the 20 entries for the Restricted is Welsh raider, Cardinal Tom who won a 15 runner maiden at Maisemore well before falling next time. Titan’s Approach built on the back of his Larkhill win earlier in the season when taking a 2 horse race last time at Cotley. Although the ground was soft there that day, he will appreciate the drier ground. Teresa Clark’s Fountains Cider found Anglingforcharlie (won again on Saturday) too strong last week at Holnicote while Patrick Langdown’s mare Four Plus won impressively at Kingston St Mary. Golazine has had some time off the course prior to his last run and should have been a 3 time winner but for rider error. If he is back to the form of those earlier runs, he would be very interesting. Sherree Lean has Moreece entered who won his maiden nicely at Ystradowen before going on to contest a Hunter Chase at Chepstow. Back down in grade, he could be the one to beat. 

The Men’s Open has the high-class Broken Eagle entered. Unsuited by the well-watered ground at Cheltenham, he has been first or second in all bar one of his 15 points. Kernel Victor has a course win to his name and just prevailed in a photo finish last time over Kirkleigh and Sacre Toi at Littlewindsor. Our Chief and Ohio Gold finished 3^rd and 4^th respectively last time at Vauterhill behind Whenharrymetsally. Laura Thomas’ Swingbridge took a Conditions Race easily last time at Whitfield 

Carlie Packwood has the game Watch the Birdie entered in the Ladies Open but she may not reappear again so quickly after running on Saturday and the previous week. In her absence, it may pay to follow Western Diva for trainer Claire Hardwick. The mare took the Ladies Open at Garthorpe last time. Diana Ralph’s Invisible Man mixes pointing with Hunter chasing and would be a danger. 

The finale is the second of the 2 maidens and many are doubly entered. Of those not previously mentioned, Jack’s Ranger has some fair form amongst some erratic performances while Rediya may improve on her seasonal debut. 

Admission is £10 per person (max £30 per car) Bar and Refreshments available. The course is situated north of Bishops Lydeard TA4 3DT and please note that there are still hold ups on the A358 Bishops Lydeard bypass due to on-going roadworks. 

Meeting: Weston & Banwell Harriers @ Cothelstone

17^th May 2017

Race 1 – Confined:

1^st: Moscow Prices (Ire) 2^nd: Trueflyingcolours (Ire) 3^rd: Louis Pateur (Ire)

Runners: 7                       Time: 6min 25.7s                        Distance: 3l 3.5l

Race 2 – Open Maiden4,5 & ^ yrs 2m4f:

1^st: Gentleman Farmer 2^nd: Doctor Tiger 3^rd: Porters Lane

Runners: 12                        Time: 5min 16.0s                      Distance: 1l 22l

Race 3 – Club Conditions 7yrs+:

1^st: Sacre Toi (Fr) 2^nd: Willem (Fr) 3^rd: Follow The Paint (Ire)

Runners: 10                        Time: 6min 21.4s                        Distance: 4l, 10l

Race 4 – Restricted:

1^st: Moreece (Ire) 2^nd: Golanzine (Ire) 3^rd: Wy Worry (Ire)

Runners: 13                        Time: 6min 25.4s                        Distance: 12l, 7l

Race 5 – Mens Open:

1^st: Kernel Victor 2^nd: Theatre Evening (Ire) 3^rd: River of Time (Ire)

Runners: 54                       Time: 6min 34.6s                        Distance: 10l, 6l

Race 6– Ladies Open:

1^st: Western Diva (Ire) 2^nd: Champagne Rosie 3^rd: Florence Mary

Runners: 7                       Time: 6min 25.0s                        Distance: 7l, 8l

Race 7– Open Maiden:

1^st: Findusatgorcombe 2^nd: Jack’s Ranger (Ire) 3^rd: Final Flow

Runners: 8                       Time: 6 min 39.5s                        Distance: 2l, 15l

The 2 Pony Races that preceded the evening racing were won by Megan Bevan riding the seemingly unbeatable Churchill, while the second event easily went to Charlie Sprake on Mr Marshall.

Following steady rain during the day, the weather relented prior to racing and the crowd at the Weston and Banwell meeting at Cothelstone was treated to some excellent racing. 

“3apples, 3 carrots and 3 sticks of celery in 3 days” may sound more like the sort of diet that supermodels aspire to but for David Redvers it made all the difference as with his weight down to his minimum, he drove the Fiona Read trained Sacre Toi home in the Novice Riders event to score that all important first success. Having sat patiently in mid-division while Jodie Perry and Imperial Circus took the field along at a strong pace, David timed his run to perfection as he stoked up the ultra-game Sacre Toi to land the spoils by 4 lengths. The initial plan was to retire triumphant but David who was caretaking the schoolmaster for 15yo George Daly to pilot next season, may yet continue. Combining the roles as Manager of Tweenhills Stud, being a bloodstock agent and also racing manager to the Qatari Royal Family, David is no stranger to hard graft. He also completed the Mongolian Derby last year and this Spring he posted a personal best in the London Marathon. 

There was also an emotional win for another jockey when Claire Hardwick notched her 100^th winner aboard the appropriately named Western Diva in the Ladies Open. Taking up the running after a circuit, Claire kicked clear going into the second last and Western Diva only had to be pushed out to score easily from Champagne Rosie with Florence Mary back in 3^rd. The mare who clearly takes after her name, is owned by Claire and her Mum Helen along with Sue Horton and Chris Dee who make up the Mini Dreams Partnership. Helen explained the win meant so much as the late Nick Sarson had found the horse for them and it took all of Claire’s expertise to keep the lid on this very talented mare at home. 

The Men’s Open posted the smallest field of the night but Kernel Victor showed what a quality horse he is in strolling home by 18 lengths from Theatre Evening with last year’s winner, River of Time back in 3^rd. Jockey Josh Newman was notching his 15^th winner of the season while trainer Ed Walker explained he nearly hadn’t run the horse having walked the course that morning. As the rain started to soak in, he decided to let him take his chance and it paid dividends for owner, Mrs Targett who enjoyed watching her horse run locally. 

Lucy Mager is another jockey riding at the top of her game at the moment and she steered favourite Moscow Prices to victory in the opener, the Confined. Biding her time, Lucy produced the Alflora gelding over the last to complete a hat-trick on the horse after wins at Woodford and Barbury Castle. Trainer, Kim Tripp admitted they nearly gave up on the horse but felt a tongue-tie had made a big difference. She thought he may possibly go for the Restricted at Stratford in June as Lucy was keen to ride over NH fences and the course should suit him. 

The first of the maidens this time for younger horses saw Vicky Wade give Gentleman Farmer an inspired ride as she got up on the line to deny Will Biddick on Doctor Tiger. This lovely scopey son of Tobougg is out of the mare Sweet Shooter, who owner Richard Hawker himself rode 34 times pointing, winning 4. Only just beaten on his pointing debut at Upcott Cross, Richard explained he was extremely confident that the horse would win. The 5yo chestnut is now destined for a NH career with a run over hurdles being the plan before being sent chasing next year. 

Having been denied in the second race, Will Biddick was in no mood to fill the runner-up spot in the Restricted on the Sheree Lean trained Moreece. A run last time in a Hunter Chase had been one step too far at this stage in his career but the drop back to pointing proved ideal as he comfortably saw off Golazine to win by 10 lengths. Sheree explained the horse had been bought to replace stable favourite, the recently injured and retired Key People, and he may go to Bratton Down for an Intermediate.

The finale, the Open Maiden was won by Bryony Frost on the amusingly named Findusatgorcombe for owner Phil Meaden and trainer Nikki Frost. Phil who also bred him, explained he had named the horse “Findus” as he was born during the “horsemeat” scandal and hence he became Findusatgorcombe. Jimmy Frost was quick to credit vet, James MacIntosh with some remarkable surgery after the horse broke his jaw in February and now has it wired together. By the same sire as the earlier maiden winner, Tobougg, he too looks to have a bright future. 

The 2 Pony Races that preceded the evening racing were won by Megan Bevan riding the seemingly unbeatable Churchill, while the second event easily went to Charlie Sprake on Mr Marshall.