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

Entries close:   Monday 22^nd May 2017 12.30pm

Races:   Hunt – PPORA Members Conditions Nov Rdrs, Mixed Open, Open Maiden, Restricted, Young Maiden 2m4f

First Race:   2.00pm

This Sunday sees the final Meeting to be held at Cothelstone this season and brings the curtain down on the Wessex Area Season. A good entry of 98 has been received with plenty of interesting candidates amongst them. 

Pony Racing starts the proceedings off at 1pm with 3 races in quick succession, the 138 race having been divided. The main racing gets underway at 2pm with 6 for the Hunt Members with the Nikki Frost trained Archie Rice heading the ratings. A dual-winner this season, he could not have won more easily under Bryony Frost last time at Flete Park and will enjoy this quicker ground. Mountain Cliché walked over in this race last season and prior to getting stuck in the mud last time at Fontwell, had taken an Intermediate Hunter Chase at Exeter. The bonny Bathwick Scanno too could make his presence felt and he took this race back in 2015. 

The second race on the card is for younger maidens and is again headed by a promising sort from the Frost stable in Burning Desire who has 2 seconds to his name and is surely close to losing his maiden status. Jack Barber has a trio entered notably Doctor Tiger who was unlucky to get chinned on the line by a determined Vicky Wade on Gentleman Farmer when looking the likely winner as he touched down over the last on this course. Askphilor unseated early on in the same race. Jack also has the unraced 4yo Hugo’s Horse who was a 70,000 Euro purchase for the Stewart family but he does have multiple entries this weekend. As does Jack’s third entry, (also unraced) the 4yo filly Now Voyager who is a half-sister to 2 winners in France. Marie McGuiness has the once raced King’s Mount who should come on from his debut run at Upcott Cross. 

The second Maiden Race, this time for all ages sees Camilla Scott’s Tree Sparrow among the 17 entries. He chased home the useful Sally Alner trained Flights at Charlton Horethorne in March before posting another decent effort last time at Holnicote behind Dr Rhythm. On that occasion, Lydia Svensson’s Breeze Along was back in third having filled that spot on his other 2 starts. Rediya, for Welsh trainer Sarah Gwilliam could also improve on his only start this season while fellow compatriot, Theboss on Thehill has multiple placings to his name and will surely find a change of luck soon. 

The Mixed Open has a cracking entry of 25 including Kernel Victor who won here at the Weston & Banwell evening meeting. On that occasion he had the race sewn up very quickly but may have stronger opposition this time especially with several coming here off multiple wins. Those include Midnight Appeal who was awarded a controversial Mixed Open at Holnicote last time but had previously taken the same at Kingston St Mary for trainer/jockey Charlotte Hawker. Ed Walker’s progressive 8yo mare Miss Gotaway has also been in sparkling form this season most recently taking the Ladies Open at Littlewindsor after making all under Abbie Hughes. Moscow Prices and Lucy Mager have also struck up a great partnership winning their last 3 outings including last week at this course when they took the Confined under a penalty. 

Anything Dean Summersby runs should be noted as he still boasts a 56% strike rate having saddled 17 winners this season and his Air Glider heads the 18 entries for the Novice Riders Race. Air Glider was just nailed close home last time in the Intermediate at Vauterhill by an in-form Stay Tuned but had previously prevailed when taking the Restricted at Trebudannon. Ed Walker has the progressive Awesome Tunes entered who took the Hunt Members at the same course in a canter under Will Biddick. Dean Summersby also has Honest Deed who was trying for a hat-trick there in the Intermediate but was pulled up after clouting a fence hard. This ex-Irish pointer can be forgiven that on the back of his 2 earlier wins since joining the yard, which could not have been more impressive. Willem ran well under Bryan Carver last time when second to Sacre Toi at this course and holds Dottie’s Dilemma who was back in 4^th on that run while Weston Lodge sprang a 16-1 surprise when proving too hard to peg back at in the Confined at Flete Park. 

Spaxton trainer, Teresa Clark has 2 amongst the 17 entries for the Restricted in Marguerite St Just and Give Us Peace both owned by the Culverwells Racing Club. The latter won nicely at Larkhill early in the season and showed a return to that form when second last time at Holnicote to Prince of Poets with stablemate Marguerite St Just in third while favourite Robin’s Wager was brought down at the first. Thehill oftherock won nicely last time at Flete Park under Bryony Frost and looks one to keep on the right side of. 

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.

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he day’s racing had been preceded by 3 Pony Races with the first going to Fairfield Run under a determined ride from Lucy Llewellyn while the second 138 race went to The Jobs Not Straight and jockey Freddie Gingell who spread-eagled the field early to win by 8 lengths. The third race resulted in a close finish with Goldwell’s Gucci and Charlie Sprake getting the better of Class Act Annie and Don’t Tell Dai.

Sunday saw the curtain come down on an excellent point to point season in the Wessex Area with the 3^rd and final meeting at Cothelstone. Hosted by the West Somerset Vale, with ground well watered by Clerk of the Course, Arthur Barrow, the crowd were treated to some excellent racing. 

The Mixed Open had attracted a good entry with 11 going to post and it was pleasing to see Stuart Penny’s ultra-game mare Champagne Rosie rallying to get up on the line. Winning her 12^th race for owner John Meaden, the mare responded well to Katy Lyons’ urgings to deny favourite Uppertown Hawk and Louis Pasteur. Katy explained that she had sought advice from Champion Jockey, Will Biddick who said not to kick for home at the track until you had rounded the final bend and it was advice well given. A previous course winner, she had run into the very talented Western Diva last time and so thoroughly deserved this success. Although she looked to pull up slightly sore, trainer Stuart reported his mare to be fine the next day and thought she might run in the early part of next season before being put in foal. 

The day kicked off with a game of cat and mouse in the 2 runner Hunt Members as Ben Robarts on Grissom tracked Lucy Mager riding Bathwick Scanno. Eyeballing his opponent with half a circuit to run, Grissom started to assert round the home bend to win by just over 3 lengths for West Somerset Vale Master, Mike Weir and the Frost stable. Bryony Frost explained she had bought the horse at Fairyhouse having ridden him in Ireland and he had then been injured. Family friend Mike had then had the horse himself and hunted him all season which had done him the power of good. She also credited Mike with installing a true love of hunting in her as she had been his shadow as a child across Dartmoor from a very early age. 

The Young Horse Maiden was won by the Jack Barber trained Doctor Tiger who compensated for his narrow defeat last time on the course when given a confident ride by Will Biddick. Giving 2 stone to his remaining rivals, Will was in no mood to allow the weight to make a difference as he kicked clear to win as an odds-on shot should despite jumping left much of the way. A relieved Jack Barber was happy to have “finally given owners, Ray Barrow and Sandra Maltby (who own in partnership with Richard Barber) a winner!” 

The second Maiden completed a double on the card for Will as he steered his father Mike’s St Denys to a 3 length success over the more fancied Tree Sparrow and Theboss On Thehill. Purchased privately from Graham Roach, this son of Presenting had not enjoyed life in a public racing yard but on this quicker ground, Will was able to outstay his rivals. The trainer was in good spirits in the paddock, cooling down more than just his horse after the race and one member of the crowd seemed more than a little damp! 

Willem had run well at the course to be runner-up on his previous outing and this time made no mistake as he drew 4 lengths clear at the line under a confident ride from Bryan Carver to win the Novice Riders Race with favourite, Moscow Prices having to settle for second. Bryan felt the quicker ground had made all the difference and he had hung on to him as long as he could so well was he travelling. Bryan who works for David Pipe, rides out for trainer Teresa Clark whenever he can and was registering his second winner having opened his account on the season’s leading horse, Chosen Lucky at Bratton Down last week. 

The final race of the day, the Restricted, went to Welsh raider Robin’s Wager under Byron Moorcroft. The Kieran Price trained gelding had been brought down at the first at Holnicote and then not seemed to enjoy Bratton Down on his previous two runs but put those efforts behind him to win by 5 lengths from Cardinal Tom. Trainer Kieran explained they had not had the horse long but the owner had only paid £700 for him and he may still have a further run at Trecoed. 

The day’s racing had been preceded by 3 Pony Races with the first going to Fairfield Run under a determined ride from Lucy Llewellyn while the second 138 race went to The Jobs Not Straight and jockey Freddie Gingell who spread-eagled the field early to win by 8 lengths. The third race resulted in a close finish with Goldwell’s Gucci and Charlie Sprake getting the better of Class Act Annie and Don’t Tell Dai.