This Saturday sees the rearranged Quantock Staghounds meeting at Cothelstone, an earlier casualty of the very wet recent weather. It promises to be another excellent days’ racing with 111 entries, enough to entice any punter. In addition there is the chance to see the 2018 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner, Native River, parade during the afternoon courtesy of his locally based owners, Garth & Anne Broom. The day kicks off however with an enterprising charity race on behalf of trainer Jeremy Scott’s daughter Laura. Laura was injured in a bad fall a couple of days after last year’s Quantock meeting and the race is being held to raise money for those that helped her in her recovery – the Injured Jockeys Fund, the Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance and the Southern Spinal Injuries Trust. And it promises to be a charity race with a difference. Named the “West Country Legends Race”, organiser Fran A’brook has lured several well-known characters out of retirement including former NH jockey Guy Landau, trainer Bob Buckler, local point to point jockey Neil Harris, Johnson White (current Assistant to Philip Hobbs) and Charlotte Budd. Charlotte was the first woman ever to ride in the Grand National as Charlotte Brew on her own Barony Fort. 

The Hunt race with an entry of 10, includes the former classy hunter chaser Connie’s Cross for Sue Popham and Keith Cumings’ Cothelstone regular and 4 time winner of this race Little Cornham. He showed up well for a long way last time behind easy winner Boygojumping at Badbury Rings and his liking for the course cannot be ignored. A 6 length winner on his final start in Ireland, the younger Belharbour Two is an interesting challenger. He ran well on his British debut for trainer Heidi Lewis before disappointing last time at Great Trethew albeit on a quicker surface. Crackacan is lightly raced for an 11yo but has a course win on soft-heavy ground two seasons ago and finished second at Larkhill last weekend. Quantock Staghounds Master, Martin Greenway owns two horses entered in the shape of former Colin Tizzard trained Handy Andy and also The Mystro and either would be a popular winner. Alice Mills has the former Bob Buckler trained Say My Name and he could appreciate the drop in class. 

The mare’s only maiden has attracted a field of 16. Likely favourite Who Told You finished one place ahead of Cornflower Blue at Great Trethew when a good second. Sally Alner’s Truly Spoken ran well at Barbury when prominent until fading into 4^th. Goldbury ran a much improved race last time at Milborne St Andrew while Glimpse of Gladys managed a fair 3^rd on her only start to date for trainer, Teresa Clark at Great Trethew. However it may pay to side with Ed Walker’s 4yo debutante My Dixie who is a half-sister to Anthony Honeyball’s promising dual winner, My Dance and would be able to take advantage of the huge weight-for-age allowance. 

The Mixed Open boasts 16 entries and a case can be made for plenty. Any horse of David Brace’s must be feared and his improving 7yo Colorado Doc followed up his 30 length demolition at Howick with a victory at Ston Easton. Ed Walker has Miss Gotaway as his representative and she notched up a treble last season. With an easy win last week at Buckfastleigh, she may turn out again. A big danger could also come in the form of Golden Tobouggan who continued where he left off last season with a cosy win at Garthorpe in the Ladies Open in February. Royal Guardsman has some interesting form under rules for the Nock family who also bred him and could improve on his pointing debut last month while his trainer Claire Hardwick also has Western Diva who is seeking a treble after wins at Kingston Blount and Ston Easton. Skylander too has been in rude health this season. 

The 23 entries in the Restricted include Jabbea who was unlucky not to win at this course last season when falling at the last when clear. His luck changed when awarded a race next time out at Upcott Cross and he may have further improvement in him. Bracho should probably have won his Restricted last season but for falling at the last at Pyle having taken his maiden at Buckfastleigh. Welsh raider Charlie Breekie opened his pointing account in taking fashion at Chaddesley Corbett. There could be more to come. Danseur du Large took his maiden comfortably at Ston Easton last time as did Missyladie at Didmarton and coupled with her allowance, she may just prove tough to oppose. 

The Conditions Race with 19 entries has some interesting runners notably Fly West.   This ex-Irish pointer won his only 3 points last season before finishing a very creditable third in the Intermediate Final at Cheltenham last April. He should come on for his seasonal debut when he finished second to Moscow Prices at Milborne St Andrew. Claire Wonnacott looks to have rejuvenated 5 time Irish NH winner Heaney judging by his win last time at Wadebridge while High Priority showed his liking for the course when taking a Restricted here last year. The Dapper Fox won well under a good ride by Jack Veysey at Milborne St Andrew. Creepy was formerly useful when with Martin Keighley under rules and looked to be running back into form on his penultimate start. Princely Player didn’t figure in a hunter chase last time at Taunton (likewise Bratton Down winner, The Lizard King) but only just failed to win a Conditions race at Larkhill in December. 

In the last, the Open Maiden with an entry of 26, the Teresa Clark trained Pancrace catches the eye as does Fouroclock Fox while Dragon de la Tour is surely due a win. Who Told You made a pleasing debut when finding only Clondaw Bunny too strong at Great Trethew. However the Tom Malone trained Newlands Cross boasts 2 placings from 4 runs in Irish points and could well be up to taking this. 

First race is at 12.30 with the Charity Race starting proceedings at 11.30am. Cothelstone is 2 miles NE of Bishops Lydeard off A358 –Postcode TA4 3DT. Entrance costs £10 per person with a maximum of £30 per car.

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