The Cotley Point to Point meeting near Chard this Saturday should be a welcome day out for those enjoying an Easter break. The first race on the card is the Restricted for which Ed Walker has two entries, the highest rated being Restless Rebel who has 2 decent runs at Chipley Park to his name. Welsh trainer, Sherree Lean saddled a nice 20-1 winner last weekend and has taken charge of former Ystradowen maiden winner, Ann Scott. Micky Stark opened his account at Bishops Court last year and could go well for jockey/trainer Zoe Hawkins while it would be no surprise to see Keith Cumings’ Steel Brush resume winning ways. 

The second race is a maiden over the shorter trip of 2.5miles. Trainer Teresa Clark has the promising Pancrace who finished an eye-catching 3^rd on his only start at Larkhill 5 weeks ago. Laura Thomas introduces the unraced mare, Night at Tara who is a half-sister to Philip Hobbs’ dual winner, Resolution Bay while her other entrant, Sulamani the Late may be better than his form figures suggest judging by his 4^th at Barbury in February. Fouroclock Fox is a half-brother to useful, The Dapper Fox and it could pay to ignore his last run on heavy ground at Chipley Park. His earlier second at Wadebridge in January reads well. Enormouse was placed in a pointing bumper at Barbury before filling the same spot at Charlton Horethorne last time out. He should go well. 

The Men’s Open has the admirable Whenharrymetsally who trounced her rivals at Chipley Park in January before going down by only a neck at Great Trethew next time with Beat the Tide who re-opposes here, back in 6^th. Marie McGuiness has Jac the Legend, formerly a three-time winner under rules for Brian Ellison. He finished 2^nd at Chipley in a Novice Riders race. The mare, Minim Mouse won her Restricted this time last year at Charlton Horethorne and could run well. The Dapper Fox comes here off the back of a really good win at Milborne St Andrew under Novice Rider, Jack Veysey and he may give Whenharrymetsally the most to do. 

The Ladies Open is the stronger of the two Open Races on paper. The Flying Doc got outsmarted by an enterprisingly ridden Argocat last time at Milborne St Andrew but this Dr Massini mare has an exceptional record since joining trainer Ed Walker finishing in the first 3 on every occasion bar once. Her biggest danger may come from Silver Roque who rattled off a treble last season. He pulled up on his only run this season so far at Bangor in a Hunter Chase but should strip fitter this time. Laura Thomas has Karinga Dancer who she rides as well as trains. They took a Conditions Race at Higham last time out. Marilyn Bracher’s Template got no further than the second fence in this race last year and would be of interest with a clean round. 

The Hunt Members race has only two entries but both are from the Gordon Herrod yard. If It Be Your Will should outclass stablemate Kenmare Bay. 

The finale is a Conditions Race and could go to Jade Barber who has an interesting entry in Blackwater Bramble who won a point in Ireland before being bought to go to Paul Nicholls. Now with Jade, he won a Restricted at Milborne St Andrew in impressive fashion before being pulled up after making a serious mistake last time out at Charlton Horethorne. Inch Rock contested the Ladies Open at Ston Easton last week finishing 4^th while High Priority hasn’t recaptured the form from last season which saw him win nicely at Cothelstone. Ben Clarke has 2 entries. The consistent Creative Inertia who usually runs his race and the more unexposed Hinxworth, a winner in Ireland before taking a Restricted at Bredwardine for previous connections. He pulled up on his only start for Ben and may be capable of better. The Dapper Fox could be re-routed from the Ladies Open. 

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). First Race is at 1.30pm and there is a big screen to enhance viewing.

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