Secretary: Mr Anthony Palmer

Address:  Holdscroft Farm, Marshwood, Bridport, DT6 5QL

T:  01297 678525

M: 

E:  anthonypalmerp2p@gmail.com 

Entries:  Mrs Marie Handel

Address:  Rose Cottage, Furley, Axminster, Devon, EX13 7TU

T/F:  01404 881699

M: 07831 537684 

E:  mariehandel@hotmail.co.uk

or  The Point to Point Racing Co Ltd (www.pointtopointentries.co.uk 

Entries Close:  Monday 25th March, 12.00

Races:  Members - Restricted - CA Conditions - 4,5,6 year old Maiden (2m4f) - Mens Open - Ladies Open (2m4f) - Open Maiden (2m4f)

First Race:  1.00pm

Last year the annual popular point to meeting at Cotley was lost due to waterlogging but with the early Spring well underway, the meeting looks to resume normal business this Sunday. There are 7 races which make up the main meeting as well as the return of Pony Racing which will take place at the end of the day. 

The Restricted race has attracted 15 entries and includes Johnny Farrelly’s interesting Hon the DJ. He took a Conditions Maiden at Badbury Rings following a decent 3^rd on debut. Raging Fire looked a useful prospect when winning his maiden at Chipley Park but then pulled up at Charlton Horethorne. If none the worse, it would be no surprise to see this half-brother to Elegant Escape return to form. George’s Legacy was another winner that day at Chipley who hasn’t progressed as expected but heavy ground may have not suited especially at Bishop’s Court where today’s opponent Journey Juice weakened into 4^th when favourite. Cornflower Blue went into a few notebooks after her win at Cothelstone and this big strong mare could make her presence felt. Dr Rhythm will have needed the run last time behind Pancrace after a lengthy lay-off. 

The Men’s Open has attracted the admirable mare Whenharrymetsally trained by Keith Cumings for owner Hannah Brogio. She can be forgiven her first run of the season when finding the talented Jack Snipe 2 lengths too good but made amends next time when outstaying favourite Spencer Moon to land the Men’s Open at Buckfastleigh. She should take all the beating. Ed Walker has Fly West who was expected to follow up his seasonal debut second when made favourite at Cothelstone but ran into a decent sort in Hello George. Nicky Martin has decided to send According to Harry back to pointing after a promising start to his career under rules and could give the selection plenty to think about. 

The Maiden for younger horses features Les Jefford’s Merchant House who won a bumper on his debut before finishing second to Minimalistic at Buckfastleigh. Ed Walker has Dancing Dave who finished 3^rd on his second start and this Flat-bred gelding could enjoy the quicker surface. Dean Summersby has Western Whisky who was 3^rd in a bumper on debut before unseating at Buckfastleigh. Sure to have been well-schooled since, it would be no surprise to see him run well. Ede’iffs Elton is out of the prolific winning mare Ede’iff and should come on for his run in a Barbury bumper. 

The Conditions race has a few entries coming here in good form none more so than Wind Tor who beat Crown of Thorns (opposes here) last time by 3 lengths at Bishops Court. She is progressing well for trainer Ed Walker who’s Fly West may run here instead of the earlier Open. Pistol Shoot is another in great heart as he showed when trouncing Micky Stark by 18 lengths at Buckfastleigh last time. Ryves Rocky could be one for the placings while dual winner Mister Serious should enjoy the return to pointing after an unsuccessful stint under rules. 

The Ladies Open includes the top rated The Last One for trainer and bloodstock agent Tom Malone. His form figures read well this season and include 3 wins but these include a walkover and two horse race at Wadebridge on the same afternoon and he has since been beaten in a hunter chase at Leicester and earlier at Buckfastleigh. However he could still be good enough to account for his rivals here.   Purple n’Gold was a 7 time winner for David Pipe with form over shorter distances. Now in the care of Les Jefford, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him go close though. 

The second Maiden is over 3 miles and has 17 entries. Of those The Dartmoor Rose was unlucky not to break her maiden last season at Flete Park. However she took a heavy fall last time at Charlton Horethorne but if none the worse could be worth supporting. Deshan is trained by Luke Price who always gives the bookies something to worry about and this former Tim Vaughan trained maiden could be interesting. Alan Walter has Mahler Style entered but he may well opt for her entry at an undersubscribed Larkhill instead. 

The finale is the Hunt race and If It Be Your Will is the selection. Two Pony Races follow and spectators are encouraged to stay and support our jockeys of the future.   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. First Race is at 1.00pm.

 Race 1:                        Restricted 

1^st             Missladies (Fr0

2^nd             Journey Juice

3^rd             Minella Rising (Ire) 

Runners:            8                        Distances:            3 ½ l, 7l                        Time: 6m 21s

Race 2:                        Mens Open

1^st             Mountain Cliché (Ire)

2^nd             According to Harry (Ire)

3^rd             Art of Synergy (Ire) 

Runners:            4                        Distances:            3l, ½ l                                    Time: 6m 20s

Race 3:                        Open Maiden 4,5,6yr 2m 4f 

1^st             Auld Sport (Ire)

2^nd             Flutist (Fr)

3^rd             

Runners:            5                        Distances:            1 ½ l, l                                    Time: 5m 40s

Race 4:                        Conditions 

1^st             Crown of Thorns

2^nd             Ryves Rocky (Ire)

3^rd             Mister Serious (Ire)

Runners:            5                        Distances:            4l, 10l                                    Time: 6m 13s

Race 5 :            Ladies Open 

1^st             Purple n Gold (Ire)

2^nd             Exclusive Rights

3^rd             Honourable Exit (Ire) 

Runners:            5                        Distances:            5l, dist                                    Time: 5m 16s

Race 6:                        Open Maiden 2m 4f 

1^st             Deshan (Ger)

2^nd             Dancing Dave (Ire)

3^rd             The Dartmoor Rose 

Runners:            10                        Distances:            6l, 5l                                    Time: 6m 20s

he closing Pony races included a thriller which resulted in a dead heat between Dillans Girl (Jack Brace) and Clear the Track (Tyler Fisher) while the second race was a rout by favourite Class Act Annie under Freddie Gingell.

Spring momentarily disappeared last Sunday as a chilly temperature returned to greet those attending the Cotley Point to Point. However a good sized crowd were not put off and they were treated to an excellent day’s racing. Seven races were effectively reduced to six due to a walkover but an impromptu Hound race was put on plus two exciting Pony races one of which resulted in the closest finish of the day and the judge had no choice but to call a dead heat. 

There are many who feel that point to pointing is moving away from its roots but that couldn’t have been further from the truth with the result of the third race, a maiden for younger horses. Sent off at odds of 25-1 Auld Sport who hadn’t managed to complete in 4 previous outings in the UK showed he hadn’t read the form book and in an incident packed race won in a tight finish from the only other finisher Flutiste. For jockey Josh Cameron this was only his second ever winner and trained by a very modest Richard Morgan, “I bought him unseen from Ireland in desperation last year to replace another horse – he shows nothing at home but can jump really well!” The Golan gelding is owned by the Dartmoor Racing Club, all members of the Dartmoor Hunt and all training fees are donated by the trainer to hunt funds to serve as an innovative fund raiser for the Hunt. Auld Sport himself hunts regularly and is schooled and galloped at home by the trainer’s children Otis and Arte who both compete in Pony Races. 

The only favourite to win during the afternoon was the classy looking Crown of Thorns ridden by Will Biddick who took the Conditions Race by a cosy 3 lengths for trainer Sarah Pidsley. Owned by Sarah’s parents Michael & Judith this was the perfect Mother’s Day present. Bought by Sarah at Doncaster sales, Crown of Thorns comes from the family of 1983 Champion Hurdle winner Gaye Brief and may end up to be very well bought. Will confirmed “he was very green in front but jumped well and is a lovely horse.” Sarah felt he needed time between his races but may go to Trebudannon at Easter. He looks an exciting horse for the future.

Will Biddick had to settle for second in the opener, the Restricted race when jockey Thomasina Eyston survived a mistake at the last to drive Missyladie to a 3 length success from Journey Juice and Minella Rising. Part-owner Tessa Clarke explained the mare “has a turbo button that Tommi just has to press!” The jockey is on a Gap year before she takes up a place at University probably in Dublin but has spent time at Dan Skelton’s and also David Pipe’s where she still rides out. 

The Men’s Open was won by Mountain Cliché ridden by Darren Andrews who sealed the race with a fine jump at the last to outpoint According to Harry and Act of Synergy. Trainer Nick Dawe said afterwards “he is such a nice horse who has been plagued with leg problems and I nearly retired him after Cothelstone. He’s so genuine and although he loves this quicker ground, I have to be careful of his legs. Darren gets on with him so well and actually gave me my first winner under rules.” 

The Ladies Open was won by Purple’n Gold owned by the 8 strong “Here Come The Girls Partnership” who insist it’s an all-female affair with Lisa Jefford as trainer and Millie Wonnacott as jockey. Millie gave the former Flat winner an excellent ride using his Flat speed to pull clear of Exclusive Rights. The ladies have been in partnership for over ten years and used to have Delta Borget who is now enjoying his retirement hunting on Dartmoor and “loving life.”

Welsh trainer Luke Price rarely makes a visit to the West Country for no reason and his Deshan convincingly took the Open Maiden under Byron Moorcroft from Dancing Dave and The Dartmoor Rose. Making all the running, Deshan was never headed and although connections were not sure he would enjoy the stiff track, he may be seen next at Andoversford. 

The closing Pony races included a thriller which resulted in a dead heat between Dillans Girl (Jack Brace) and Clear the Track (Tyler Fisher) while the second race was a rout by favourite Class Act Annie under Freddie Gingell.