Secretaries:   Mrs B Tully & Mrs S Baker

Address:   Bincombe Barton, Over Stowey, Bridgwater, Somerset TA 5 1HR

Contact Details Tel: 01278 732944   Mob: 07970 781087

 Email:

Entries Secretary:   Mrs F A’Brook

Address: Venne Cottage, Upton, Taunton Somerset TA5 2JE

E Mail:  fabrook1@btinternet.com

Entries to:  The Entries Secretary or The Point to Point Racing Co Ltd (www.pointtopointentries.co.uk )

Entries close:   Monday 9th March 2020 12.30pm

Races:   Hunt, Open Maiden 2m4f (Mares and Fillies), Mixed Open, Open Maiden, Restricted, PPORA Members Conditions for 9yrs +

First Race:   12.30 pm

 The late abandonment last weekend at Charlton Horethorne has resulted in a bumper entry of 185 for this Saturday’s meeting at Cothelstone hosted by the Quantock Hunt.  Organisers report the ground to be soft with some heavy patches and an excellent covering of grass. 

The meeting kicks off with the Members race for which 9 entries have been received.  These are headed by recent Larkhill winners Rien du Tout and Faraway Star.  The latter upset favourite Captain Bucks in a match under a cool ride by Paige Topley while Rien du Tout, one of two entries for Charlotte Budd, took a Restricted in good style under Will Biddick.  Charlotte’s other entry, Taken by Force won his maiden here in May also ridden by Will.  Mujadel should come on for his seasonal debut at Wadebridge in February. 

The Mares Maiden is well supported with 37 entries with Boss Baby coming here off a very promising second at Chipley Park to Minella Beag.  Lilith was held in second when falling at the last at Chaddesley Corbett but could improve. Mrs Davies is trained by Tom Malone and judged on her two runs this season would be more than capable of winning a mare’s maiden.  Ex Irish Ask The Lady finished second on her latest start in Ireland and is of interest on her UK debut while her trainer Jake Slatter also has Rose Iland who was second on her only start for him. 

The Evolution Equine Mixed Open has attracted 29 entries including Navanman who quickly rattled off a treble early in the season but didn’t seem to fire last time at Wadebridge finishing third behind Millanisi Boy in second who again re-opposes.  Tuff Nano had looked a promising recruit for Teresa Clark last season winning her only three starts but a bad mistake at Badbury Rings on her seasonal reappearance put pay to any chance.  On that occasion Curious Carlos and Sixteen Letters filled the one-two and they too are entered. Kernel Victor has two course wins to his name and should improve on his run at Wadebridge. Kelvingrove went very close at Charing in a Veterans race. Trainer Philip Rowley has been plundering the Wessex Area pot this season notching up five wins and his Cottenham winner, Vivaldi Collonges would be of interest if turning out but he may just head elsewhere under his young rider, Ben Bromley. Don Bersy is not without ability but last time showed his temperamental side again. Thumb Stone Blues showed up well last time and could figure judged on his Rules form as could Goodthyneaway. Arthur’s Secret probably boasts the classiest form with four Hunter Chase wins to his name and eight points. He could be forgiven his last run when he took on the much improved Ravished for the lead and probably paid for it by weakening into third.  

There are 30 entries for the 2½mile Restricted with Laura Thomas’ Voie Dans Voie heading the ratings.  He won his maiden at Wadebridge in December but wasn’t able to reel in The Galloping Bear back there in January.  Chief Sittingbull, a winner at Chaddesley Corbett last season may want better ground as could Seniergues while the front running Dr Kanaga possibly did too much on sticky ground at Milborne St Andrew.  Cornflower Blue returns to the scene of her win in a Mares Maiden last season.  Shrewd Welsh trainer Mickey Bowen does well when he ventures over the Severn Bridge and his Fateh had two Hunter Chase placings to his name last year. Teresa Clark has the former Peter Bowen inmate Princess Roania entered but this dual winner on the level may need this. 

The PPORA Conditions race has 41 entries including prolific winner under rules Buachaill Alainn who is making his pointing debut. He won by seven lengths on his last racecourse appearance for Peter Bowen but that was over eighteen months ago. Now thirteen it would be a fine training performance to bring him back to form. His opponents include recent Badbury Rings winner Curious Carlos (Its All Or Nothing held in third) and Frelia who easily accounted for her two rivals at Ffos Las in a Hunt race before running into an in-form Navanman at Chipley Park.  Petrou won twice during March last year and probably ran better than his finishing position suggests at Charm Park three weeks ago.  Three Faces West ran a solid race when second to Champagne Lily at Badbury Rings having previously won at Buckfastleigh. 

The largest entry of the day is for the Open Maiden with 43.  Recently retired NH jockey Liam Treadwell has a couple of four year olds entered for his first foray into the training world in Grooveur, a half-brother to two winners and the French bred Risk d’Argent.  Glen Mooar got no further than the eighth fence at Larkhill and could improve for the Francesca Nimmo yard. Kings Court was second to the useful La Tueur at Chipley Park but got no further than the second at Badbury Rings. Philip Rowley’s No Authority is a half-brother to five time winner River Maigue. Saquon was running prominently when his saddle slipped after the tenth fence at Chaddesley Corbett. 

Sponsors are integral into any point to point meeting and the organisers wish to thank Evolution Equine, Eastleigh Care Homes, Roberts Waste, The Jockey Club, Brean Leisure, Hawkins Agri and the Rising Sun as well as the Badgeworthy Trust.  

The first race is at 12.30pm and the course is situated 2m NE of Bishop’s Lydeard (TA4 3DT). Entry is £10 per person (under 16s free). 

Race 1:                        Members 

1^st             Earth Storm (Ire)

2^nd             Danseur du Large (Fr)

3^rd             Mujadel (Fr) 

Runners:            7                        Distances:            sh, dist                                    Time: 7m 13s

Race 2:                        Mares and Fillies Div 1 2n 4f 

1^st             Scattercash (Ire)

2^nd             Kates Lane (Ire)

3^rd             Mrs Davies (Ire) 

Runners:            11                        Distances:            3 ½ l, 5l                        Time: 6m 2s

Race 3:                        Mares and Fillies Div 2 2m 4f 

1^st             Lilith (Ire)

2^nd             The Kitchenmecanic (Ire)

3^rd             Oyster Pearl (Ire) 

Runners:            10                        Distances:            15l, 6l                                    Time: 5m 5s

Race 4:                        Mixed Open 

1^st             Tuff Nano (Ire)

2^nd             Silent Man (Ire)

3^rd             Bankhall (Ire) 

Runners:            7                        Distances:            3l, 15l                                    Time: 7m 12s

Race 5:                        Restricted 2m 4f

1^st             Dr Kananga

2^nd             Cottage Rose

3^rd             Morehurrylesshaste 

Runners:            10                        Distances:            15l, 4l                                    Time: 6m 3s

Race 6:                        Conditions 9yrs+ 

1^st             Thumbs Stone Blues (Ire)

2^nd             Frelia (Ire)

3^rd             Bridge of Spies (Ire) 

Runners:            15                        Distances:            3 ½ l, 1l                        Time: 7m 18s 

Race :                        Open Maiden 

1^st             Kings Cave (Ire)

2^nd             Boss Baby (Ire)

3^rd             Iron Port (Ire) 

Runners:            14                        Distances:            10l, 10l                                    Time:7 m 14s

N/A

This season the Point to Point world has had to contend with not only one of the wettest months on record but also the imminent threat of closure due to the escalating Coronavirus situation.  Fortunately for organisers of the Quantock meeting at Cothelstone on Saturday they were able to carry on as normal and were rewarded with some excellent racing with plenty of runners.  A double for jockey Tom Doggrell, two quality maiden mares taking each division and a return to form for two promising young horses ensured spectators had plenty to enjoy. 

“It’s all down to the breeding!” remarked owner/trainer Peter Doggrell whose Earth Storm sprang a 33-1 surprise in the first race.  It transpired that he was not actually referring to his horse who just prevailed in the tightest of finishes over favourite Danseur du Large but his grandson, Tom who was riding the first of two winners on the day.  Will Biddick sent Danseur du Large into the lead with three fences to go but was joined by Earth Storm over the last.  A battle up the run-in looked as though it would go to the favourite and the judge took some minutes to call the result.  Earth Storm hadn’t won since his debut at Flete Park three years ago but coped well with the testing conditions. 

Tom took the finale too when he steered locally trained King’s Cave home to an easy 12 length success in the Open Maiden for trainer Tiffany O’Dwyer from favourite Boss Baby.  Kings Cave had chased the promising Le Tueur home at Chipley Park in January before falling  early at Badbury Rings. An abortive trip to the abandoned Charlton Horethorne last weekend meant a re-route to Cothelstone where Tiffany hadn’t previously enjoyed a huge amount of luck after her Archirondel had run out in this race at the last with it at his mercy.  The relieved trainer explained they had bought the gelding in Ireland last year and persuaded Tom to join them in owning a leg of the horse along with her husband Darren and Adrian Fitzgerald. 

The Mare’s Maiden was divided with the first (and slightly quicker) going to the Tom Ellis trained 4 year old, Scattercash under Gina Andrews for owner Martin Oliver.  An attractive daughter of prolific stallion, Mahler, she made light work of the ground to come home 5 lengths clear of Kates Lane and Mrs Davies.  Gina was full of praise for the mare afterwards and the yard clearly hold her in high regard.  Currently for sale, she would be one to keep an eye on in the future.  The second division was also won by a yard prepared to travel for winners when Philip Rowley continued his raid on Wessex meetings and sent out Lilith to record the easiest win of the day.  Taking up the running with 2 fences to jump, jockey Alex Edwards coasted 15 lengths clear of The Kitchenmechanic on the odds-on favourite.  

The Mixed Open went to Teresa Clark’s lovely mare Tuff Nano for owner Peter Gwyn.  Unbeaten last season she went to Badbury Rings but after making a bad mistake, never threatened. Reunited with Will Biddick, Tuff Nano didn’t look to be travelling that well early on but the pace had been strong and Will remarked “the further she went, the better she got.”  Sticking to her task well she overhauled the leader and jumped into the lead at the last.  Owner Peter Gwyn who owns Court Farm Country Park near Weston-super-Mare is no stranger to pointing having owned Browns Brook a couple of seasons ago. Peter also rode a point to point winner and worked for Captain Tim Forster as a pupil assistant/amateur “many moons ago!”   

Dr Kananga was another returning to form when he took the Restricted under Darren Andrews for trainer Ben Clarke.  Sent off 2-1 favourite, Darren hadn’t intended to make the running as he had been too keen when last seen at Milborne St Andrew but with no-one else keen to go on, he let Dr Kananga stroll on.  Ben explained that the shorter trip suits him especially on the softer ground and he clearly thinks a lot of the horse he trains for Mike Tootell and Monica Tory.  The latter also has Creative Inertia with Ben and when he was injured was persuaded to buy into Dr Kananga.  He looks a horse with plenty of promise and could improve again as he matures. 

Cothelstone rarely passes without a Welsh winner and it came in the form of Thumb Stone Blues for trainer/jockey Byron Moorcroft.  Byron explained that he wasn’t sure the horse would handle the heavy ground but this dual winner when with Kim Bailey, handled the conditions well and belied his odds to finish just over 3 lengths clear of Frelia.  Owner Jason Warner is Master of the Cotswold Vale Farmers and made a point of thanking Jason Maguire who suggested he buy the horse from Claire and Paul Rooney after it looked as though a spell pointing would rejuvenate him.