Secretary: Mr George Pullen

Address:  The Coach House Greendown Chewton Mendip Radstock BA34NZ

M:  07879 645364

E:  george.pullen@jmfinn.com

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

Entries Close: Monday 14th March 2022, 12.30pm

Races: PPORA Conditions (Level 2 Novice and Veteran), Ladies Open, Mens Open, 6yr + Open Maiden, 4,5 year old Maiden (2m4f), Restricted (2m4f)

First race 12.30pm

It is a very welcome return to racing at Ston Easton on Sunday when after an enforced break the Mendip Farmers will hold their first meeting since 2019. A very popular course alongside the A37 it attracts visitors from far and wide to enjoy six point to point races starting at 12.30pm followed by two pony races. The going is currently reported as good to soft with one soft patch and with a favourable forecast the going should ideal for racing. Advance e-tickets available at www.pointingwessex.co.uk/events-and-tickets at a discounted price of £13.50 or on the gate at £15 per person with free admission for under 16’s. There will be a big screen sponsored by Divoky Riding School, trade stands, food outlets., licensed bar and the bookmakers.

The feature races of the day are the two Open races and the Ladies race looks to be a real cracker. Southfield Theatre has belied his age and despite being 14 years young is unbeaten in four races this season for his rider Lily Bradstock. Always a front runner he may once again take some catching by any of his potential eleven rivals. These are headed by the classy Caid Du Berlais who also showed he retained his ability when winning a similar race under Natalie Parker at Badbury Rings. Monsieur Gibraltar is proving to be a fine schoolmaster for Olive Nicholls and has recorded a win at Larkhill this season for her. He does hold entries elsewhere and may swerve this race. Moscow Prices runs well here under part owner Lucy Mager and Dandy Dan has put in two fine performances for his novice rider Lauren Keen-Hawkins at Larkhill. Southfield Theatre is in such a rich vein of form that it is hard to oppose him.

The Mens Open race which follows the Ladies features the inform Moratorium who has already scored three times this season including an Open at Larkhill in January. He was fourth on his latest outing at Didmarton when Doldido finished third but he is fancied to reverse the form in this race. Minim Mouse is very consistent and this looks an easier race than the Ladies race for which the mare also holds an entry. Calett Mad had some good form under Rules and may improve on his seasonal debut at Great Trethew when he was pulled up ridden by Charlie Dando. Duke Arcadio was placed at Bangor on his last outing and if making the trip from Heidi Brookshaw’s stable this should be noted. Luke Price has entered Foreign Secretary who is well travelled having run for Aidan O’Brien, Dr Richard Newland and most recently for Rob James in Ireland. He could come into consideration if rejuvenated by his Welsh handler.

The meeting opens with the PPORA Club Members Conditions race for Novice and Veteran Riders. Olive Nicholls looks to have a strong hand here with the choice of Monsieur Gibraltar and Virak. The latter was closing on Famous Clermont at Charlton Horethorne and a repeat of that form ought to be good enough. David Brace has entered two with Looksnowtlikebrian the better of the options for Oisin Radford. Wotzizname likely to be the mount of Megan Bevan should come on for his run at Larkhill behind Highway One O One and might be the one to chase home the Nicholls horse.

The Restricted race over two miles four furlongs may provide Knockmoylan with the chance to follow up on his victory at Charlton Horethorne. His main rivals appear to be the Myles Osborne trained Fine Investment placed third on his English pointing debut at Kingston Blount and Clever des Assence placed in a Restricted at Larkhill in January. Norse Castle was runner up at Charlton Horethorne but was beaten a long way by Rose Iland and ought not to be good enough to trouble the principals.

The card is completed by two Maiden races. The young Maiden race over two and a half miles often throws up a good horse and with five of the eight entries unraced a review in the paddock is highly recommended. Chris Barber has entered two namely Izayte placed in a similar race at Great Trethew and the unraced Straightupsnicket and his chosen representative should be respected. There are two entries from the ownership of Mr and Mrs Richard Kelvin-Hughes with G A Henty posting an encouraging fourth at Charlton Horethorne and the unraced Teesdale. Will Biddick has the unraced Rock d’Ete whereas Stephen Kemble has Sweet Moon.

The meeting ends with the older Maiden where Furioso des Bordes may go one better than the runner up spot he filled at Badbury Rings behind Cuzzicombe. Ridden by the novice Tamika Leigh and owned by Jeremy and Sarah Barber this ex Irish pointer is clearly on the upgrade. Pyleigh Court ran a race of great promise under Conor Houlihan at Buckfastleigh but did not seem to relish Great Trethew when partnered by Will Biddick. Tristan de Gane was placed a few seasons ago but has not shown much this season whereas Captain Mc now trained by Luke Price was placed over Hurdles for Noel Meade and could be the one to trouble the likely favourite the most .

Ston Easton is alongside the A37 north of Shepton Mallet.

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A glorious sunny spring day drew a large attendance at the Mendip Farmers point to point at Ston Easton on Sunday where some competitive racing took place at the very popular North Somerset course. The highlights were another win for Moratorium in the Men’s Open, a front running performance from the veteran Caid du Berlais and a welcome winner for Olive Nicholls in the Novice Riders race.

Moratorium has been one of the early pace setters for the leading horse in the country winning his first three races before being beaten in a Hunter Chase at Warwick and finishing fourth in a Conditions race at Didmarton. He continued his winning ways under Nathan Green in the Mens Open race when just prevailing in a tight finish with Duke Arcadio ridden by Will Biddick with the winning distance being a neck. Acquired from Gordon Elliott he has proved to be a good schoolmaster for his two riders Nathan and his trainer Myles Osborne who both work for Ben Pauling. Myles who is currently sidelined from riding with an injury was keen to credit much of the horse’s success this season to his partner Celine Delahaye. Myles added that if he runs again it may be at the Cheltenham Hunter Chase evening in May.

Caid du Berlais proved that age is only a number when giving his four younger rivals an exhibition in front running under Natalie Parker in the Ladies Open Race. He was having a battle with market rival Dandy Dan ridden by Lauren Keen-Hawkins when that rival unseated his rider at the second last to allow him to come home clear of Dry Ol’ Party ridden by Chloe Emsley. Sam Loxton explained that having a stone less to carry was a real plus and that he would continue to run in Ladies races but did not rule out another run in a Hunter Chase. When asked about whether Caid du Berlais is the best horse Natalie has ridden she replied ‘he is gaining in my appreciation but  it will be a hard act to beat Virak on whom I have won a total of nine races’

Another prolific winner in the Wessex point to point area is Monsieur Gibraltar owned by Paul Nicholls and John Bolton. Already the winner of 10 point to points in his career he made it number eleven under Olive Nicholls when winning the Club Members Conditions race. Facing three rivals including two from David Brace’s stable he put in some mighty leaps and this was the decisive factor as well as the application of first time cheek pieces. Having his first run this season away from Larkhill the twists and turns of the course seemed to suit him and he had five lengths in hand to spare from Looksnowtlikebrian.

There was an impressive winner of the two and a half mile Maiden race as G A Henty ridden by Chloe Emsley comfortably beat Sweet Moon ridden by Alice Stevens. He had previously finished fourth behind the recently sold Salt Rock at Charlton Horethorne and certainly franked that form. Polly Gundry representing her husband Ed Walker explained that they had had him in their yard for most of the previous year’s winter but he had not been ready to run. She added that ‘he had come on leaps and bounds from his debut’ and as a half -brother to St Barts who has won three races to date under Rules a promising career under Rules is on the horizon. G A Henty was an eminent prolific Victorian novelist and war correspondent.

Knockmoylan followed up his Maiden success at Charlton Horethorne by easily winning the Restricted race. Following the pace setting Fine Investment Will Biddick resplendent in the bright pink and yellow colours of the Bay Mizzy Rollers Club took the lead at the fifteenth fence and drew clear from the second last. Trained by Chris Barber for the Club he was concerned about running the gelding so soon after his first win but his assistant Harry Ryall assured him that the gelding was on good form with himself and that he should run. The Club, a group of friends headed by Abi Rousell from Misterton near Crewkerne, have a very promising horse to climb the ranks. 

The concluding race, the Open Maiden, was won following a front running performance by Captain Mc ridden by Martin McIntyre. Owned and trained by Luke Price he had been acquired privately out of Noel Meade’s stable in Ireland. He had been fourth in an Irish point and then placed several times over Hurdles in that country and in his trainer’s words the victory was ‘not unexpected’. Martin indicated that his jumping towards the end of the race was not the best but his class being by Mahler saw him hold off the challenge of Wise Garden ridden by Will Biddick.