Secretary: Mr George Pullen

M:  07879 645364

E:  george.pullen@jmfinn.com

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

Entries Close: Monday 13th March 2023, 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

The popular course of Ston Easton alongside the A37 holds its annual point to point on Sunday when the Mendip Farmers host their meeting. The six point to point races commence at 12.30pm and are followed by two pony races. There will be a big screen to watch the racing, licensed bar, bookmakers, trade stands and a variety of food outlets.  E-tickets available from pointingwessex.co.uk or facebook.com/mendipfarmerspointtopoint at £13.50 each. On the gate £15. Free admission for under 16’s. The current going is good but with an unsettled forecast the ground may be softer on the day. The postcode is BA3 4DH. 

The meeting opens with the Ford Fuels sponsored Conditions race for Veteran and Novice Riders for which six horses have been entered. Footloose who notched up five victories last season was third last week in his Hunt race and if none the worse for this outing he may be able to secure his first victory of this season. Perpignan was third in a Ladies Conditions race at Larkhill and should give his owner Emma Freeman a chance of a second career victory. Palmaria has shown good form in the past but this mare is now at the veteran stage. Belami des Pictons was not disgraced on his last outing and might be the surprise package in the race. 

The Alec Jarrett sponsored Maiden for 4 and 5 year olds features an entry of ten horses of which seven have yet to race. The leading stables of Chris Barber ( Move with the Boat and Sweetlikechocolate), Fran Poste (Disco Davis), Edward Walker (Miss Ghillie), Bradley Gibbs (Busby Way) and Tom Ellis ( Nene River) are all represented and the last named who was still close up when falling at Garthorpe may use his racecourse experience to his benefit. Another who has raced is In Limbo from Tom Malone’s stable and this ex Irish pointer who has been placed in two races is another to consider.

The Killens sponsored Ladies race looks to be at the mercy of the evergreen Caid du Berlais. Despite his fourteen years he remains unbeaten in points and has looked as good as ever in his two victories this season. Born Survivor won on his debut at Larkhill and was a respectable third behind Viroflay in the Coronation Gold Cup at the Wiltshire course. Monsieur Gibraltar is a multiple winner but has not completed this season. Ballotin has good form from his exploits in France and prior to that for Philip Hobbs but has not been seen for over two years and may need the race. 

The Morris and Perry Men’s Open has an entry for Famous Clermont but he is reported to be going to Cheltenham. Fier Jaguen missed his Hunter Chase race this season when Leicester was abandoned last Friday and this impressive eight year old may be too good for his rivals. Moratorium is another with a Cheltenham entry and may swerve this race. If these three leading principals are absent Kaproyale beaten at Larkhill and Charing may be the answer. Pont Aven has excellent form last season but has changed hands since his debut this season. Rectory Oak won a chase for Joe Tizzard but is now with Chris Barber. Notre Pari owned by Luke Harvey is another to consider. 

The Tincknell sponsored Restricted race looks likely to produce another winner for Olive Nicholls as Kayf Taoi brings the best form to the race. The winner of a Maiden at Cocklebarrow he was second to King’s Quay at Badbury and a repeat of that form ought to be good enough. Glancing Glory was second in his Hunt race at Didmarton and looks the main danger. Aclassagold has not been seen since June 2021 but now in the hands of trainer Luke Price it would not be a total surprise if he ran well. 

The meeting concludes with the Country Stores sponsored Open Maiden race for six-year-olds and upwards. A Tipple or Two would be a popular winner for owner Pat Bryant and her trainer Caroline Keevil. Placed in seven of her ten races she deserves to find a race. Paul Nicholls has entered Amenon placed at Ottery St Mary last weekend and if none the worse for that outing would come into calculations. Itsnotcosiownhim looked the winner at Charlton Horethorne until being caught on the post where Scoresby was a close third. Furioso des Bordes was third in this race last year and now with George Hiscock could improve from his seasonal debut. Here’s Bingo boasts place form from two of his outings this season and has each way chances.

Race 1:            Veteran and Novice Riders Level 2 

1^st         Footloose

2^nd        Frankly Speaking

3^rd        Perpigan 

Runners:          4                      Distances:        11l, 1l                          Time: 6m 17s

Race 2:            Maiden 4&5 YO 2m4f 

1^st         Move With the Beat

2^nd        There’s Claude

3^rd        Walk in the Valley 

Runners:          3                      Distances:        4l, 3l                            Time: 5m 25s

Race 3:            Ladies Open 

1^st         Born Survivor

2^nd        Caid du Berlais

3^rd        

Runners:          3                      Distances:        3l,                                Time: 6m 9s

Race 4:            Mens Open 

1^st         Fier Jaguen

2^nd        Notre Pari

3^rd        Canastero 

Runners:          5                      Distances:        25l, 20l                        Time: 6m 7s

Race 5:            Restricted 

1^st         Glancing Glory

2^nd        Aclassagold

3^rd        Kayf Taoi 

Runners:          4                      Distances:        5l, 11l                          Time: 5m 8s

Race 6:            Maiden 6yo+ 

1^st         A Tipple or Two

2^nd        Fusionice

3^rd        Maybenextyear 

Runners:          5                      Distances:        1l, 40l                          Time: 6m 17s

N/A

Bradley Gibbs has had a week he will never forget and he capped his triumph at Cheltenham on Friday with a dominant display at Ston Easton on Sunday. A large crowd enjoyed six good races on a dry and sunny spring afternoon where the other highlights were a riding double for Chloe Emsley both trained by Ed Walker, the introduction of a promising 4 year old from the Christopher Barber stable and a very popular success for local owner Pat Bryant and trainer Caroline Keevil. 

Bradley was warmly congratulated by many racegoers on his success at Cheltenham with Premier Magic who he reported was fine after his exertions. Fier Jaguen who missed a Hunter Chase outing at Leicester when that meeting was abandoned never saw a rival in the Men’s Open race and coasted home from Luke Harvey’s Notre Pari ridden by James King. Describing the gelding as ‘ the slowest horse at home’ Bradley  added that he ‘ has plenty of toe on the racecourse’ and is able to race at any distances between two and three miles. Watched by his owner Julian Sheriff and Bradley’s father David who had now come out of hospital having missed the Hunter Chase at Cheltenham a party to celebrate both victories was now imminent. Bradley confirmed that the next outing for the winner  would be the Aintree Foxhunters in April. 

There was something of a surprise result in the Ladies Open when Born Survivor ridden by Chloe Emsley beat Caid du Berlais ridden by Natalie Parker thus ending the latter’s unbeaten point to point record which had extended to ten successive victories. Caid du Berlais set off to make every yard of the running with Chloe biding her time and sitting behind her rival until making a move after the third last and then staying on strongly to prevail by two lengths. Chloe had every confidence in her mount who have built a good partnership together and added that ‘ if he likes you then he is prepared to work with you’  The form of the Coronation Gold Cup was certainly franked by this performance and the winner is likely to be aimed for a Hunter Chase at Cheltenham in May. 

Chloe brought up her double when steering Stuart Jarrett’s mare Glancing Glory to a three lengths victory over Aclassagold ridden by James King in the Restricted race. Bought at Doncaster in May last year by Polly Walker for £5000 out of Kim Bailey’s stable Stuart was delighted to enjoy a change of fortune with the mare who had already been runner up twice this season. She should be able to progress through the ranks. 

Another owner to appreciate a change in fortune was Arron Butterfield who not only trains but also rides Footloose who was successful in the opening Conditions Race. Taking up the running from the twelfth fence and despite giving weight to his three rivals he stayed on strongly to beat Frankly Speaking ridden by Kaitlin Perks. Greeting the winner with the words ‘ Happy Days’ Arron’s  father Alex explained that the gelding had been given a quiet week after his efforts at Cothelstone the week before when that race had not been run to Footloose’s strengths.  Arron was securing his sixth career victory all on board this gelding who  is likely to have a break for 3 weeks or so before his next appearance. 

Christopher Barber introduced a promising sort in the three runner Maiden race for four and five year olds in the form of Move with the Beat ridden by James King. None of the runners had previously jumped a fence in public but despite jumping left on some occasions the winner had too much in hand from There’s Claude ridden by Chloe Emsley. Bought by his trainer at Doncaster store sale  last May the Doyen gelding  may be going to the sales after this success and describing him as ‘ my best four year old in training’ he is sure to attract a lot of attention from potential buyers. 

There was a very popular winner for the final race the Open Maiden when A Tipple or Two ridden by Chad Bament held off the strong challenge of Fusionice ridden by Martin McIntyre by half a length. Owned by Pat Bryant and trained by Caroline Keevil the mare had previously been runner up six times in the past and she was starting to be the permanent bridesmaid. However the hard working Chad was determined to secure his first outside victory on her and his third career success as Caroline greeted her in the winner’s enclosure with the words ‘ At last!’. Bred out a mare that Caroline had trained under rules when she had a public license she was delighted with the victory.