Secretary: Mrs Jo Waite

E:  jo@w8family.co.uk

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 20th March 2023, 12.30

Races:  Restricted - PPORA 8yrs + Conditions (Level 3) -  Maiden Conditions (2m4f) - Mens Open - Ladies Open (2m4f) - Open Maiden

First Race:  1.00 pm

Point to Point racing returns on Saturday to the popular course at Cotley situated a mile from the town of Chard in Somerset.  A charity race sponsored by Symonds and Sampson at 12 noon kicks off proceedings, while the first main race is at 1pm and with 66 entries it looks like being an enjoyable day’s racing.  There are various trade stands selling country clothing, every type of bed your dog could desire, quality tweed ladies bags and clothing, hand-made soaps plus bungie jumping.  The bar and refreshments tent will be open all day.  

The Restricted race sponsored by Barleymows Farm Shop includes Cuzzicombe for the Ed Walker yard. He has been placed third in his last three starts but may again have to settle for a place here.  The Will Biddick trained mare Miss Benjo is a likeable sort and was given a good ride by Lawrence Jordan when winning at Cothelstone. Taraleigh won well under Ella Herbison at Buckfastleigh but unseated two weeks ago at Ottery while Nuova Vita pulled up in the same race. Another Furlough won at Badbury Rings early in the season providing new trainer Harry Ryall with his first winner. He unseated back there last time but possibly wouldn’t want any more rain to fall. 

The Greenslade Taylor Hunt Men’s Open has Macklin set to reappear after his surprise win at Charlton Horethorne.  This former French-trained gelding is now in the care of Will Biddick and looked to be worth following after easily taking a Conditions race under Will with the second, Paloma Blue then winning last weekend at Milborne St Andrew.  Sixteen Letters enjoyed this course last year when taking the shorter Ladies Open and while he has been beaten twice this season, his two runs have been in highly competitive Opens at Larkhill and his course form could be an advantage but he also holds an entry in the Ladies version. Beau du Brizais had a great season last year and was well-placed by trainer Teresa Clark to win the Greenslade Taylor Hunt title last year and could be each way value. Any horse of Luke Prices’ tends to have the bookies running for cover and his First Preference won in a canter at Howick. Formerly trained in Ireland, he also has three pointing wins over there and is definitely one for the short list. As would Luke’s other entry, Rose Iland who won five times last season.  Say About It won the Restricted final at Stratford last year and has been placed in all three starts this season and is also of interest. 

The Maiden Conditions race is sponsored by Bearnes, Hampton and Littlewood.  Harry Ryall saddled his second winner last weekend showing his horses to be in good form and here has Scoresby who was a good third to Pocatello at Charlton Horethorne. The Sumba Island showed promise when running a good race for Lucy Mager at Chipley last month until falling three out. She reappeared at Cothelstone but was given too much to do. She should definitely improve. At the same meeting Ed Walker’s Nomoredancing also looked to have needed the run and will come on for that. He also has Aunt Lily who made no show at Buckfastleigh after a good second when just held at Milborne St Andrew in January. Ed’s third entry is Hold Me Tight who has several placings to his name. 

The Carter Jonas Ladies Open is run over the shorter trip of 2 and a half miles and last year’s winner, Sixteen Letters beat Field Exhibition in this race last year and that rival re-opposes.  He has been in great form this season winning three times under Gaby Herbert and the re-match could be interesting.  Luke Price has Jack Dillinger who rattled off a treble last season and although he was well beaten on his seasonal debut, he should come on for that run.  The talented Monsieur Gibraltar has won 15 times in all under this code but has surprisingly failed to fire yet this season. Now moved to Chris Barber’s yard, he will need to have been rejuvenated by the change of scenery. 

The Kitson and Trotman Conditions race is jointly headed by Luke Price’s Captain Mc who won four out of five points last season. The other top-rated horse is Ninth Wave who broke his maiden at this meeting last season when trained by Will Biddick. Now with Teresa Clark, he ran well when just denied by Miss Benjo at Cothelstone. Teresa’s horses tend to peak as Spring arrives and he could go close here. Steel Express was only just beaten at Ottery and won the Restricted here last year benefitting from a last fence fall by re-opposing Benny’s Miracle. Mister Dick won here last season and he would be a popular winner for Marita Warner-King 

There are 19 entries in the AJ Wakely & Son sponsored Maiden and Chris Barber has Ping Pong Paddy who ran last weekend at Milborne St Andrew. He became outpaced before picking up and running on to take third late on.  Chris also has Coolattitude who has run two nice races for owners Paul and Sarah Thorman and he could well improve. Millstone had two years off the track before reappearing for trainer Teresa Clark at Larkhill in February. He ran well for a long way and had earlier had some placed form for previous trainers Alan King and Tom Ellis.  Luke Prices’ mare Stopbeatinyourgums has had one run at Dingley when placed third. It would be no surprise for her to improve considerably and the market should be watched.  Flaming Henry has run well in a couple of decent maidens this season and could improve for this stiffer course. Unraced Front and Hester is a half-brother to winners including the useful Backinthere. 

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 £15 (under 16s free).  

Race 1:            Hunt 

1^st         Paloma Blue

2^nd       

3^rd       

Runners:          2                      Distances:                                            Time: 6m 38s

Race 2:            Maiden Conditions 2m4f 

1^st         Whitsand Bay

2^nd        Oh Mo Shrone

3^rd        Bollin Twinkle 

Runners:          11                    Distances:        5l, 12l                          Time: 5m 47s

Race 3:            Maiden 

1^st         Hearts Corner

2^nd        Conors Gift

3^rd        Rock Steady Eddie

Runners:          10                    Distances:        4l, 15l                          Time: 6m 44s

Race 4:            Mens Open 

1^st         Spencer Moon

2^nd        Ofalltheginjoints

3^rd        

Runners:          3                      Distances:        8l, l                              Time: 6m 54s

Race 5:            Ladies Open 

1^st         Field Exhibition

2^nd        Captain Buck’s

3^rd        

Runners:          2                      Distances:        12l, l                            Time: 6m 37s

Race 6:            Restricted 2m4f 

1^st         Nuova Vita

2^nd       

3^rd        

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

N/A

Despite an overnight downpour the going at Cotley was good to soft and the day remained dry so that racegoers were able to enjoy some very competitive racing where the highlights were doubles for jockeys Will Biddick and Josh Newman, a first training double for Harry Ryall and a classy performance from Macklin and a dead heat.

Another Furlough was a very easy winner of the Restricted race and was the first leg of the double for trainer Harry Ryall and jockey Josh Newman. Already the winner of a Maiden race at Badbury he drew clear of his five rivals from the fourth last and was a distance clear from Wise Garden ridden by Darren Andrews. Owned by a partnership including Harry’s father Nicholas who sadly missed the victory as he was in London but he did receive a commentary on the race from Harry’s brother Tom. Harry had been undecided to run due to the softer going but as it was the first race he decided to let his charge take its chance. An Intermediate race will be on his radar for his next outing. 

Macklin supplemented his Charlton Horethorne  victory when easily winning the Mens Open race giving Will Biddick the first of his two winners. Owned by John Studd who had travelled from his Midhurst home to watch his star he explained that the gelding had not run on soft going in France so was not sure he would appreciate the going but he need not have worried as he had fifteen lengths in hand from Beau du Brizais ridden by Darren Andrews. Describing him as ‘ very cheeky at home and an amazing doer’ John did say that he is remotely related to Porlock Boy who won the Foxhunters for him. No immediate plans were outlined for the seven year old who looks one to follow for the rest of the season.

The two and a half Maiden race looked to be going the way of Scoresby and rider Josh Newman who led over the last fence until he was joined on the line by The Sumba Island ridden by Lucy Mager. The judge could not split them, and a dead heat was declared. Scoresby had previously been trained by Christian Williams but is now with Harry Ryall who was securing his first training double in his first season training pointers. Placed at both MIlborne St Andrew and Charlton Horethorne he looks progressive and should have a good future for his owners Decimus Racing X who have other horses under Rules with Anthony Honeyball.

The Sumba Island was also in training under Rules with Laura Morgan and was placed over Hurdles at Wetherby. Bought following an advert on the Jumping For Fun website by Ann Mager, the mother of Lucy who now owns the gelding in partnership with Kim Tripp and Ed Kenny-Hebert and is trained by Lucy at Bleadon Hill. Lucy who was riding her first winner this season had a rather unusual preparation for her ride as she was playing rugby for the Western Hornets the night before at Devizes. Normally she is a centre back but with  her ride pending she played as full back instead.

The Ladies race developed into a match between Field Exhibition ridden by Ella Herbert and Sixteen Letters ridden by Natalie Parker. The former named made all the running but with ice cool confidence Natalie stalked her rival and did not take up the lead until after the last and had three quarters of a length in hand at the winning post. With Alice Stevens being unavailable following a recent fall John and Floss Symes turned to Natalie to ride the gelding and she was delighted to receive the call and secured her tenth victory for the season including a Hunter Chase win. John explained that his gelding had knocked a joint after finishing runner up in the Coronation Gold Cup so had not run for about a month. 

Luke Price enjoys his visits to the West Country from his Welsh base and rarely leaves a meeting empty handed. His Captain Mc was dominant in the Conditions race leading from flag fall and was never headed under James King. Explaining that he would prefer better ground and that  he needs to be left alone in his jumping  Luke stated ‘ James knows him so well and they make a good partnership’  Only making a decision to come to Cotley following the abandonment of Siddington the day before there are no immediate plans for him. Luke has twenty five horses to run from his stable this season and he  added that ‘ James will be busy!’

The biggest field of the day took part in the Maiden race when ten horses faced the starter. At the finish it proved to be a duel between Coolattitude ridden by Will Biddick and Treacys Jim ridden by Michael Treneer with the former prevailing by half a length. Owned by Paul and Sara Thorman who are based at the Trickledown Stud in Hampshire they  acquired the gelding as part of a draft that was going through their hands for sale and decided to have a fun pointer to go racing with.  Paul advised that ‘ I love my pointing and wanted a horse trained and ridden by the best’ Chris Barber was thrilled to train a winner for Paul who was a close friend of his late grandfather Richard.