Secretary: John Corsan

Tel:   01458 210484   M:  07535 571127

E:  point2point@wessexfarms.co.uk 

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

Entries Close:  Monday 3rd April 2023, 12.30 pm

Races:  Restricted - Wessex Area Conditions (Level 2) - 5 yrs+ Maiden (Conditions) (2m4f) - Mixed Open - Conditions (Level 3 (Veterans)  - Open Maiden

First Race 1.30pm

The traditional Taunton Vale Point to Point held every Easter Monday, nowadays at its new home at Cothelstone which is a short distance from Bishops Lydeard and a stone’s throw from its previous venue at Kingston St Mary.  A total of 97 entries have been received and organisers are offering limited Reserved Priority Parking tickets at £75 (includes all occupants plus a race card) via www.pointingwessex.co.uk until 6pm Thursday 6^th April. There is also the facility to pay individually on the gate using cash and entry is £15 per person. All children under 16 are admitted free.  The first race is at 1.30pm. 

The first race is the Greenslade Taylor Hunt Wessex Area Conditions race and 14 entries have been received, including Dr Rhythm who has won his last two including here last time in March. That day he beat Fiston des Issards who re-opposes but the winning margin was less than 2 lengths and the re-match could go either way.  Teresa Clark has three entered including Ninth Wave who was just beaten here last time by Miss Benjo.   Her other entries are both mares – Benny’s Miracle who won at Umberleigh last year and is making her seasonal debut and also Tuff Nano who has plenty of ability but can make mistakes.    Teresa’s brother Anthony is better known as a trainer under Rules but here has his own Acey Milan who was third in a Hunter Chase in February.  Ed The Red lost nothing in defeat to the useful Tigerbythetail at Milborne last time denying him a seasonal three-timer.  Joe Cotton is two from two this season and won at the last meeting here. He could be useful while Halloween Harry won a Restricted here last year and could again run well. 

The Carter Jonas Maiden Conditions Race has attracted 15 entries with a couple coming here from decent runs at Cotley including Honorary Colonel who was third behind dead-heaters, Scoresby and The Sumba Island. Treacy’s Jim also ran well at that meeting finishing second to Coolattitude. Douglas Longbottom ran a race full of promise when third at Charlton Horethorne and could figure while Famoso was unlucky not to break his maiden last time out at Larkhill. A couple make their UK pointing debuts of which Tom Malone’s In Limbo looks to have the better form following two third placings. Heart’s Corner now with Josh Newman however could improve on this anticipated quicker ground and is interesting. 

The Every’s Solicitors Veteran’s Conditions race is for older horses and has 15 entries including the evergreen but prolific Southfield Theatre who may opt for this race instead of the Open if coming here while connections also have Myth Buster better judged on his win in the 4 mile Open at Kingston Blount than his last run where he unseated.  Nobodydoesitbetter won a match here last year in a common canter. He then bumped into the classy Theshoddytradesman on seasonal debut before possibly not enjoying the ground at Buckfastleigh last time.  He could run well again back at this course.  Larkbarrow Lad ran well on his pointing debut and won two under Rules while in the care of Philip Hobbs. He could be each way value.  Monmouth Hill won a Restricted at Milborne last time and could again go well. 

The Mitchells Accountants Mixed Open has attracted 12 entries including Macklin who went into many notebooks when easily brushing aside subsequent winner Paloma Blue at Charlton Horethorne. He then followed up in equally impressive fashion at Cotley and this ex-French horse may not yet have reached his limit. Born Survivor has taken two notable scalps this season in Southfield Theatre (may re-oppose) and also the previously unbeaten Caid du Berlais at Ston Easton and could give the younger Macklin most to think about. Luke Harvey’s Notre Pari was no match for the top-class Fier Jaguen at Ston Easton but could be an each way option. Sizing Cusimano won 5 times for the Tizzard yard and is of interest for Purdy Peaster. 

The Restricted sponsored by S Morris Ltd could go to Miss Benjo who won well here last time under Lawrence Jordan for trainer Will Biddick. A Tipple Two improved on some decent placed efforts to win at Ston Easton while Stratton Oakmont looked to not enjoy the ground back at Buckfastleigh after his impressive win the time before. Between You And Me, Imitation Game and Walkin Out all finished behind Joe Cotton here last time and may again have to settle for placings. The Sumba Island caught the eye of a few on debut at Chipley before not getting involved subsequently at this course the next time. She then dead-heated at Cotley and could again go well.  Chris Barber’s horses are in good form and has two entered including Coolattitude who won at Cotley and also the 4 year old Move With The Beat who won easily at Ston Easton under James King. 

The finale is an all aged Maiden sponsored by Symonds and Sampson and there are 29 entries with several entered earlier. Of those not mentioned Idols Eye ran a nice race on debut to finish third at Cocklebarrow for Lily Bradstock. The ex French Ianthus Mome should improve for his first run at Ottery while Chris Barber has Ideal Vert who has joined him from Gordon Elliott where he may have struggled on the softer ground after a decent second in a point there on good ground.  Millbrook Lad was prominent for a fair way on his UK debut and it would be no surprise to see him improve. Dorset Diamond has fair placed form including a decent second last time at Larkhill while Flaming Henry is improving with racing and should again run well. Frontieres Lad was just denied at Buckfastleigh before pulling up possibly having done too much at Penshurst. 

Cothelstone is 2 miles NE of Bishops Lydeard off A358 –Postcode TA4 3DT. 

Race 1:            Conditions Level 2 

1^st         Acoy Milan

2^nd        Dr Rhythm

3^rd        Fiston des Issards 

Runners:          7                      Distances:        hd, 25l                         Time: 6m 26s

Race 2:            Maiden Conditions 5YO+ 2m4f 

1^st         Douglas Longbottom

2^nd        In Limbo

3^rd        Johnny Me Boy 

Runners:          9                      Distances:        10l, 15l                        Time: 5m 16s

Race 3:            Conditions (Level 3) 9YO+ 

1^st         Southfield Theatre

2^nd        Palmaris

3^rd        Nobodydoesitbetter 

Runners:          7                      Distances:        1l, 5l                            Time: 60m 31s

Race 4:            Mixed Open 

1^st         Macklin

2^nd        Myth Buster

3^rd       

 Runners:          3                      Distances:        1l, l                              Time: 6m 31s

Race 5:            Restricted 

1^st         Between You and Me

2^nd        Coolattitude

3^rd        Wise Garden 

Runners:                      4          Distances:        nk, 12l                         Time: 6m 37s

Race 6:            Maiden 

1^st         Ping Pong Paddy

2^nd        Frontieres LAd

3^rd        Our Dylan

 Runners:          12                    Distances:        10l, 5l                          Time: 6m 35s

N/A

A wet forecast did not deter plenty of racegoers from attending the popular Easter Bank Holiday point to point at Cothelstone and they were rewarded when the afternoon stayed sunny although a blustery wind dried the moisture from the course making it slightly tacky. Riding doubles for Will Biddick and Josh Newman, the continued upward surge of first season trainer Harry Ryall and another victory for the evergreen Southfield Theatre were highlights of the afternoon. 

Will Biddick will be forever grateful to owner John Studd as their partnership blossomed from the very start after John sent Will Porlock Bay to be trained which culminated in a win in the Cheltenham Foxhunters two years ago. With that horse now retired, John seems to have provided a very decent replacement in the shape of Macklin who completed a hat-trick when taking the Mixed Open from Myth Buster following impressive wins at Charlton Horethorne and Cotley.  Lily Bradstock adopted her customary front-running role on Myth Buster looking set to make the best use of the horse’s assured stamina. But Will sat quietly in second producing Macklin between the last two fences to win by just under a length.  Will told a delighted John that the ex-French Macklin was now adjusting well to jumping the British fences although he had found the drying ground a little tacky.  John who was accompanied by his wife Gill explained that he had bought Macklin at the Arqana sales in France as a yearling for little money because he had been on the small side. He had noted that he was related to Porlock Bay which had been the deciding factor. 

Will’s second winner of the day came in the last when Ping Pong Paddy finally proved his ability matched his looks when coasting home by ten lengths from Frontieres Lad and Our Dylan for in-form trainer Chris Barber and his own Chris Barber Racing Club. A relieved Chris explained “I kept running him in the shorter maidens as I thought they were easier when in all probability he’s been crying out for the three miles especially now he’s that much stronger physically.” He hoped to run him next at Chilfrome in a couple of weeks and also added that it was all systems go for stable companion Famous Clermont who was set to run in the Foxhunters at Aintree on Thursday. 

Another trainer who has his horses in great form is Harry Ryall who took the earlier maiden with Douglas Longbottom who had previously caught the eye when third at Charlton Horethorne.  Although In Limbo had been sent off favourite, he was never travelling as easily as the winner who kicked clear under Josh Newman to record a ten length victory.  Bought by the trainer after being led out unsold at Ascot Sales for the Trotters Partnership which includes Harry’s father Nick plus brother Dominic and friends Pete Dawson, Fraser Connolly and Jake Mellor.  The partnership who are all fans of Only Fools and Horses, had travelled down by train from Doncaster that morning.  The plan was to win here and then head to the Aintree Point to Point bumper in May.  Harry, who was previously with the Barber yard, has now won with his last four runners which is a very accomplished feat for any trainer and even more so considering that he only started training this season. 

Josh Newman completed his double when winning the Restricted on Between You And Me who he also trains.  There was only a neck in it at the line as Josh just held on from Will Biddick on Coolattitude who had looked hard work for the entire last circuit and credit must be given to Will who persevered and forced such a close finish.  Afterwards owner John Symes said how he had bought the horse at Doncaster Sales from the Chris Barber yard and he was “the one that got away!” Explaining his disappointing run at Cotley after a close second behind the promising Joe Cotton here the time before, John felt that the downhill at Cotley had not suited the horse who preferred a flatter track. 

The Conditions race earlier on the card went to veteran Southfield Theatre who has now won 17 times for owner Angela Yeomans and trainer Sara Bradstock. Shouldering the welter-weight burden of 12 stone 10, this was a huge performance by the 15 year old and once sent into the lead by regular jockey Lily Bradstock he was never headed winning by a length and a half from outsider Palmaria.  A beaming Sara Bradstock returned to the winner’s enclosure saying “he’s just the best, isn’t he?” She then went on to say it would be impossible to retire him as “he is crazy at home but if he’s allowed to do what he loves then he’s manageable and he just loves his racing!” 

The earlier Conditions race was won by Acey Milan for trainer Anthony Honeyball ridden by Chad Bament for who this was a second winner of the season.  This previously classy gelding had some decent form in the early part of his career including a fourth in the Cheltenham Champion Bumper but recently it had been decided to drop him into pointing and hunter chasing. A third at Exeter last month behind Envoye Special made it surprising that he wasn’t sent off favourite for his pointing debut.  With Dr Rhythm and Fiston des Issards renewing rivalry however, the winner was sent off third best in the market and looked like he might have to settle for second when Chad managed to get Acey Milan to rally late on after looking to be headed by Dr Rhythm. Chad was surprised he had got back up and thought the winner may either stay pointing or run again in a Hunter chase next time.