NEW VENUE COTLEY FARM COTLEY

Secretary: Marilyn Bracher

Address:  Jollity Farm Hgher Halstock Leigh Yeovil Somerset BA22 9QY

T:  01935 891974   M: 0778 750743

E Mail: marilynbracher@gmail.com

Entries Secretary:  Mr George Rendell

Address:  Gillins Head, Shave Cross, Bridport, Dorset DT8 3QU

T:  01308 868332

E Mail: george@googlemail.com 

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

Entries Close:  Monday 10th April, 12.30 pm

Races:  Hunt (Seavington & Cotley), Restricted – Conditions (Nov Riders) (Level 3) - Maiden Conditions (2m4f) – Mens Open – Ladies Open – Maiden

After an absence of four years the Seavington are finally able to hold their point to point at their new home at Cotley near Chard this coming Sunday. After the closure of Littlewindsor the Cotley Hunt kindly offered to allow the Seavington the use of their course, which is currently in very good order following the meeting at the end of March. The going is currently good and good to soft in places and with rain in the forecast it is hoped that this will be maintained. In addition to the seven point to point races for which sixty-nine horses have been entered with the first race at 2.00pm there will be a family dog show starting at 12 noon and a variety of trade stands and food stalls as well as a bar and the book makers with whom to have a bet or two. The course is situated off the A30 signposted from the Western side of Chard Postcode TA20 3EP. 

The meeting begins with the combined Seavington and Cotley Hunt Members race, which is being run in memory of Joe Cobden, a long time supporter of the Seavington for which seven horses have been entered. With likely favourite Sixteen Letters declared to run in the Aintree Foxhunters on Thursday this may turn into a duel between Paloma Blue already successful three times this season the last being on Easter Saturday at Dunsmore , Ed The Red who has also secured three victories this season and Another Furlough who has registered two victories including a course win at the last meeting. River Frost, who has been placed on each of his outings for his owner Hannah Morgan might have to settle for a minor role. Paloma Blue has rekindled his enthusiasm for racing following his move from Ireland and he is taken to continue his winning ways. 

The Maiden Conditions race sponsored by Mac Builders has attracted fifteen entries of which Itsnotcosiownhim looks to have the best form on his second at Charlton Horethorne. Trained by Chris Barber and owned by June Fear he was only caught close home and a repeat of that performance should be good enough. He did not run well at Ston Easton so if he does not show his best form then other options include Honorary Colonel placed third at the last meeting but pulled up at Cothelstone on Monday, Whitsand Bay placed in two Bumpers and should come on for his seasonal debut at Trebudannon and Timino Road who finished fourth last season at Kimble. A watching brief should also be made of both Hearts Corner and Oh Mo Shrone who both bring Irish point to point form for trainers Josh Newman and Luke Price respectively. 

The Maiden race over the full three miles sponsored by A J Wakely and Sons has received the biggest entry of the day with eighteen horses. Chris Barber has entered three with Corky Carroll, the one who has run twice this season and showed promise on his debut. He has also entered the unraced Sweetlikechocolate and the ex-Irish Ideal Vert placed on his pointing debut but then unplaced in two hurdles for Gordon Elliott. His choice should be on the short list. Harry Ryall who is enjoying much success this season has entered Rock Steady Eddie who was third at Chipley and he would come into the reckoning as would the Luke Price trained Goldwin Magic who has not been seen since finishing a tired third at Dunsmore in November. Aunt Lily was a good second in her Hunt race at Milborne but is not easy to catch on a going day. Furioso des Bordes was placed for a novice rider last season and was a close fourth at Larkhill on his last outing. He is a tentative selection.

 The Everys Solicitors sponsored Men’s Open race includes two entries for Welsh trainer Luke Price who enjoys his forays to the Somerset course and his Captain Mc has already shown a liking for the course when winning in March. His other entry the veteran Spencer Moon has only had a walk over this season so if he runs it will be his seasonal debut. Of the likely opposition Dawn Sunrise had no answer to Southfield Theatre at Larkhill but does not meet anything of that calibre in this race. Ellipsism won his Hunt race at Dunsmore last Saturday and might be one to give Luke Price’s representative the most to do.

The Kitson and Trotman Solicitors sponsored Ladies race contains an entry for the evergreen Southfield Theatre who defied a ten-pound penalty to win under Lily Bradstock at Cothelstone on Monday. If reappearing quickly his front running tactics may prove too much for his four potential rivals who are headed by the Jenny Gordon trained pair of Captain Buck’s and Thegallantway-. The latter named has been in good form this season and has registered three victories for her rider Molly Landau. Field Exhibition also likes to front run but could not cope with Sixteen Letters at the last meeting. Clever des Assences makes up the potential field and his first appearance in a Ladies race will be interesting to watch.

The Symonds and Sampson sponsored Restricted race contains an entry for the unraced Sweetlikechocolate and if the filly runs she will receive a large weight allowance from her potential seven rivals. The Sumba Island dead heated at the last meeting and would come into the equation. Cuzzicombe deserves to find another race having been placed in all of his outings this season and this might be the one. Ed Walker has also entered Nuova Vita who slipped and unseated on the bend at the last meeting and whichever one runs must be considered. Luke Price has the beautifully bred Vermillion Cliffs who was once in training with Aidan O’Brien and has been placed twice this season. 

The meeting concludes with Saffrey Champness sponsored Conditions race for Novice Riders. My Way gave Archie Shalliker his first career winner at Larkhill and a repeat may well be on the cards. River Frost has an entry in this race and could give his owner Hannah Morgan another good ride if this race is chosen ahead of the Hunt race. Frisco Bay was second in his Hunt race in Wales behind First Preference who has won twice since. Dawson City is at the veteran stage of his career but is enjoying his pointing. Frankly Speaking was a good second at Ston Easton for his owner Kaitlin Perks behind Footloose and a repeat of that form might give  him each way chances. 

Cotley near Chard – signed off the A30 Postcode TA20 3EP. Entrance Costs £15 per person – Cash Only. Under 16’s free. First race 2.00pm

Race 1:            Hunt 

1^st         Paloma Blue

2^nd       

3^rd        

Runners:          2                      Distances:        l, l                                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 Corners

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

Race :              Conditions (Level 3) Novice Riders 

1^st         River Frost

2^nd        Clever des Assence

3^rd        Frisco Bay 

Runners:          5                      Distances:        4l,8 l                            Time: 6m 50s

N/A

The Seavington were pleased to finally stage their point to point on Sunday at their new home at Cotley having lost their previous course at Littlewindsor and also succumbing to no racing during the pandemic.  A good crowd was there to witness some excellent racing and highlights included a training double for Josh Newman and first time wins for jockeys Callum Pritchard and Hannah Morgan who also trained her winner and for Chris Wald who trained his first winner. 

Chris Wald is clearly putting his experience as Assistant Trainer to Joe Tizzard to good use after his Whitsand Bay took the first maiden under Callum Pritchard to give them both a first ever winner as trainer and jockey.  Sending the big son of New Zealand Champion, So You Think, into the lead four fences out, Callum only had to make sure he concentrated over the last to record a cosy five length win over Oh Mo Shrone.  A delighted Chris explained “I bought him as an unbroken 4 year old from Beech Tree Stud and just gave him plenty of time to mature due to his size.” Chris had spent time with Fergal O’Brien and David Dennis prior to joining the Tizzard team and this is the only horse he trains.  Callum is currently an amateur at the Philip Hobbs and Johnson White yard and comes from a hunting background but this is his first proper season as a point to point jockey and this success looks like it will be quickly added to. 

The other rider to record their first winner was Hannah Morgan who also was responsible for training her horse too when she took the Novice Riders race on River Frost from Clever des Assence who was ridden by Callum.  Confidently sent on by Hannah some way from home, River Frost was three lengths clear at the line much to the delight of her young rider and some enthusiastic supporters.  Hannah works for Kayley Woollacott who was present in the winner’s enclosure to congratulate her first win.  Hannah explained that she had bought River Frost from Guy Brewer after seeing him advertised and enquired whether he would be a suitable ride for a novice. This was a tenth start for her as a jockey having grown up on the Quantocks where recently retired trainer Bob Buckler had given her her first ride pointing.

 Josh Newman had returned from Aintree rather sore after a fall on Sixteen Letters in the Foxhunters and was consequently unable to ride.  Darren Andrews however proved an able substitute when taking the opener on the classy Paloma Blue and then the second maiden on Hearts Corner.  Paloma Blue has taken extremely well to pointing since joining the yard from Ireland and this was his fourth win of the season. He faced only one opponent in Another Furlough who was aiming to continue trainer Harry Ryall’s great run but when Darren stepped on the gas, Another Furlough made a novicey mistake and came down at the fourth last allowing Paloma Blue to canter home in isolation.  Josh’s partner, Kayley explained that the horse would probably go to Cheltenham next for the Hunter Chase evening and considering he has a 6^th in the Arkle over the course, he should be followed.  The second winner for the Newman/Andrews combination came in the form of Hearts Corner who overcame greenness to win by 3 lengths from Conor’s Gift and Rock Steady Eddie.  Bought from Ireland where he had finished third in a point for existing owner Becky Kealey, the yard had thought he would win on his debut for them at Dunsmore but he unseated when going well.

 There was a bittersweet moment for Ella Herbert when her Field Exhibition who is affectionately known as “Flo Jo” at home, easily took the Ladies Open from her sole rival Captain Bucks after a well-controlled ride from the front.  This was the mare’s 5^th win for Ella from 16 starts and was also her swansong as she was now bowing out to retire to the paddocks where she would visit Walzertakt at the Chapel Stud in Worcestershire.  Ella who works for Ed and Polly Walker had only decided to get into racing a few years ago and bought Flo Jo out of a sale where she had previously been in training with Christian Williams. She explained “She will be disappointed this is her last race as she loves her racing and the more hills the better!”  

There was drama in the Restricted race when early leader Vermillion Cliffs came down four fences from home as he was passed by Donny’s Fortune who had been jumping well with Nuova Vita some way back in third.  However at the next fence Donny’s Fortune landed steeply and came down leaving a surprised Chloe Emsley on Nuova Vita to come home in their own time.  Owner Elaine Berrington was thrilled and explained how she had come to own and name the horse. “He was basically a rescue as I saw him when he was only a yearling looking very sorry for himself and it took me less than half an hour to decide I had to have him.  I eventually thought as he got older he ought to go into training and Polly suggested the name for him which means “New Life” because that’s what I had given him!” 

Another horse who has benefitted from a rescue situation is Spencer Moon who was recording his 17^th win for the Price family when he took the Men’s Open under James King from Ofalltheginjoints by 5 lengths. “He was the best £520 I have ever spent!” exclaimed trainer Luke Prices’ father Kieran who had gone to Exeter cob sales to buy cobs when he saw the thoroughbred and decided that they had to have him too. Although he is now 15 years old, he shows no sign of slowing up