Please Note Date change (due to the Coronation)

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 Jt Secretary: Gemma Edwards

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Entries:  Mrs T Parker

Address:  Manor Court Steps Farm Bilbrook Minehead Somerset TA24 6HE

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

Entries Close:  Monday 17th April 2023, 12.30 pm 

Races:  Members - Restricted 2m4f- Conditions (Level 2) 8yo+ - Mixed Open – Intermediate – PPORA Conditions (Level 2) Nov Rdrs - Maiden

The Minehead and West Somerset that has been rearranged for this Saturday at Holnicote as the original date clashed with the King’s Coronation has attracted 74 entries as well as a charity race at 1pm that precedes the day’s events. The first race is at 2pm and the course is signed from the A39 between Minehead and Porlock – TA24 8TE.  Admission is £15 per person to include a racecard (under 16s admitted free) – tickets can be purchased on the gate or in advance via www.pointingwessex.co.uk .  As in previous years there will be a return of the very popular free admission after-party with a hog-roast and live music by Follow The Dolphin which looks set to conclude well into the evening. 

The first race the Members race sponsored again by BHR Farrier Ltd and of the 7 entries this should go to Beau du Brizais who was no match for the classy Macklin when second at Cotley last time but will prefer this likely quicker surface. Teresa Clark’s grey is opposed by last year’s winner, the George Beilby trained Somethingboutangela who ran a fair race despite pulling up last time behind Macklin this time at Cothelstone and has shown a liking for this course. Canastero won under Rules for Philip Hobbs but has yet to show the same form pointing. 

The East Lynch Stud Maiden boasts the highest number of entries with 16 and Ed Walker’s There’s Claude could well go one better after finishing second to Move With The Beat at Ston Easton. Chris Barber has a couple entered including the unraced 4 year old Bel Mercy and also Campsie Linn who was no match for the promising Hazel’s Delight at Cothelstone but could improve.  Flaming Henry was traveling well when he fell at Cothelstone last time when Our Dylan and Millstone were 3^rd and 4^th respectively. 

The PPORA Conditions race is also sponsored by Molland Ridge Stud owned by Jess Westwood and family in memory of her grandfather, Bernard Foster and Rolling Dylan may opt for this race instead of the Open. Aheadfullofdreams won at South Hill last May and then ran well for a long way on seasonal debut at Trebudannon last week. Rectory Oak won twice when trained by the Tizzards but fell when out of contention on his pointing debut.  He could well improve.  St Barts looked promising on his debut when trained by Ed Walker before winning three races under Rules for Philip Hobbs but has yet to make a mark for current connections. 

A competitive Mixed Open is sponsored once again by Sandhill Racing and the Hobbs family and the yard has entered veteran Rolling Dylan who has recently been combining Hunter chasing with Military races and ran well to finish second in the Royal Artillery Gold Cup at Sandown in February. At half his age, Macklin has proved a revelation this season since his arrival from France with wins at Charlton Horethorne, Cotley and most recently Cothelstone on Bank Holiday Monday. He may wait a week until South Hill but if he appears here and continues to improve, he could prove hard to beat.  Purdy Peaster has acquired Sizing Cusimano from the Tizzard yard and he won impressively over fences at Newton Abbot last May before losing his form. If she manages to rejuvenate him, he too could take a hand. Heidi Lewis has won twice on Fauburg Rosetgri this season at Buckfastleigh and Kilworthy and this former French horse that she bought from the Twiston-Davies yard where he had run without success, was a six time winner while trained in France. A neck separated Millbank Flyer and Lakota Warrior at Milborne in January but both may have to settle for places. 

The Conditions race sponsored by Toomer Farm and the White family and Keith Cumings has the improving Dr Rhythm entered. He has taken two similar races at Badbury Rings and Cothelstone this year and was possibly unlucky not to make it a three-timer on Bank Holiday Monday when just beaten by Acey Milan back at Cothelstone with former rival Fiston des Issards (who re-opposes) a long way back in third. He should confirm the form and has a course win to his name here.  Ninth Wave was only beaten a neck by Dr Rhythm at Bratton Down in June and he will probably enjoy the better ground here more than last time at Dunsmore.  Steel Express has run well this season without winning although he only just failed by a head at Ottery in March.

The Harold Scott Memorial Restricted has 12 entered and again this looks a competitive contest. Miss Benjo beat Ninth Wave at Cothelstone in March before disappointing at Cotley. She may prefer this flatter track.  Donny’s Fortune landed too steeply at Cotley last weekend when looking the likely winner. If none the worse for that, he could make amends.  Highway Hero built on some good earlier runs when comfortably taking a maiden at Milborne last month and should improve again.  Move With The Beat won his only start to date at Ston Easton with ease. That was only a three runner race but as a four year old he still gets a weight allowance. Champions Hill has been running consistently all season and could be one for the places. 

The Chetwood Wealth Management Intermediate includes Ninth Wave, Fiston des Issards and Steel Express who are already mentioned. Between You and Me built on some early good runs this season with a gutsy win in the Restricted at Cothelstone when just holding on by a head from Coolattitude.  Lagan Valley followed up his maiden win at Chipley with a comfortable success at Charm Park but then ran out at Garthorpe a month ago. If he makes the journey down he would be of interest.  Sake of Secrecy beat Between You And Me at Milborne in January and has since bumped into some decent rivals as has Grove Ash who was second here last year.  Walkin Out has now won three at Trebudannon including by 25 lengths last time and should not be underestimated

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The impending Coronation meant that the original date of the Minehead and West Somerset point to point needed to be brought forward to last Saturday but a decent crowd turned out to see some good racing with more runners than in previous years.  Highlights included a double for jockeys Will Biddick and Callum Pritchard and a training double for Teresa Clark as well as a competitive charity race which raised over £3250. 

Jockey Callum Pritchard was all smiles after registering a double on the day having only ridden his first winner last week at the Seavington meeting.  Riding Ninth Wave for trainer Teresa Clark and owners Peter and Kathy Musgrave, he easily saw off his sole rival, Aheadfullofdreams, in the Novice Riders race to coast home by 25 lengths. With the two horses level pegging for most of the race, Callum pressed the button on Ninth Wave shortly after the open ditch and quickly put several lengths between himself and his opponent.  Owner Peter Musgrave explained afterwards “he is technically Will Biddick’s ride as we had the horse with him last season but after he spent the summer with Teresa, he seemed so happy there, we decided to leave him there and let her train him.” He went on to say “We weren’t sure we would be able to get Will to ride as he was jocked up in other races we were entered in but we were pleased to support Callum in any case.” 

Callum’s second winner came in the Restricted when Champion’s Hill held off a determined Move With the Beat under Will Biddick to deny him by a length on the line after leading for most of the race.  Trainer George Bielby was thrilled as on his wife’s advice had decided to swerve the previous evening’s hunter chase at Exeter to come here instead feeling the race there was likely to be stronger.  Callum who works for Philip Hobbs, took over the ride this season from Conor Houlihan who was responsible for finding the horse for George but although they had been placed three times this season he had yet to win. 

There were jubilant scenes in the winner’s enclosure after Arv Way There comfortably took Maiden under Heidi Stevens for the Thomas family who are based on Exmoor. Settling well for Heidi in third, she was happy to bide her time before asserting two out and when the favourite Campsie Linn pulled up, it was left to Millstone and Daisy Yeats to follow her home. Trainer Hugh Thomas explained afterwards “we nearly thought about going for a Restricted race as these maidens nowadays are just so hard to win.”  He added of the homebred son of Arvico, “he should have won before now but was a late starter due to Covid.” 

The Mixed Open went to Rolling Dylan under Ella Herbison as they held off Fauburg Rosetgri to win by 2 lengths after eyeballing each other for most of the race. The game 12 year old mixes pointing with Military races and hunting and is a credit to the Hobbs’ yard. He was gifted to the trainer by his owner Daphne du Pre for the staff to ride in points and she also owned the winner of the earlier charity race, Cotswolds Way ridden by Louisa Zeale who also led up and looks after Rolling Dylan. Louisa looked after Cotswolds Way when he was in training there and now has him in his retirement. Although she had had a few rides pointing, this was her first “winner” as she took the notable scalp of former useful pointer and 15 time winner Whenharrymetsally under Ellie Scott with well-backed New Millennium ridden by jockey’s valet Dave Luff back in third.  

The consistent Dr Rhythm has been in great form this season and was winning for the third time after taking the Conditions Race under Martin McIntyre from old rival Fiston des Issards for owner Tina Dunsford and trainer Keith Cumings. Martin who had won on the horse when he initially broke his maiden at the course in 2017 remarked “he just jumps so well now and he was almost looking around as he was wining so easily – there was probably quite a lot left in the tank,” which prompted Janet Cumings to say she thought he would probably reappear quite quickly and go for the Hunt race at South Hill next week. 

Will Biddick top and tailed the meeting by taking the Hunt race on Beau du Brizais for trainer Teresa Clark and the Notre Cheval Partnership as well as the finale, the Intermediate on the Warwickshire trained Lagan Valley for Julie and Charlie Wadland.  Beau du Brizais has given connections a lot of fun since arriving at Teresa’s yard and lifted the Greenslade Taylor Hunt trophy for them last season. He was far too good for his 5 rivals in the Hunt race and toyed with them, jumping superbly leading syndicate member Diana Scott to muse about a possible future career as an eventer.  Will’s second winner was equally impressive when he renewed an earlier partnership with Lagan Valley who he had won on at Chipley to take the Intermediate by 10 lengths from Steel Express with Between You And Me back in third.  Will explained to trainer Julie afterwards how much the horse had improved since his maiden win while a delighted Julie said “we got him from Richard Curran in Ireland and he’s a really nice horse.  We will probably put him away now for the season.”