Secretary:   Mrs B Tully

Contact Details    Mob: 07970 781087

 Email:  bridgetjtully@gmail.com

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

Entries close:   Monday 4th March 2024 12.30pm

Races:   Hunt, Open Maiden 2m4f (Mares and Fillies), Mixed Open, Maiden, Restricted, PPORA Members Conditions for 8yrs +(Level 1)

First Race:   12.30 pm

ENTRY FEES  £50 per entry per race - NB. Online entry fees £50  2nd entry same horse £25

The Quantock meeting at Cothelstone is always popular with participants and public alike and this year has attracted 88 entries.  The first race is at 12.30pm. Tickets on the gate are £15/person with all children under 16 admitted free.  The ground is currently soft, heavy in places with drier weather forecast this week. 

The Hunt Race sponsored by Williton Pet, Equine and Country Store, has attracted 4 entries including Footloose, third in this race last year. He subsequently won at Ston Easton but has yet to fire this season. One place ahead of Footloose last year was Ninth Wave who then went on to win four times including a Men’s Open when last seen at Bratton Down. Connections will be hoping for the ground to dry out as his better form is on a quicker surface.  Rocheston won this two years ago under an excellent ride from trainer/rider Purdy Peaster. He then missed a year but ran well on his second start this season when third at Badbury Rings. Another to run at Badbury Rings was Fusionice who was impressive when taking a Restricted at Upcott Cross last May following on from his Maiden win at Woodford. He could improve further. 

The Robert’s Waste and Jockey Club sponsored Mares Maiden series, is increasing in popularity and sees an increase to 21 entries. Fifty Shadesof Bay finished one place in front of Bollin Twinkle in a similar race at Chipley when third to Dunaden Island in January. Tom Ellis has the nicely bred Crackerjack Queen who is out of multiple winning mare, Desert Queen. Josh Newman’s Did Ja Ever ran a nice race on her UK debut at Wadebridge and could improve while Imperial Pride had placed form under Rules and on her two outings pointing has shown enough to suggest she could win a race.  Will Biddick saddles Lamanver Stargazy who is out of four-time winner Lamanver Homerun. The dam has produced 5 winners from 6 so far and it would be no surprise to see this filly by Telescope add to that tally while debutant A Little Something is a half-sister to IK Brunel and should be noted in the paddock. 

The Evolution Farm Vets Mixed Open is always competitive and is again being run over 3 and a half miles with 10 entries this year.  Dr Rhythm ensured his owner, Tina Dunsford was Wessex Leading Owner last season and he showed his current well-being when winning the Men’s Open at Badbury Rings last month. He won at this meeting last year and should again follow up.  The Kings Writ was third to Dr Rhythm at Badbury Rings and could chase him home.  Gran Paradiso has won this race two years ago beating Broadclyst with only a head separating them on the line. Dean Summersby acquired Young Bucks from Paul Nicholls for whom he won a hunter chase under daughter Olive at Newton Abbot. His one run for Dean at Chipley Park in January was promising finishing fourth behind Mr Glass and that form reads well.  Farrants Bay easily won a 3 runner Conditions race at Brocklesby last month and could be one for a place. 

The Brean Splash & Play Restricted race has an entry of 19 and includes the Tom Ellis trained Artiste d’Ainay who won well at Horseheath before falling at the 5^th at Larkhill. He would be of interest if coming here.  The Sumba Island won here comfortably last May. Although that was only a three runner race, she had earlier dead-heated at Cotley and is progressive. Calidad returns to pointing for Alan Hill after losing confidence following a heavy fall at Fakenham and was an easy winner at Godstone last season. The Hill team also have Goleirihem who was third at Brocklesby last time just behind the re-opposing Penniless. Possibly the strongest form on offer is that of Josh Newman’s Hearts Corner who was only just caught by Arctic Oscar on the line at Chipley giving away weight. On that occasion they were 20 lengths clear of Whitsand Bay who won last weekend at Charlton Horethorne and he could regain winning form. Spear Dancer was in the process of running a nice race until unseating on his pointing debut for trainer Les Jefford. He could improve. 

The Sworders PPORA Conditions race has a total of 15 entries including a couple also entered in the Open.  Veteran Doc Caver repeated his 2023 win in the Novice Riders at Chipley Park this season showing he still retains his enthusiasm. Keep Rolling won four times when with the Philip Hobbs/Johnson White yard and ran promisingly at Badbury Rings last month before pulling up. Likewise Young Wolf had decent form under Rules for Jonjo O’Neill rated 142 at his peak and is an interesting recruit for Danielle Kenealy. They should both be considered on the short list.  Beyond Redemption last won 14 months ago when with Harry Derham but has failed to complete on his two starts for Rupert Wilks. Dandy Dan may prefer a quicker surface but has admirable form both pointing and hunter chasing and would be a danger if the ground dries out. 

The meeting concludes with the Hawkins Agri Maiden race and 19 entries have been received. All Night Parking has placed form at Larkhill and Badbury Rings this season while Flaming Henry deserves to win a race after showing consistent form. Unraced Pebbly Pour Toi is a half-brother to dual winner, No Flies On Him who holds Cheltenham Festival entries and is of interest while Good Boy Eric is out of a winning mare on the Flat and has a handy 4 year old allowance. Ex-Irish Mister Sky could well improve on what he’s shown to date.

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

Race 1:            Hunt 

1^st         Ninth Wave

2^nd       

3^rd        

Runners:          4                      Distances:        l, l                                Time:6m 47s

Race 2:            Mares Maiden 2m4f 

1^st         Imperial Pride

2^nd        Dancinthemoonlite

3^rd        Wheres My Wonde 

Runners:          11                    Distances:        hd, 6l                           Time: 5m 45s

Race 3:            Mixed Open 3m4f 

1^st         Coup de Pinceau

2^nd        Dr Rhythm

3^rd        Farrants Way 

Runners:          5                      Distances:        7l, 7l                            Time: 8m 35s

Race 4:            Restricted 2m4f 

1^st         Goleirhem

2^nd        Killard Point

3^rd        Roc The Boat 

Runners:          7                      Distances:        25l, 12l                        Time: 5m 48s

Race 5:            Conditions (Level 1) 8yrs+ 

1^st         Beyond Redemption

2^nd        Young Wolf

3^rd        Manofmanywords 

Runners:          6                      Distances:        9l,20l                           Time: 7m 05s

Race 6:            Racing Abandoned

N/A

This season has been hard hit with abandonments and with so many meetings struggling to run due to the ongoing daily deluges, it was pleasing to see the Quantock survive and those that managed to navigate the rather inconvenient road closure a mile from the course, were treated to some good racing. Highlights of the day were a first ever winner for trainer/jockey Rupert Wilks, a first training success of Ollie Bowd and an impressive success for Goleirihem and Izzie Marshall. 

Beyond Redemption clearly didn’t live up to his name for Rupert Wilks when he comfortably took what ended up to be the final race of the day.  A very emotional jockey who had been friends with the late Keagan Kirkby dedicated the win to his friend whom he had worked with at Paul Nicholls’, before moving to work for Harry Derham who had been his mentor at Ditcheat.  Travelling well throughout, the winner jumped the second last upsides Young Wolf before being driven clear to record a pleasing 9 length victory under his 20 year old jockey.  Rupert explained that Harry had suggested he buy the horse for pointing after his form tailed off following a win at Wincanton.  His parents, Peckham-based Tim and Miranda, then stepped in and purchased him choosing their bright red, yellow and black colours as homage to the Peckham coat of arms.  Rupert also thanked Sam Loxton, Natalie Parker and Joe Wroe for their help with training and riding advice. 

Another to celebrate their first winner as a trainer was Ollie Bowd whose Imperial Pride took the Mares Maiden under Will Biddick. With the favourite, Crackerjack Queen unseating four out, it was left to the winner and Dancinnthemoonlite to fight out the closest finish of the day.  Both mares come out of the race with huge credit and the pair were well clear of the third.  Will explained to owners, Andy Chater, David Doolittle and Mark Burgess that he thought although she coped well with the ground, she would improve again on a better surface but had been game and determined in the finish.  Ollie who works for David Dennis, trains the mare, who is his only horse, in his lunch hour and acquired her in October.  The plan was to go for the Mares Maiden Final at Woodford in April. 

Teresa Clark has most local races on her training CV but the Members Race here has always eluded her. With all four entries standing their ground, any doubts over the ground for Ninth Wave soon evaporated when under a sensible ride from jockey Callum Pritchard, he came home in isolation, the others having cried enough.  For owners Pete and Kathy Musgrave too this was their first time winning the race and for Kathy a very emotional occasion having hunted with the Quantock as a child. She dedicated the win to her late father, George Hooper, who she said would have been very proud of the result. 

 Family were very much part of Coup de Pinceau’s win in the Mixed Open when he comfortably saw off odds-on favourite Dr Rhythm over the extended trip under jockey George Hiscock who also trains the horse.  It was a welcome winner for George whose last winner as a jockey came at Stratford nearly two years ago and it was this horse who gave him one of his best winning moments when taking the four mile Hunter Chase at Cheltenham at 100-1 for his former trainer Syd Hosie.  George acquired the horse in August for the Famers, Farriers, Fibre Club who are made up of friends and family.  George said, “He just kept galloping despite the ground and obviously gets the trip really well.  He didn’t really handle the track at Milborne last time and the aim is to go back for the Four Miler at Cheltenham.”

The sight of Alan Hill choosing to come here instead of his more local Didmarton, should have been taken as a hint that his Goleirihem was well fancied and the 25 length victory proved as much.  With jockey Izzie Marshall opting to stay wide to avoid the cut up ground, Goleirihem cruised into the lead over the ditch and decisively put distance between himself and the runner-up, Killard Point. Izzie remarked “He was awesome!! Absolutely loved being on the better ground on the outside and when I asked him to pick up, he just flew!”  Connections thought he would probably go for another Restricted and it certainly looks well within his capabilities judged on this performance. 

The final race, a Maiden, had to be abandoned due to a medical incident which was non-racing related.  It meant that there were no ambulances available to cover the race itself and thus sadly organisers were forced to end the day early.