Secretary: Mrs Jo Waite

E:  jo@w8family.co.uk

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

Entries Close:  Monday 18th March 2024, 12.30

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

First Race:  1.00 pm

ENTRY FEES  £50 per entry per race - NB. Online entry fees £50  2nd entry same horse £30

Point to Point racing returns on Sunday to the popular course at Cotley situated a mile from the town of Chard in Somerset.  Racing starts at 12 noon with a charity Shetland Race which is a fundraiser for St Margaret’s Hospice. The first main race is at 1pm and with 83 entries it looks like being an enjoyable day’s racing.  There are various trade stands, children’s bungie jumping as well as the bar and refreshments tent which will be open all day and where there will be live music after racing.  Well-behaved dogs on a lead are welcome. 

The Restricted race sponsored by Barleymows Farm Shop has 17 entries and of those Josh Newman’s Hearts Corner is top rated. A winner at Wadebridge before a neck second at Chipley Park (Stadmallen 4^th and Milltown Bridge pulled up), he broke his maiden on this course last year and should confirm his liking for the place. Josh also has Donny’s Fortune in here who was desperately unlucky when falling at the second meeting here last year when well clear. He then benefitted from the leader slipping up at Bratton Down and with one run under his belt this season, should strip fitter.   Mini Fortune won a maiden last at Cocklebarrow (beating Jean Genie who has won since) for Welsh trainer Luke Price who often improves his Irish acquisitions and had two winners here last season.  She is the obvious danger to Josh Newman’s chosen runner.  Comonilean was a popular winner at Charlton Horethorne while Summer Jam who had won nicely at Chipley Park, disappointed at the same meeting. Trevada holds entries elsewhere but would be of interest if running here. Spear Dancer was running a nice race on debut before unseating and could improve. 

The Greenslade Taylor Hunt Men’s Open has 9 entries includes First Preference for Luke Price. A winner three times last season he was then second in the Dunraven Bowl before pulling up on his last run, possibly unsuited by the firmer ground. Veteran The Kings Writ was in good form winning easily at Chipley Park before finishing third to Dr Rhythm on testing ground at Badbury Rings. Beau du Brizais was second in this race last year. Kalooki was rated 147 at one stage under Rules and has had one run pointing when pulling up at Chipley Park in January. If he retains any of his old ability he would be of interest. Honestlyntrufully was a winner under Rules and race a fair race on his pointing debut at Larkhill. 

The Maiden Conditions race is sponsored by Bearnes, Hampton and Littlewood with 15 entries.  Chris Barber has yet to run Mister Sky who had run in Ireland and there could be improvement on what he has showed so far.  Luke Price and James King look likely to team up with Lavorante, placed 2^nd last time at Ampton.   Keepitfrombecky ran well when second at Chipley and was 3^rd to Comonilean last time at Charlton Horethorne.  In that race, Prophesea finished a close 2^nd on his seasonal debut so he should confirm the form and could go close for trainer Les Jefford.  Bud Succes looked set to be involved in the finish at Badbury Rings last time (Special John fell at the first) before downing tools and pulling up. It may however have been caused by the testing ground.  Holkham Hall is trained by Gordon Treacy who saddled a winner from his first winner and this ex-Irish gelding is of interest. 

The Carter Jonas Ladies Open is run over the shorter trip of 2 and a half miles and Sixteen Letters returns to defend his title which he has won for the last two years. On a course that clearly suits him, he could well make it a hat-trick.  Alan Hill has an interesting entry in Caldwell Diamond who was a winner in Ireland for Gordon Elliott.  Lusitanien won under Rules for Fergal O’Brien before making a pleasing debut winning at Charing under Anna Johnston. He pulled up on heavy next time and if the ground dries may figure. Ultimate Getaway also won for the O’Brien yard under Rules and he retains ownership of him as he returns to pointing. Glancing Glory won a Restricted at Ston Easton last year but has yet to reproduce that form. L’Air du Vent took a Grass Roots riders race at Larkhill last time while Makety showed form for Oliver Sherwood over this trip and may not have stayed last time over 3 miles. Arv Way There won twice last season and could go well 

The Kitson and Trotman Conditions race includes top rated In Our Dreams, a winner last time at Guilsborough but he may go elsewhere as might The Dartmoor Rose.  River Frost won a similar race for Hannah Morgan at this course last year while Olive Nicholls has new recruit in All Loved Up who has been pointing in Ireland. Steel Express has winning course form while Oneupmanship may prefer this easier race to last time when he met the improving Another Furlough and Punches Cross, both winners last weekend. 

There are 18 entries in the AJ Wakely & Son sponsored Maiden and could be an opportunity for either of Chris Barber’s pair of 4 year olds, Valentin de Maine or King Roque to make a winning debut, while the third newcomer Raven Till Dawn is Flat bred.  Of those to have raced, One Tree Hill had reasonable placed form but has been off-course for a long while and a similar profile to Fun de Nuit; Holeshot was 4^th at Charlton Horethorne and Jervis Bay will need to improve his jumping after making a mistake when running well at Badbury Rings. 

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:            Restricted 

1^st         Trevada

2^nd        Spear Dancer

3^rd        Jean Genie 

Runners:          7                      Distances:        51/2l, 6l                       Time: 6m 46s

Race 2:            Mens Open 

1^st         The Kings Writ

2^nd        Siberian Star

3^rd        Beau du Brizais 

Runners:          7                      Distances:        26 DH                          Time: 6m 42s

Race 3:            Maiden Conditions 2m4f 

1^st         Prophesea

2^nd        Down The Inner

3^rd        Nowo 

Runners:          6                      Distances:        10l, 40l                        Time: 5m 47s

Race 4:            Ladies Open 2m 4f 

1^st         Sixteens Letters

2^nd       Professor Calculus

3^rd         L’Air du Vent 

Runners:          4                      Distances:        34l, 5l                          Time: 5m 38s

Race 5:            Conditions (Level 2) 8yrs+ 

1^st         Western Cowboy

2^nd        Steel Express

3^rd        In Our Dreams 

Runners:          9                      Distances:        23/4l, 7l                       Time: 6m 46s

Race 6:            Maiden 

1^st         Colden’s Dream

2^nd        Born In the West

3^rd        Free The Lion

 Runners:          12                    Distances:        11l, 10l                        Time: 6m 48s

N/A

A rare day of Spring sunshine amongst the seemingly never-ending saturation that has become the norm of late, brought locals flocking to the course at Cotley, near Chard for the first of two point to points held here. The large crowd, some of whom braved shirt-sleeves, enjoyed some excellent racing which was preceded by an entertaining Shetland Pony Race (won by Teddy Holliday riding Wilma II) sponsored by local businesses in aid of St Margaret’s Hospice.  The highlights of the day were a training double for the Josh Newman yard on what turned out to be memorable weekend for them with a total of six winners and welcome winners for trainer Les Jefford as well as jockey Will Badland on his own horse. 

The first of the Newman horses to oblige was a rejuvenated The Kings Writ in the Men’s Open, who was winning for the second time this season following a victory in January at Chipley Park.  After coasting in by 26 lengths from Siberian Star and Beau de Brizais who dead-heated for second on the line, Will Biddick remarked “Well how easy was that?” Jumped well and just kept on galloping.”  Kayley Woollacott who was deputising for her partner, Josh Newman on duty at Kilworthy where he rode and trained three winners, said “We’ve had him since he was four and the owners have given him back to us. We just felt though he wasn’t ready to retire yet as he’s really enjoying himself. And this week, his best friend Lalor, returned to the yard now he’s been retired and their reunion was lovely with them clearly so pleased to see each other again after such a long time.” 

The second winner for the yard, came in the Ladies Open when Izzy Marshall steered Sixteen Letters home for an equally impressive success in a slightly eventful race reduced by one when leader Mix of Clover ran out on the first circuit unseating Isabel Lovat leaving Professor Calculus to make the running. He then thought about taking a quick exit back towards the lorry park and jockey Ella Herbison did well to negotiate the bend intact.  Sixteen Letters however had taken this race for the last two years and had too much class for his opponents.  A breathing issue which is inoperable, means that he is more suited to a downhill finish although Izzy remarked he did it so easily that he didn’t have any issues.  Owner John Symes thought he could well return to the course for the Seavington meeting in April as the course suited him so well. 

A relieved Les Jefford welcomed Prophesea back to the winner's enclosure after the Maiden Conditions race.  Trained by him for Sue Trump, this good looking son of Affinisea looks like a nice prospect and was running for the second time for connections following a good second at Charlton Horethorne. Describing Prophesea as “Pure class!” jockey Callum Pritchard was full of praise for him and felt the recent loose-schooling they had been doing had given the horse a lot of confidence. Octogenarian owner Sue had picked him out of a bunch of horses from Ireland that Tim Dennis had sourced and like him immediately.  For Les, this was his first winner from his new base at David Pipe’s second yard although his horses have started to run well recently and he could be a trainer to follow over the next few months. 

Another to catch the eye in the paddock was Trevada who took the first, a Restricted under Zac Baker for trainer Fran Poste.  Jumping well throughout, he was sent into a clear lead on the second circuit and although Spear Dancer and Jean Genie tried to close, the winner had too much in hand. Zac explained afterwards, “He really liked this softer ground and got into a lovely rhythm which he needs as he’s a big galloper.”  Charlie Poste was hopeful he would make up into an Open horse in time and possibly be good enough for a hunter chase for his owners, the Picnic Partnership who lease two horses from the yard for the season.  They have had over a dozen winners since forming but agree the best bit about pointing is the picnic hence the name! It looked a nice race both on paper and paddock looks and the placed horses should have a good future too. 

Owner/rider Will Badland sprang a surprise when his Western Cowboy held off Steel Express to take the Conditions race with odd-son favourite In Our Dreams back in third.  It was a slightly stop/start race with the lead changing several times but there was no fluke about Western Cowboy’s win.  This was only his third start for Will who had bought him unseen from Thoroughbid Online with Jerry McGrath’s help. He felt he hadn’t quite stayed last time at Badbury Rings on the tacky ground and if he recovered in time from the cut hind leg he sustained here, would be back for the Seavington meeting. 

It is rare that Welsh raider Luke Price does not go home with at least one winner from this course and his Colden’s Dream obliged in the very last race under James King.  Always up with the pace, James kicked on down the far hill with both Valentin de Maine and Born in the West trying to match strides.  But the winner kept finding more and at the post was 11 lengths clear of Born in the West with Free the Lion staying on for third.  Connections remarked on the winner’s small stature in the paddock afterwards and joked he’d probably get into a pony race!  It was a surprise that given his record in improving horses that he wasn’t sent off long odds-on on this his first start for Luke and it would be no surprise if he followed up this win.