Secretary:   Mrs Rachel Stamp 

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E Mail: rachelstamp30@yahoo.co.uk

Entries Secretary:         Sue Francis

Address: - Teal Farm Sand Wedmore Somerset BS28 4XD

T: - 01934 710198      

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Entries to:   The Secretary or The Point to Point Racing Co Ltd

Entries close:   Thursday 9th May 2024 12.30pm 

Races:   Wessex Area Conditions (Level 2) - CA Members Conditions 7yo+ (Level 1) Nov Rdrs, Ladies Open, Conditions Maiden, Mens Open, Restricted - Maiden 2m4f

First Race:   4.30pm

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

The final meeting of the Wessex Area Point to Point season takes place at Cothelstone on Wednesday when the Weston & Banwell with West Somerset Vale hold their traditional evening meeting.  Always well supported, it has attracted 141 entries and the first race is at 4.30pm. Early bird tickets are £12.50 per person (under 16s admitted free) via www.pointingwessex.co.uk until the weekend or thereafter at £15 on the gate.  The two Wessex Pony Racing Finals kindly sponsored by Brean Country Club, RW Prince Ltd and Paul Nicholls Racing precede the evening racing. 

The Alec Jarrett Ltd sponsored Conditions race includes Another Furlough who has looked useful this season winning twice at Badbury Rings and Milborne St Andrew. He ran at the Hunter Chase meeting at Cheltenham last time but did not look to handle the ground there and fell when well beaten. If none the worse, he could make amends.  All Loved Up won on debut for Hugh Lillingston but has since bumped into two top-class types in Southfield Theatre and Walkin Out so she would be of interest.  The admirable Beau du Brizais is a course winner but may run at Holnicote on Saturday. Aheadfullofdreams won here in April but this may be tougher while Monmouth Hill is consistent but may have to settle for a place. Between You and Me won at Vauterhill and has won on this course as has The Sumba Island and she showed a return to form when third last time at South Hill.  Nine time winner Country Legend needs good ground to be at her best and has also won on this course. 

There are 38 in the shorter Maiden sponsored by the Westminster Society and this could go to Badbury Rings who was a close second to All Night Parking last time at Flete Park after being caught late one. He could go one better here.  Canyouseeme comes from the in-form Luke Price yard who enjoys his raids on Wessex meetings. She was second last time at Ystradowen and is progressing.  City Silk too is promising finishing second on his sole start at Cotley and is very likeable for the Chris Barber yard. Chris also has Heart of Courage who is expected to build on his one run when pulled up at Cotley.  His third entry King Roque too was running well when running out at Kilworthy.  Emberscombe didn’t show much under Rules for Jeremy Scott but now with Danielle Kenealy could improve for this drop in grade.  Josh Newman’s Holiday Fund is unraced out of a dual winning mare while another debutant, It’s A Mystery is also nicely bred as are Yankee Star, Just Her Type, and Moonbow  Nelson Tasman had a couple of runs in Ireland and is related to Katchit while Posh Dude showed plenty of promise when second in a bumper at Milborne St Andrew before unseating last time. 

Briarwood Products sponsor the Trevor Savage Memorial Novice Riders Race and among the 14 entries Siberian Star comes from the all-conquering team of Tim and Ed Vaughan. Ed who is galloping away with the National Novice Riders title has yet to win on this horse but his recent form behind Pink Eyed Pedro and The Kings Writ is decent. The Kings Writ re-opposes and won at Cotley and Chipley Park this season. He came down at the last when held but that was over 4 miles and this would suit better.   Ryans Fancy has won his last two including at Flete Park under Rebecca Bell (for whom it was a first winner), defeating Punches Cross and he would be a definite contender. Jubertilee won last time at Vauterhill under Charlotte Summersby.

 The Ladies Open is sponsored by the Clifton Club and has attracted 13 entries of which Ninth Wave could give Molly Landau a welcome local winner.  Trained by Teresa Clark, Ninth Wave has been in tremendous form this season winning three times and is a dual course winner.  Back Bar was second in this last year and won earlier this season at Charing.  Myth Buster hasn’t won this season but has some good placed efforts while L’Air du Vent took a Grass Roots race under Megan Bevan at Larkhill in January but this may be more competitive.  Former decent performer under Rules, Eritage has yet to reproduce that in points while Chic Name has been off course for two years.  The Kings Writ also has this as an option. 

The Maxwell Chartered Accountants Men’s Open also has 14 entries including the consistent Dr Rhythm who resumed winning ways at South Hill last time. He was beaten previously on this course but over an extended trip and he’s of interest. Pink Eyed Pedro is reaching the veteran stage and has returned to pointing this season after a successful spell under Rules for owner/trainer David Brace. He took a match last time at Ystradowen and is clearly in good form.  Shantou Flyer won in a canter at South Hill and the six-time winner is top-rated here and an obvious threat if coming here. Young Buck won at Kilworthy before finishing behind Shantou Flyer at Cotley. 

The 25 entries in the Beachcomber Inn Restricted give it a competitive look and include Ask Dai who has bumped into the useful Mini Fortune the last twice. He won at Ffos Las on seasonal debut and has ability.  Ringsend John took a Maiden at Stafford Cross before finishing second at Godstone while jockey Ed Vaughan also has the option of the dual winner Ocojohn in too and either would be good enough.  Frontieres Lad has been running well in defeat while Alan Hill has Threeunderthree who won at Cocklebarrow but is held last time by Ocojohn.  Sam Loxton has the former Paul Nicholls trained Rue St Denis who opened his account for Sam at Flete Park and looks promising as does Rocky Creed who took a maiden with ease at Lockinge last time.  Important Notice should have been two from two for Josh Newman but missed the last when clear at Stafford Cross. He won here on Easter Monday and should go close.  All Star Boy has one run one win at Larkhill and is a big threat while My Lucky Star beat the useful Glenmount in November and has run well twice since without winning. 

Junction 24 & Thorne Farm Racing sponsor the finale, a Maiden Conditions race and there are several here also entered in the first Maiden.  Of those not mentioned, Keepitfrombecky has shown enough to take a maiden this season while Killard Point finished second here in March. Alan Hill’s Machu Picchu ran well on debut at Badbury Rings but pulled up in a subsequent run in a similar profile to Born in the West.  Penelope Ann and Whatchagotder both finished second on their latest starts and are not without a chance. Magic Button has had 5 runs in Ireland and could appreciate this quicker ground.

Race 1:            Conditions (Level 2) 

1^st         Enchanted Magic

2^nd        Between you And Me

3^rd        Gran Paradiso 

Runners:          8                      Distances:        4l, 11/5l                       Time: 6m 13s

Race 2:            Maiden Div 1 

1^st         Moonbow

2^nd        Patricks Hill

3^rd        Arknell 

Runners:          10                    Distances:        21/2l, 1l                       Time: 5m 6s

Race 3:            Maiden Div 2 

1^st         Posh Dude

2^nd        Just Her Type

3^rd        Bruce Gobbler 

Runners:          10                    Distances:        2l, 12l                          Time: 5m 7s

Race 4:            Conditions (Level 1) 7yrs+ Novice Riders 

1^st         Stadmallen

2^nd        All Loved Up

3^rd        Vango de Vaige 

Runners:          4                      Distances:        5l, Dist                         Time: 6m 10s

Race 5:            Ladies Open 

1^st         Back Bar

2^nd        Sizing Cusimano

3^rd        L’Air du Vent 

Runners:          6                      Distances:        hd, 3l                           Time: 6m 12s

Race 6:            Mens Open 

1^st         Shantou Flyer

2^nd        Dr Rhythm

3^rd        Dr Oakley 

Runners:          4                      Distances:        5l, 7l                            Time: 6m 7s

Race 7:            Restricted 

1^st         Rocky Creed

2^nd        Ringsend John

3^rd        Calidad 

Runners:          11                    Distances:        hd, 6l                           Time: 6m 8s

Race 8:            Maiden Conditions 

1^st         Born in the West

2^nd        Beat The Poli

3^rd        Keepitfrombecky 

Runners:          10                    Distances:        3l, 2l                            Time: 6m 13s

N/A

The curtain came down on the Wessex Area Point to Point on Wednesday evening at the Weston & Banwell and West Somerset Vale meeting at Cothelstone. Always popular with local racegoers and participants, the decent sized crowd were treated to some good racing with a riding double for Martin McIntyre, veteran Shantou Flyer showing age is no problem and a pulsating finish to the Ladies Open. 

Jockey Izzie Marshall has thrown down the gauntlet to long time Ladies Champion, Gina Andrews and another winner on Back Bar last night pushed her two clear.  Sent off even money favourite, Izzie dictated for much of the way taking the fresh ground on the inner. L’Air du Vent under Megan Bevan, however tried to make life hard for her and when Sizing Cusimano joined in there were three in line over the second last with all to play for. But Izzie galvanised Back Bar to get up for a narrow win although it took a few minutes for the judge to make the announcement.  Trainer Alan Hill, who will soon be Izzie’s father in law, said afterwards, “I have about 15 horses left to run and we are doing all we can to support Izzie so she wins the title. I’m hoping that a few more trainers will do the same as she’s a very talented rider and really deserves this.” 

Shantou Flyer has been a popular sight on Wessex courses over the past 6 seasons and although reaching the twilight of his career, still had enough class to fend off the challenge of the tough and consistent Dr Rhythm. Both horses had won last time out at South Hill with the winner giving young Billy Broomfield the second winner of his career. With Olive Nicholls still feeling sore from her fall from this horse at Stafford Cross when he uncharacteristically ran out, it was left to Billy to do the steering again.  Jumping well throughout, Shantou Flyer always slightly had the upper hand and prevailed by 5 lengths at the line. Paul Nicholls was on hand to greet his winner and remarked. “He’s some kid for his age!” about 16 year old Billy who currently works for him while Olive confirmed that she hoped to be back in the saddle next week. 

Another long-time favourite, Posh Totty, was present in the form of her son, Posh Dude and he confirmed the promise of his debut run in a bumper at Milborne St Andrew when he took the second division of the maiden under Will Biddick for thrilled owner-breeder Jeremy Barber and a relieved trainer Harry Ryall who is also Jeremy’s tenant. Although the Max Comley trained favourite, Just Her Type tried hard to wear down the winner, Will admitted afterwards, “He’s literally like a terrier, ears go flat back and he refused to let the second pass him.”  The second should also go into the notebooks as she was last for most of the way under James King, before making rapid progress with three to jump. It was her debut and she will have learnt plenty.  The earlier division was won by another debutant in Moonbow for the Josh Newman yard with Josh himself riding.  A good-looking son of Spanish Moon, he was bought privately from Sean Doyle in Ireland. Josh’s partner Kayley clearly holds the gelding in high regard and although he is now up for sale, she would dearly like to keep him in the yard. “He’s been so straightforward from day one and I just love him.” 

The opening Conditions race looked quite competitive on paper and so it proved with a whole host of horses in with a chance with half a mile to run. Eventually it was the Flat-bred Enchanted Magic who took the spoils under Maryland Hunt Cup winning rider, Charlie Marshall.  A winner of a maiden hurdle in Ireland, he had then shown little in subsequent starts over there for both Willie Mullins and Colin McBratney.  He looked like he could take a hand in the finish on his pointing debut at Milborne St Andrew only to fall at the last. A big imposing son of Dark Angel, he looks to have improved significantly on what he showed in the three starts after that and possibly the firmer ground might be more to his liking. 

The Novice Riders race went to Stadmallen who had been unlucky last time at South Hill when crashing out through the wing of a fence under trainer/jockey Heidi Stevens. With Henry Moore taking the reins this time, Stadmallen kicked clear to record a 4 length success over favourite All Loved Up.  Twenty year old Henry rides out for Heidi (whom she has known since he was 14) as well as doing the schooling and also riding out for Les Jefford and Rod Millman.  This was Stadmallen’s second win for Heidi who purchased him out of the Nigel Twiston-Davies yard. 

The final two races were won by jockey Martin “Fly” McIntyre who took the Restricted on Rocky Creed for trainer Bea Coward and the Maiden Conditions on Born in the West for Jazmin Hosegood.  Rocky Creed looks a nice type and should progress further following his earlier 12 length romp at Lockinge.  Purchased by Mel Smith Bloodstock at Doncaster Sales after one run in Ireland, Bea explained “He’s such a genuine horse.  He probably found the shorter trip at Larkhill too quick for him then he wasn’t right when we took him back there. But he made amends at Lockinge and is a very exciting horse for the Barrow Racing Club!”  Fly’s second winner came on the grey Born in the West who proved a character on the way to post, bucking him off. However in the race, he was far more professional and beat Beat the Poli and Keepitfrombecky with something in hand.  He had finished a fair second on debut at Cotley before finding the ground at Cothelstone too testing on Easter Monday.  He will now head to the sales and looks a nice prospect.