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 10th March 2025 12.30pm

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

First Race:   12.30 pm

ENTRY FEES  £50 per entry per race, 2nd entry same horse £25

The Quantock meeting this Saturday at Cothelstone rounds off a busy week following the Cheltenham Festival and this year has attracted 95 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 good, good to soft in places. 

The Hunt Race sponsored by Williton Pet, Equine and Country Store, has attracted 3 entries. Selection Rocheston won this three years ago under an excellent ride from trainer/rider Purdy Peaster before having a year off. Despite several creditable runs for Purdy, he didn’t resume winning ways until springing a surprise at Buckfastleigh a month ago in a Mixed Open under Josh Newman who was deputising for the injured Purdy. Also entered is Sizing Cusimano now with Darren McAlinden, who ran well in defeat when just getting touched off by Hearts Corner at Wadebridge. A dual winner at Upcott Cross, he has decent placed form here too. The third of the trio is Will Biddick’s mare, Far Out West who was pulled up early on in the Hunt race at Charlton Horethorne last Sunday following two good placed efforts. 

The Robert’s Waste and Jockey Club sponsored Mares Maiden run over 2 miles 4 furlongs has attracted 17 entries including Will Biddick’s  beautifully bred, Winding Lake who is out of a half-sister to Gold Cup winner, Bob’s Worth and makes her race debut.  Other debutants include Hazy Winter and Foxy’s Friend who also come from winning families.  Of those to have raced, Isla Getaway ran well for a long way on her jumps debut having placed form in bumpers. Just A Glance went one better when winning a bumper at Godstone and should progress while Walking It Off ran a nice race to finish second at Chipley (Middleton Fox back in 4^th) before unseating next time. Fine Dining will appreciate her sights lowered having run in two Hunter Chases while Blue Topaz ran a fair race when 4^th to Good Boy Eric at Larkhill. 

The Evolution Farm Vets Mixed Open is always competitive and is again being run over 3 and a half miles with 19 entries this year with Southfield Lily looking to complete a four-timer after wins at Charing and Badbury Rings. She looked like having to settle for second last time until Scoresby unseated at the last gifting her the race.  Connections also have Myth Buster who won a competitive Ladies Open at Larkhill in December before finishing 4^th in a Horseheath Novice Riders race.  Norton Hill has only had one start since his move to Harry Ryall but this course may play to his front running strengths which saw him win twice at Hereford for Anthony Honeyball. Sidi Isamel dead-heated in a driving finish with Doc Carver at Chipley and could be of interest while Montanna has course form here and should improve on his last run at Larkhill. Boss Man Fred has won his last two and holds Didero Vallis on the first of those.  Amrons Sage won a 4 miler comfortably last time at Kingston Blount beating Ballyadam Destiny and should again enjoy an extended trip. Revels Hill contested several decent staying chases when trained by Harry Fry under Rules including a third in the Bet 365 Gold Cup two years ago. Now with Jennifer Boucher if fit, his class could prove decisive and he’s the selection. 

The Polaris Stag Environmental Restricted race has a competitive entry of 16 including dual winner this season, Talimar Pearl who held on in a tight finish last time at Badbury Rings. He is opposed here by other progressive types in Posh Dude who finished a close 2^nd on seasonal debut at Milborne St Andrew and looks sure to improve. Monrocco Moonlight too is in good heart, winning at Charing while Will Biddick’s Good Boy Eric was narrowly denied at Larkhill having won there the time before.  Chris Barber has a couple here with Coeur d’Alene looking to supplement his success at Kingston Blount. He also has Drumlee Spud formerly with Ben Pauling and he could improve for the drop in grade. Bobarelli was weakening when taking a crashing fall at Kingston Blount having won the time before at Charing.  Dual Flete winner, All Night Parking returns to pointing after a spell under Rules while Ed Walker introduces Irish point winner, Kakadu Park who may be best watched..

The Sworders PPORA Conditions race has a total of 20 entries including several entered in the Open.  The top class Famous Clermont heads the entries and this winner of the Aintree Foxhunters in 2023, won twice last year at Larkhill and Stratford. A re-appearance at Milborne St Andrew highlighted his stamina limits when reeled in up the finishing hill by Take All. He should make amends here with this flatter finish.  Punches Cross followed up his win at Milborne with a success at Badbury Rings last time and is in good form.  Acey Milan has won a similar race on this course and has recently moved to Harry Ryall’s in-form yard but Famous Clermont should be above these. 

The meeting concludes with the Hawkins Agri Maiden race and 20 entries have been received. Josh Newman can do no wrong this season and has a couple here including Nelson Criq who has filled the third spot in all three runs this season. Each time the winner has looked useful and he could open his account here. Josh also has Punch Perfect, sourced like many of his from Ireland and although he showed no form for Willie Mullins, Josh has worked his magic before and he could do the same with this recruit.  Glancing Hill and Occupied Territory finished second and third at Kingston Blount but both could improve for Fran Poste and Alan Hill while Frogman ran well to finish second at Badbury Rings and could better that. Hannah Clarke has acquired Catch Me Quick from Ireland and he could be another for calculations having finished second on his latest start there. 

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

Race 1:            Hunt Members 

1^st         Rocheston

2^nd        Far Out West

3^rd        Sizing Cusimano 

Runners:          3                      Distances:        5l, 9l                            Time: 6m 22s

Race 2:            Maiden 2m4f 

1^st         Just A Glance

2^nd        Lemon Drizzle

3^rd        Dave’s Sister 

Runners:          11                    Distances:        31/2l, 3l                       Time: 5m 19s

Race 3:            Mixed Open 3m4f 

1^st         Norton Hill

2^nd        Assassins Lullaby

3^rd        Amrons Sage 

Runners:          8                      Distances:        7l, 1/2l                         Time: 8m 00s

Race 4:            Restricted 2m4f 

1^st         Good Boy Eric

2^nd        Bobbarelli

3^rd        Talimar Pearl 

Runners:          11                    Distances:        13/4l, 5l                       Time: 5m 7s

Race 5:            PPORA Conditions Level1 8yrs+ 

1^st         Famous Clermont

2^nd        Acey Milan

3^rd        Punches Cross 

Runners:          8                      Distances:        5l,15l                           Time: 6m 13s

Race 6:            Maiden 

1^st         Catch Me Quick

2^nd        Valentin de Maine

3^rd        Frogman 

Runners:          14                    Distances:        4l, 3/4l                         Time: 6m 20s

N/A

A biting wind did not deter a fair crowd and they were rewarded with over half the entered horses from running at the Quantock fixture, traditionally the first meeting of the year at Cothelstone.  Highlights were a riding double for Will Biddick, the appearance of Aintree Foxhunter hero, Famous Clermont and a second victory for Purdy Peaster in the Hunt race, albeit a training one this time. 

Purdy Peaster earned herself Wessex Ride of the Season in this race three years ago when cannily beating her rivals with a well-timed ride on Rocheston to swoop late at the odds of 16-1. This year’s race featured both Rocheston and Purdy’s former horse Sizing Cusimano who she was reluctantly forced to sell following a bad fall on him at Milborne St Andrew in early February. Having broken an array of bones, Purdy handed over the reins to her good friend Hannah Morgan and she proved an admirable substitute.  Will Biddick made up the trio on Far Out West and he made the early running with Hannah keeping tabs on him from the rear.  A good jump three fences from home sealed the outcome and Rocheston came home an easy 4 length winner from Far Out West.  Purdy explained afterwards, “I have been working for Josh Newman (who deputised on Rocheston to win at Buckfastleigh) this season and the whole yard have been brilliant helping me with training the horse after my accident. I was forced to sell Sizing Cusimano which was not what I really wanted but had no choice.  Hannah and I go way back so I’m pleased that she was able to ride here and she will hopefully keep the ride while I am off.”

 Famous Clermont looked a picture of health in the paddock prior to the Conditions Race and despite Acey Milan trying to spoil the story, James King never looked out of first gear as they cruised into the lead on the bottom bend to win by 5 lengths with market rival Punches Cross another 15 away in third. Chris Barber felt that he had needed the run after not getting home on the tacky ground at Milborne in February and he confirmed that his stable star would now return to Aintree to try to regain the title he won in 2023.  

The extended Mixed Open went to Norton Hill for trainer Harry Ryall and jockey Will Biddick setting up the first of his riding double.  Sent off favourite, Norton Hill had run with promise on his pointing debut at Badbury Rings when 3^rd behind Dr Rhythm and he showed a willing attitude here to win easily by 7 lengths from Assassin’s Lullaby.  Joint-owner, Sarah Barber explained “he wasn’t really good enough under Rules so we felt he should go pointing and Will has really got him jumping well today, giving him loads of confidence. It’s lovely to see the horse every day too as Harry trains from our yard and he’s one of four we have with him.” 

Will’s second winner was on one he also trained when Good Boy Eric took a competitive Restricted. Ed Vaughan sent the other joint-favourite Posh Dude into an early lead and the pace was a quick one with Will happy to sit quietly in 4^th.  Posh Dude departed out of sight at the third last to leave Good Boy Eric to score from outsider Bobarelli.  Owners Stephen and Brenda Bowditch bred the good-looking son of Bollin Eric, whom they stood at stud, and they were keen to stress that they would take their time with the winner. He would probably have another season Pointing and maybe take in a Hunter Chase before hopefully going on to run under Rules. 

The two maidens featured some very nice types in the paddock with the earlier young horse short Maiden going to Just A Glance for Robert Chanin and Darren Andrews.  Just A Glance had run out a good winner of a pointing bumper at Godstone last May and was joint favourite here to go one better.  Darren Andrews explained “They got racing a long way out and she was pulling my arms out all the way round.” Very clever at her fences, the 5 year old mare was bred by her owners John and Michelle Frampton from a mare they had in training with Ron Hodges who had won ten races for them.  They were undecided as to her future but with Ian Chanin in the process of taking out a licence under Rules, they hinted that the mare may end up with him.  The Older maiden went to Hannah Clarke’s Catch Me Quick under Charlie Marshall who scored by a cosy 4 lengths from another promising type in Valentin de Maine.  A beaming Hannah said “I wanted this horse so badly when I saw him at the Doncaster May Sales, that I stood outside in the rain until 9pm! We gave him the summer off and he’s really strengthened up well.”  The horse, who was the pick of the paddock, may now well go back to the sales and would be a nice addition to any yard.