Secretary: Mr George Pullen

M:  07879 645364

E:  george@pullenandco.com

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

Entries Close: Monday 17th March 2025, 12.30pm

Races: PPORA Conditions (Level 2 Novice and Veteran), Ladies Open, Mens Open, 6yr + Maiden, 4,5 year old Maiden (2m4f), Restricted

First race 12.30pm

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

After the loss of their meeting in 2024 organisers for the Mendip Farmers point to point are hoping to be blessed by more favourable conditions when they host their annual meeting at the popular Ston Easton course situated alongside the A37 – Postcode BA3 4EG.  A respectable entry of 70 horses has been received for their six races which are then followed by two pony races. There will be the usual amenities of tradestands, licensed bar, children's entertainment, big screen, bookies etc. all of which make for a great family day out. The costs are £15 per person if tickets are booked in advance (www.pointingwessex.co.uk) or £20 on the gate with under 16s free. The latest going report is good with some rain forecast towards the end of the week.

The first race at 12.30 is the PPORA Conditions race for Veteran and Novice Riders has received an entry of twelve horses headed by Llandinabo Lad who was narrowly defeated in a similar race at Badbury Rings in February. A repeat of that form should be good enough to give his likely rider Will Badlan another winner. Of his potential rivals For Rita normally runs well for her owner Abigail Henry and has place chances. Steady The Ship trained by Philip Rowley was last seen in a Southwell Hunter Chase and this ought to be easier for her owner/rider Victoria Sollitt. Barely Famous like Llandinabo Lad trained by Joanne Priest ran well at Howick and if the stable preference he would be the choice.

The Four and Five year old Maiden race often produces a good winner who goes on to a career under Rules. A number of the leading trainers have entries in this race headed by two horses from Bradley Gibbs stable. Askdaddy placed in two Bumpers will be making her fencing debut whereas Avichi in the Park was placed in a Maiden at Horseheath and probably brings the best form to the race. Both Sogna In Grande and Tennessee Orange were placed in Maiden races and they may well improve for those runs. Of the newcomers Short Stay from Charlie and Fran Poste’s stable, Outmaster from Gina Andrews yard and Peter de L’Orme from Chris Barber’s stable are all of interest and should be considered. Myfanwys Lillegend out of the prolific winning pointer Lady Myfanwy is another of interest. Bradley Gibbs selection is the choice.

The Ladies Open race looks to be at the mercy of Olive Nicholls with the choice of either Mr Glass trained by Will Biddick who won a Hunter Chase at Wincanton before pulling up on his latest outing or Switch Hitter trained by Sam Loxton who has won his last two outings. Of the other entries Eagle of The Glen ran well at Badbury Rings when runner up to Walkin Out and should give his rider Lucy Mager a good ride. Montanna ought to bring his best form to this race as he has had two outings already this season.  Mr Glass would be a popular winner for local owners John Gane and Paul Nicholls.

Mr Glass and Montanna both hold entries in the Mens Open race and would come into the reckoning if this race is chosen. Premier Magic the winner of the Cheltenham Foxhunter Chase in 2023 has finished runner up in both his outings this season and may be the one to beat. Duc de Bourbon is in great form having won three of his last four races and would be the main danger to Premier Magic. Ed Walker the trainer of Montanna has also entered Walk In The Wild and his third at Didmarton was his best form this season and would have place chances. 

The Restricted race may see the return of Southfield Scope the impressive winner of a Larkhill Maiden for owner Angela Yeoman. If bringing that form to this race he will be difficult to beat. Ultimate Survivor was an easy winner of a Restricted at Charing but the form is difficult to assess. Impakt St Georges was another good winner of a Maiden at Larkhill whereas L’Aventara won her Restricted at Ampton and carries a penalty. Local owner James Drummond will be hoping that his Potters Magic runs well and showed some improved form on his last outing at Badbury Rings. Southfield Scope is selected.

The meeting concludes with a Maiden race for Six year olds and over and has attracted an entry of fifteen horses. Far Out West has been placed second on three of her last four outings and would not be winning out of turn. Lucarne was a close second at Larkhill and is another closing in on a win for owner/breeder Audrey Goodwin. Sparkling Duke has switched from Kayley Woollacott’s yard to Josh Newman’s stable and this placed hurdler may appreciate the change to pointing. Is Our Otis placed in three Bumper races last season will be making his chasing debut but if taking to these he should be considered. Handsome Bill has only raced once and ought  to have improved from his run at Larkhill. Lucarne is the choice. 

Race 1:            PPORA Conditions Level 2 Veteran and Novice Riders

 1^st         For Rita

2^nd        Favori de Sivola

3^rd        

Runners:          2                      Distances:        10l, l                            Time: 6m 11s

Race 2:            4&5yro Maiden 2m4f 

1^st         Sogna in Grande

2^nd        Silver Fish

2^nd        Peter L Orme 

Runners:          4                      Distances:        8l, DH                          Time: 4m 46s

Race 3:            Ladies Open 

1^st         Switch Hitter

2^nd        Montanna

3^rd        Eagle of The Glen 

Runners:          5                      Distances:        8l, nk                            Time: 6m 4s

Race 4:            Mens Open 

1^st         Walk In The Wild

2^nd        Cornish Warrior

3^rd        

Runners:          2                      Distances:        15l, l                            Time: 6m 17s

Race 5:            Restricted 

1^st         Potters Magic

2^nd        Mad For Action

3^rd        Miltown Bridge 

Runners:          5                      Distances:        6l, 3l                            Time: 5m 59s

Race 6:            6yrs+ Maiden 

1^st         Far Out West

2^nd        Priceforlove

3^rd        

Runners:          4                      Distances:        3l, l                              Time: 6m 00s

N/A

A large crowd attended the Mendip Farmers annual point to point despite a grey and chilly day on going described as good to firm but perfectly raceable by the jockeys. Highlights of the day were a riding treble for Will Biddick, a first training victory for Joe Drinkwater and an unusual double for local owner James Drummond.

The opening Ford Fuel Oils PPORA Conditions race provided Abigail Henry with her second career victory aboard her mare For Rita. Setting off in front of her rival Favori De Sivola ridden by 19 year old Loveday Williams the daughter of Nick and Jane Williams  she jumped very well with some excellent leaps and had ten lengths in hand at the finish. Abigail, 24, who  works for Mark Grant in Lambourn assisting him with his breakers and pre-trainers hopes that ‘I would like to have a chance to run her in a Hunter Chase as she jumps so well’ . The mare has been the model of consistency and was recording her ninth point to point victory. 

Mark Grant had hopes that his debutant Silver Fish would win the Alec Jarrett sponsored Four and Five Year old Maiden but had to settle for a second place dead heat behind Sogna In Grande ridden by Will Biddick. Trained and owned by Joe Drinkwater whose first training winner this was he chased early leader Geordies Betty but once he took over the five year old Dartmouth gelding was too good for his rivals. Bought by Joe at Doncaster in May 2023 for 43K he was confirming the promise he had shown at Kingston Blount on his debut. The brother to National Hunt trainer Sam Drinkwater Joe explained that’ I have a small holding close to my brother’s yard in Worcestershire  where I keep the gelding and train him in my spare time’  When asked about the name of the gelding Joe said’ it comes from a children’s TV programme’  and is translated as dream big. His future looks bright.

Switch Hitter recorded his third success this season when making all under Olive Nicholls to record an easy victory in the Killens sponsored Ladies Open race. There was no repeat of the problems at the start on his last outing at Charlton Horethorne and he outstayed his four rivals to record a seven lengths victory over Montanna ridden by Chloe Emsley. Olive explained that ‘ he just stays and as no one wanted to make it  I thought I would use his stamina’

Harry Billing had declared his Cornish Warrior to run in the opening race but when he realized that the Morris and Perry sponsored Mens Open race was going to be a walk over he withdrew his declaration to run in this race. The sporting decision allowed the two runners of Cornish Warrior and Walk in the Wild to set off together and remained matching strides until Will Biddick decided to set off for home from the third last and soon asserted over his rival. Owned by Reg Hopkins and trained by Edward Walker the winner had been acquired from Gary and Josh Moore’s stable following a visit by Reg to their stable in West Sussex. Reg explained that ‘ the syndicate who owned him had rather lost faith in him but I thought he would make a good pointer’

James Drummond who lives at Dinder close by to the course has had a weekend to remember. On Saturday his Move With The Beat recorded a confidence boosting win at Milborne St Andrew when ridden by James King. In the Tincknell Fuels sponsored Restricted race his gelding Potters Magic scored his second success under Tommie O’Brien . Always prominent he stayed on well to record a five lengths victory over Mad for Action ridden by Lucy Magor. Tommie riding the gelding for the second time recalled his ride on him at Larkhill (where he finished 8^th)  and said to trainer Chris Barber after the race ‘ I would love to start again and ride him completely differently’. This time different tactics of staying with the pace worked to give Tommie his winner on his first ever visit to Ston Easton. 

Will Biddick recorded the final leg of his treble when partnering Far Out West a six year old mare he trains himself for the Hot Toddie Partnership to win the R M Penny sponsored Open Maiden race. Battling with his main rival Priceforlove ridden by Joe Neal for much of the final circuit Will kept the mare going to register a three lengths victory at the winning post. On dismounting he said that ‘ she is not an easy ride ‘ to which one of her owners Andy Pollard retorted ‘ that is why you are riding her’. Bought by Will at Doncaster in May last year for 9K having run in Irish point to points the partnership consists of Andy, Steve Paul, who was recording his first winner as an owner, and Will. This was her sixth race this season having been placed second in three of her previous outings and shows what a tough mare she is.