Secretary: Katrina Stanhope-White

M:  07939 598654

E:  jstanhopewhite@aol.com

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

Entries Close:  Monday 14th April 2025, 12.30 pm

Races:  Hunt (Taunton Vale Fox & Harriers West Somerset Vale Weston & Banwell, Mendip Farmers) - Restricted  - 5 yrs+ Maiden (Conditions) (2m4f) - Mixed Open - Conditions (Level 2)  - Open Maiden

First Race 1.30pm

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

A total of 60 entries have been received for the traditional Taunton Vale Point to Point to be held on Easter Monday at Cothelstone. It is a short distance from Bishops Lydeard.  Early-bird tickets can be purchased via www.pointingwessex.co.uk for £12.50 until Sunday 20^th or at the course with cash or card options on the day and entry is £15 per person. All children under 16 are admitted free.  The first race is at 1.30pm while a dog show is scheduled for 11am plus terrier racing and trade stands. 

The first race is the Greenslade Taylor Hunt Members race and 5 entries have been received. David Pipe is a well-known local National Hunt trainer who supports the pointing scene and has the likely favourite in First Lord de Cuet. He hadn’t sparkled under Rules this season but a drop into this company last time at Buckfastleigh resulted in an easy win and he is the selection.  Another local, Teresa Clark always enjoys bringing her horses here and has Ask Lileen who has just had the one run for the yard here in a Restricted race in March. Previously trained by Teresa’s brother, Anthony Honeyball, she had taken a fair scalp in Apple Away when winning an Irish point three years ago and anything like that form would make her of interest. Ed Walker’s Kakadu Park has also just had the one run for connections but he too was a winner last season of an Irish point. Ed also has Miss Jaffa Cake, out of the popular Miss Cupcake and she makes her race debut. 

The Carter Jonas Maiden Conditions Race has attracted 6 entries. Likely favourite Gig in the Park ran well to finish second at Chilfrome to Scoro while Gallant Geronimo has some placed form last year and Lucy Mager has the German-bred Sternpate and is no stranger to the winner’s enclosure here. 

The Sleeps12.com Conditions race has 12 entries including the remarkable Southfield Theatre, winner of 19 points and a hunter chase for connections. He won this race two years ago but he may opt to run elsewhere. Josh Newman has two entered, Honestlyntrufully who won last time at Cherrybrook and Important Notice who looked useful in his first two starts when winning at Chaddesley Corbett and Chipley but then ran into the top class, Macklin at Buckfastleigh last time. That was no disgrace and he is taken to resume winning ways here. Sam Barton took a Ladies Open at Shelfield Park last weekend while On Springs easily won a Conditions Race at Kingston Blount and could be a danger. Formerly with Ben Pauling, he won five races under Rules and if rejuvenated as he showed last time, would be a big threat. Move with the Beat and Scoresby played cat and mouse in a very slowly run race at Chilfrome so either or both could reappear here and are respected. 

The Mixed Open sponsored by S Morris has attracted 12 entries and include former Aintree Foxhunter winner Famous Clermont who also won here at the last meeting before a slightly lacklustre display back at Liverpool. If he is none the worse, he would be hard to beat judged on his facile victory here in March. Another who put in a rare off-day last time was the usually ultra-consistent Dr Rhythm who has two course wins to his name. Only third last time at Trebudannon, he had previously won well at Badbury Rings in February. Southfield Lily has been well placed and is unbeaten this season. She may have been gifted the race at Badbury Rings but easily followed up next time at Siddington so is clearly in great form. Trainer Harry Ryall’s string too, is in good form and Another Furlough won easily last weekend at Chilfrome. He’d be on the short list if turning out quickly. Plumpton specialist, Sublime Heights is an interesting recruit for owner/trainer Andrew Wates but hasn’t run since December and may need this while another ex-Rules horse, Soldier of Destiny was well-backed on his return to the point to point sphere only to finish third at Chipley. He’s more than capable and is back with trainer Mark Quinlan for whom he won so impressively at Ffos Las. 

The 14 entries in the Mitchell’s Accountants Restricted include Will Biddick’s Southfield Scope who won very impressively at Larkhill in December from subsequent dual winner Up Killoughey. He then disappointed when favourite next time at Milborne but could well bounce back here. Will also has the mare, Far Out West who was second here before winning a maiden at Ston Easton.  A few re-oppose from the Restricted here back in March when Talimar Pearl came out best finishing a fair third to Good Boy Eric. A winner the time before at Badbury, he should confirm that form. Trainer Josh Newman also has Impakt St Georges who looked a nice prospect when winning at Larkhill in January. Beaten there next time by two decent sorts, that form has a good look to it. Chances too are given to Ultimate Survivor who followed up his Irish point win with a 25 length romp at Charing and Religious Cross who won his maiden nicely on debut at Buckfastleigh. 

The finale is an all aged Maiden sponsored by Monument Fuels and there are 12 entries including Chris Barber’s four year old, Top of Off who should come on for his two runs this season. Chris also has Chief O’Hara who didn’t show much in Ireland but an improvement for this yard would not be a surprise.  The unraced Electric City is a half-brother to a dual winner for Gavin Cromwell and is from the family of Cheltenham Gold Cup winner, Imperial Call. Ianthus Mome and Millbrook Lad were placed behind A Nice Malbec at Milborne while Ballinouart has three placings this season and ought to find a race soon. Woolacombebay is out of a dual winning National Hunt mare and could improve on her one start.

Cothelstone is 2 miles NE of Bishops Lydeard off A358 –Postcode TA4 3DT. What Three Words: leafing.probable.cookbooks

Race 1:            Members 

1^st         Ask Lileen

2^nd       

3^rd       

Runners:          3                      Distances:        l, l                                Time: 6m 30s

Race 2:            Maiden Conditions 5yos+ 2m4f 

1^st         Gig in the Park

2^nd        Hazy Winter

3^rd        Kates Lane 

Runners:          4                      Distances:        21/4l, hd                      Time: 5m 17s

Race 3:            Conditions (Level 2) 

1^st         Move with the Beat

2^nd        Southfield Theatre

3^rd        Steel Express 

Runners:          4                      Distances:        4l, 12l                          Time: 6m 20s

Race 4:            Mixed Open 

1^st         Famous Clermont

2^nd        Another Furlough

3^rd        Dr Rhythm 

Runners:          6                      Distances:        3/4l, 7l                         Time: 6m 16s

Race 5:            Restricted 

1^st         Far Out West

2^nd        Ultimate Survivor

3^rd        Royal Defender 

Runners:          6                      Distances:        3/4l, 15l                       Time: 6m 16s

Race 6:            Maiden 

1^st         Top of Off

2^nd        Ballinoulart

3^rd        Dorset Dazzler 

Runners:          8                      Distances:        10l, 3/4l                       Time: 6m 27s

N/A

The recent welcome rain coupled with a hard working team behind the scenes, ensured that the ground at Cothelstone for their annual Easter Monday fixture run by the Taunton Vales was in great shape and they were rewarded with 31 runners in the Spring sunshine.  A riding treble for comeback kid, Ed Doggrell who teamed up with trainer Chris Barber bringing him a training treble, plus a riding double for Will Biddick were the highlights for a massive crowd who also enjoyed a family dog show which kicked off the proceedings. 

Jockey Ed Doggrell had been absent from the saddle since May 2018 but has resumed riding this season for Chris Barber.  Their first winner came in the Conditions race when Move With the Beat made a quick reappearance after his win at Chilfrome to beat the wonderful Southfield Theatre who ran with his usual zest and enthusiasm only giving in to a younger set of legs. As Move With the Beat passed the post to go out onto the final circuit, it was clear that Ed was struggling to contain his mount. Rejuvenated by his return to the point to point sphere, Ed admitted “He was running away with me the whole way and I just had to wait and suffer.” Trainer Chris Barber said, “The horse’s confidence has just grown and grown this season with every win and he’s a proper horse.” Owner James Drummond was undecided where he would go next but was happy to enjoy a third victory for the season. 

Ed and Chris’ second winner came in the following race when classy Famous Clermont repeated his win here earlier in the season taking the Mixed Open from a fast finishing Another Furlough and Dr Rhythm. Chris had been disappointed with the horse’s lacklustre display at Aintree when he was trying to regain his Foxhunters title there but was relieved to be back in the winner’s enclosure with him.  He said afterwards, “He’s possibly not as good as he was but at least he has won here. We had toyed with the idea of the Ladies Final at Stratford but we will see how he is after this race.” 

Their third winner of the afternoon was an emotional one when Top of Off took the finale, a Maiden race and he looks a very nice individual. Always in the front rank, the good looking son of Jack Hobbs jumped well and easily saw off Ballinoulart and Electric City. Chris explained, “I’m not ashamed to say that this has made me really emotional. We bred the horse and he’s out of Definitelyanoscar who was the first winner I ever trained and bought on the advice of my grandfather.  He’s her first foal too so this is a very special moment for us.” Chris went on to say, “I was stupid to run him first time out at Buckfastleigh as the ground was too much for him that day and he’s only a baby. But he loved the ground here and although we’d love to keep him, he will go to the sales as he has the potential to make up into a serious horse.” 

Teresa Clark loves training winners at her local track and she duly took the opener, the Members race with Ask Lileen who was too good for her two rivals and despite looking around in front, finished off her race in isolation with the others pulling up.  A neat mare by Soldier of Fortune, she had previously been trained by Teresa’s brother Anthony Honeyball before being purchased by the Lets Ask Lileen partnership, a group made up of existing owners in Teresa’s yard. Teresa said “She’s had lots of little niggly issues so today was just really a confidence boost and I am delighted how she has done it. We haven’t got any plans for her at the moment other than I guess we will look for a 3 mile Restricted for her now.” 

Will Biddick proved an able deputy when taking the ride in the short Maiden on Gig in the Park for owner Daniel Adams who had originally purchased the gelding to race ride on himself. After becoming a father and feeling rearing children was too time consuming, he decided to put that idea on the back burner and Laura Hurley took over the training.  A couple of good seconds at Milborne St Andrew and Chilfrome proved the horse had enough ability and although second favourite Hazy Winter tried to steal a march on him three fences out, Will just filled his lungs up before getting back up in front on the line under a typically masterful ride. Daniel, who is based on Exmoor, has a breeding operation under the banner of Windwhistle Stud where he breeds both Flat and NH to sell on. A big framed horse, he thought he would probably be turned away for the season having now won his maiden. 

The second winner for the former Champion jockey came in the Restricted on Far Out West, a mare he also trains for the Hot Toddie Partnership headed by a jubilant Andy Pollard. She had some decent form this season including a good second here to Rocheston before winning a maiden at Ston Easton. Making all the running, she jumped well and despite favourite Ultimate Survivor trying to mount a challenge, she was still half a length too good at the line.  Andy explained, “We gave Will the task of buying us a horse at Doncaster Sales to go to Cheltenham and Punchestown with and he bought us Far Out West. That’s still the plan so there’s no pressure!”