Secretary: Mrs Linda Pugsley

M: 07890 662817

E:  lindapugsley@live.co.uk 

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

Entries Close:  Monday 28th April 2025 12.30 pm

Races:  Conditions (Level 3) - Restricted - Conditions (Level 2) 8yo+  – Conditions (Level 1) Nov Rdrs - Maiden - Mixed Open

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

The Devon & Somerset meeting returns to South Hill next Sunday with Early bird tickets at £12.50 from www.pointingwessex.co.uk until this Friday at 6pm or tickets are £15 per person to include a race card (under 16s are admitted free if accompanied by an adult) on the gate. The first race is at 2pm with a bar and refreshments available and trade stands on site.  The course is situated 2 miles north of Dulverton off the B3223 at TA22 9PT. Cars can access the course off this road but lorries must NOT go through Dulverton and instead are directed via Winsford. 

The Devon & Somerset Staghounds Challenge sponsored by Sir Stephen Waley- Cohen and Robert Waley-Cohen sees Holiday Fund top the 4 entries. A progressive 6 year old, he’s won twice this season at Dunsmore, and third time at Wadebridge and could have more to come. His opponents include veteran Steel Express who knows his way around this course having won here last year. Sizing Cusimano would be a popular winner and ran well at Trebudannon last time when third to Quintin’s Man while Skilful Lord won a Grass Roots race at Dunsmore. 

The Tom Malone Bloodstock Maiden race has attracted 8 entries with Blazing Litten top on ratings. He finished 2^nd to What’s Up Harry at Flete Park and may enjoy this return to 3 miles.  River Story too is going the right way judged on her second at Kilworthy. People Pleaser had three runs in Ireland before moving to Stuart Sampson. He fell on debut at Howick when going well so could figure here. My Kent has joined the Luke Price yard and despite not being sighted on his only racecourse start under Rules, could well improve. 

The PFG Fabrication sponsored Mixed Open looks to be a competitive affair and the season’s Champion Novice Rider Elect, Rian Corcoran has the choice of 4 of the 12 entries. Two of those are trained by his father Liam, Itacare who may have found it tough giving weight to Quintin’s Man last time, and Duc de Beauchene who stylishly took the Cornish National from the same horse last time at Trebudannon. Rian’s other potential mounts are Young Buck and Jubertilee, for his boss, Emma Summersby. Young Buck has yet to recapture the form that saw him win at Kilworthy and Newton Abbot last season but Jubertilee took a Grass Roots race comfortably under Rian last time at Flete Park and looks in good form. Sam Loxton has the pair Switch Hitter a three time winner this season and Drop Flight who looked like he didn’t stay the 4 miles last time while Mr Glass won well at Wincanton only to disappoint next time at Leicester, both Hunter Chases. Walk in the Wild has won his last two which were matches and may not have been as competitive as this. The veteran The King’s Writ is in great form this term winning two and was only just denied giving weight to talented mare, Walkin Out at Trebudannon. 

The Novice Rider’s Conditions race is sponsored by Stag Environmental with 9 entries and another riding choice for Rian Corcoran. Jubertilee is joined by stablemate Dorrell's Pierji who was second in this last year to Walkin Out. He then won his next four races relishing the quicker ground and has two good seconds so far this season. He should go one better here. Josh Newman’s Honestlyntruthfully won a similar race at Cherrybrook under Jack Stenhouse but Jack may rely on his own Teescomponentsfly on whom he won the Mixed Open that day. Raddon Top was a third winner that day to be entered here and he is also of interest. David Pipe’s Sidi Ismael dead-heated under Rian at Chipley Park but that was back in January. 

The Amhurst & Shapland Conditions race for horses 8 years and over, has two significant entries from Luke Price who likes his forays into the West Country. Inchidaly Robin has won his last four all coming this season, and looks very progressive while Lavorante too has won his last four outings with one coming this season. Either looks to be worthy favourite in this contest. Itacare also has an entry here but would have to shoulder a hefty penalty. First Preference won a match at Larkhill for new connections but didn’t fire on this course for Luke Price last season when odds-on. St Patricks Bridge won at Sandon last time over a shorter trip while Whitsand Bay and Young Wolf both have fair placed form. 

There are 14 entries in the finale, the Wedgewood Groundworks-sponsored Restricted with the highest rated, Ask Lileen coming here after a confidence-boosting win at Cothelstone when she finished alone. That shouldn’t be underestimated as she had a good point form in Ireland in her early days and she could follow up here today. Luke Price has three entered, the most obvious of which looks to be Callaghy who easily won a maiden at Chilfrome last month. His others are Colden’s Dream who romped home in a maiden at Cotley last season and All Thumbs Up, an ex-Tom Lacey inmate who won as he liked at Lystep but that was back in April 23. An absence from one in this yard would not be a hindrance and both are of interest. Another Welsh trained horse, Myfanwy impressed when beating City Silk at Cotley last season. She fell on her reappearance this season but she’s an eye-catching entry. Sureamsassy won at Howick but could opt for a meeting closer to home.

Race 1:            Conditions (Level 3) 

1^st         Skilful Lord

2^nd        Sizing Cusimano

3^rd        Steel Express 

Runners:          4                      Distances:        21.2l, 8l                       Time: 6m 21s

Race 2:            Maiden

 1^st         Chief O’Hara

2^nd        River Story

3^rd        Doctor Doyen 

Runners:          5                      Distances:        15l, 8l                          Time: 6m 29s

Race 3:            Mixed Open 

1^st         The Kings Writ

2^nd        Mulberry Hill

3^rd        His Own Star 

Runners:          5                      Distances:        8l, 25l                          Time: 6m 21s

Race 4:            Conditions (level 1) Novice Riders 

1^st         Teescomponentsfly

2^nd        Sidi Ismael

3^rd        Dorrells Pierji 

Runners:          3                      Distances:        hd, 3l                           Time: 6m 52s

Race 5:            Conditions (level 2) 8yrs+ 

1^st         Inchidaly Robin

2^nd        Whitsand Bay

3^rd        First Preference 

Runners:          4                      Distances:        8l, 30l                          Time: 6m 28s

Race 6:            Restricted 

1^st         All Thumbs Up

2^nd        Drumlee Spud

3^rd        Royal Defender 

Runners:          7                      Distances:        3/4l, 7l                         Time: 6m 31s

N/A

A welcome sunny day greeted a large crowd that gathered on Exmoor to attend the Devon & Somerset fixture at South Hill in stark contrast to previous meetings there where racegoers battled rain and fog and rearrangements. A respectable 28 runners faced the starter no doubt courtesy of some hard graft by an excellent team on the ground. The formidable trainer-jockey combo that is Luke Price and James King notched a double while Jack Stenhouse narrowly denied his girlfriend’s younger sister her first winner in a thrilling Novice Riders contest. 

Jockey Jack Stenhouse may have had mixed emotions after capitalising on the runner up’s one mistake at the last to drive home Teescomponentsfly to take the Novice Riders race by a head.  Prior to that the David Pipe trained Sidi Ismael under 16 year old Mia Holmes had given an exhibition round of jumping and looked certain to record her first winner. Given that Jack is dating Mia’s sister, Shannon, this result will probably be forgiven and this competent riding performance by Mia should be rewarded soon enough. Jack said afterwards “I thought I was beaten but he’s so game and sticks his head down to battle. That’s my 6^th winner now so it takes me out of the novice ranks but I couldn’t not ride this fella!” Trainer Mike Vanstone quipped “It was a case of Teescomponentsfly – flew!” 

The racing started with a newly formed take on the Members race which was opened to all the local staghound packs and it was owner Brian Palfrey, chairman and former Master of the Tiverton Staghounds for whom Skilful Lord prevailed despite a late challenge from Sizing Cusimano. With the field of four swopping and changing the lead throughout the race, it meant the pace was strong and while James Shaw wanted to sit quietly on Skilful Lord, he was forced into the lead earlier than intended. A good jump at the last sealed victory for them and despite Sizing Cusimano trying to close, they were just over two lengths clear at the line.  Joe Tickle representing trainer Danielle Kenealy said “We nearly didn’t get here as he had a foot abscess earlier in the week and even my farrier wasn’t convinced we’d be able to run.  But I said never say never and after some intense treatment, we were able to use a special pad under the shoe which has worked well.” 

Josh Newman has been having a tremendous season both riding and training winners and his The Kings Writ denied his 14 years to skip around the course to record an easy 8 length win over Mulberry Hill and take the Mixed Open. Josh explained afterwards “I just need to stress how hard it was to take the ride back from Hannah Morgan who has won twice on him this year. Had I not been chasing the title, she would have been on him for sure.” This win put Josh briefly one ahead of his rival James King. Kayley Woollacott said of her horse “Pointing has brought him a new lease of life and he just loves racing. It would be impossible to retire him so as long as he’s fit and healthy, we will keep going.” Retirement was announced however for Itacare who has been instrumental in jockey Rian Corcoran’s rapid rise and he will now take on his role full-time as “Pony Club pony” ridden by Rian’s ten year old sister Niamh much to her delight. 

Chris Barber invariably improves horses in his care and his eye-catching chestnut Chief O’Hara gleamed in the sunshine while walking around the paddock. Moved by owners Andrew and Sally Mutch from trainer John McConnell in Ireland where he’d run unsuccessfully under Rules, apart from a sticky jump at the first, Ed Doggrell managed to get the son of Doyen to relax and he coasted home by 15 lengths from favourite River Story after his nearest rival Blazing Litten unseated at the last.  Owner Andrew, who lives near Worcester, credited Chris with teaching the gelding to jump properly and although he’d bought 4 store horses with the thought of selling them on, he might have a rethink after this easy win. 

James King continued his ruthless quest to retain his riding title and he partnered the last two winners both for his regular patron, Luke Price.  The Conditions race went to Inchidaly Robin who was recording his fifth straight win when cruising home by 10 lengths from rival Josh Newman on Whitsand Bay. Inchidaly Robin has now won on all of his starts for Luke who describes him as a “proper horse” and it will take a decent one to lower his colours.  He looks sure to pick up more races before the season is out.  Their second winner was less expected as All Thumbs Up took the finale, a Restricted having had over two years off the track.  Just under a length separated the winner and runner-up Drumlee Spud who ran a much improved race for trainer Chris Barber. Sadly the winner was found to have sustained an injury whilst in the winner’s enclosure which marred the victory for joint owner David Van-Pouke, whose Lavorante also took this race here last year.