Secretary: Mrs T Parker
Address: Manor Court Steps Farm Bilbrook Minehead Somerset TA24 6HE
T: 01984 640245
M: 07846 967232
Entries to: The Point to Point Racing Co Ltd (www.pointtopointentries.co.uk )
Entries Close: Monday 5th May 2025 12.30 pm
Races: Members - Restricted 2m4f- Conditions (Level 2) 8yo+ - Mixed Open – Intermediate – PPORA Conditions (Level 2) Nov Rdrs - Maiden
ENTRY FEES £50 per entry per race, 2nd entry same horse £25 Hunt race £30
The Minehead and West Somerset point to point at picturesque Holnicote on Saturday has attracted an entry of 50. The first race is at 2pm and the course is signed from the A39 between Minehead and Porlock – TA24 8TE. Admission is £15 per person to include a racecard (under 16s admitted free) – tickets can be purchased on the gate or in advance via www.pointingwessex.co.uk . As in previous years there will be a return of the very popular free admission after-party with live music from the band Turnette Doon which looks set to be a big draw. A family dog show is planned plus the appearance courtesy of Jeremy Scott, of the locally trained Champion Hurdle heroine, Golden Ace who will parade fresh from her recent second in the Irish Champion Hurdle at Punchestown last week.
The first race the Members race is sponsored by BHR Farrier Ltd and of the 5 entries they include two course winners in the George Beilby-trained Champions Hill who won a Restricted here two years ago while Canastero took this race last year beating the decent Beau du Brizais to give jockey Ashley Dascombe his first winner. Two are entered from Elizabeth Scott’s yard, Kate’s Lane who was third to Gig in the Park at Cothelstone and top-rated Reikers Island who was capable when trained last season by Alan Hill but didn’t show much in his only start for this yard at Umberleigh last June.
The East Lynch Stud Maiden has 10 entries including Majestic Moment trained by Emma Summersby who has pulled up in both starts since joining the yard after running well for a fair way. Both runs however were on softer ground than he will face here and he could improve for that. Two that are yet to grace a racecourse are Fran Poste’s Dictatorship who is a full brother to a winner in Gabriel Ranger while Josh Newman has Western Vison who is out of a dual NH winner for Dan Skelton and would be of interest. Chris Barber has acquired Eileen’s Milan from Harry Derham for whom he had just the one run. Prior to that he was narrowly beaten over hurdles at Newton Abbot last June for Paul Nicholls and that form should be good enough here.
The PPORA Novice Riders Conditions race is sponsored by Molland Ridge Stud and of the 6 entries, Josh Newman has two of them with Hannah Morgan likely to take the ride of whichever is chosen. Clondaw Drake has looked useful this season with 5 wins and a good second to Cheltenham Hunter Chase winner, Douglas Longbottom on his CV. He uncharacteristically disappointed last time though pulling up at Flete Park but if all is well with him, he could easily return to winning ways. Josh’s other entry, Caspers Court easily took at similar race at Flete Park last Saturday under Hannah so if he was chosen to represent the yard instead, he too would be the selection. Liberty Rock ran at the Cheltenham evening meeting where he was eased after running a fair race in a hot contest. He’d previously won at Kilworthy under Rian Corcoran who would take the ride here. Veteran Step Back hasn’t won this season and may have to settle for a place here.
A small entry in the Mixed Open sponsored once again by Sandhill Racing and the Hobbs family sees top class Famous Clermont set to take on last year’s second, the popular Ninth Wave. Famous Clermont may not be the force of old having been beaten at Milborne and Aintree but he posted two decent wins at Cothelstone alongside and he may have too much class for Ninth Wave as well as a fitness edge as the latter is making his seasonal reappearance. Dorrells Pierji and River Frost make up the field but they might be playing for places.
The Conditions race is sponsored by the Somerset Freemasons at Sylvanus Lodge with the prolific Luke Price pair, Inchidaly Robin and Lavorante jointly heading the ratings. The former won impressively at South Hill last Sunday while his stablemate opened his account in a match at Howick. Either would be good enough here while Ecco has each way prospects. Caspers Court and Step Back are also entered while recent Cheltenham hunter chase winning trainer, Harriet Waight has Sake of Secrecy entered and he has plenty of consistent form.
The Harold Scott Memorial Restricted has 9 entries and Luke Price again has two entered with the mares, Echo of Promise and Fifty Shadesof Bay both coming off wins last time out. The former beat River Story by 6 lengths at Kilworthy while Fifty Shadesof Bay won a Larkhill maiden by 30 lengths following a tussle with Lady Lussa who fell when challenging. Jewel in the Park (who also holds an entry in the last) won a Restricted at Stafford Cross with Boys Will Be Boys back in third; both are set to carry 5lb penalties here. Impakt St Georges beat Templier d’Habert that day in a Members race and should confirm that form. Gallant Geronimo won at Higham last time but like Penniless hold entries closer to home.
The Chetwood Wealth Management Intermediate concludes the racing with several already mentioned. Luke Price has Elle Est Beau here (as well as Lavorante) and she is three from three since joining the yard from Dan Skelton’s and would be expected to make it four. Fellow Welshman, David Gibbs has Woodford winner, Ask Dai but he is set to carry a penalty which might prove tough here. City Silk won at Larkhill and Milborne before disappointing at Chilfrome in April. He ran in snatches that day but it would be no surprise to see him bounce back and is the obvious danger to the Price chosen. Jullou de Grissay has a similar profile although the ground last time at Parham may have been too quick.
Race 1: Hunt
1st Champions Hill
2nd Canastero
3rd Reikers Island
Runners: 3 Distances: 5l, 30l Time: 6m 36s
Race 2: Maiden
1st Eileen Milan
2nd Riskamatriak
3rd Dancing du Moulin
Runners: 6 Distances: 5l, 3l Time: 6m 30s
Race 3: PPORA Conditions (Level 2) Novice Riders
1st Caspers Court
2nd Step Back
3rd Wireless Operator
Runners: 5 Distances: 30l, 18l Time: 6m 19s
Race 4: Mixed Open
1st Famous Clermont
2nd Ninth Wave
3rd
Runners: 3 Distances: NK Time: 6m 17s
Race 5: Condition (Level 2) 8yrs+
1st Inchidaly Robin
2nd Hadmeathello
3rd
Runners: 2 Distances: 11l Time: 6m 38s
Race 6: Restricted 2m4f
1st Jewel in the Park
2nd Fifty Shadesof Bay
3rd Impakt St Georges
Runners: 4 Distances: 5l, 11/2l Time: 5m 6s
Race 7: Intermediate
1st Elle Est Beau
2nd Ask Dai
3rd
Runners: 3 Distances: 9l, Time: 6m 18s
N/A
For the second consecutive year, Holnicote showed itself off to its very best with bright sunshine and a backdrop that could appear on picture postcards, and with some excellent going produced by the hard working team there was plenty of good racing on offer. A four-timer for jockey James King who is now ramping up the turbo to regain his title, a double for trainer Luke Price and a treble for Chris Barber, plus the appearance of Champion Hurdler, Golden Ace paraded for her adoring public which were the high points of the day.
The Members race invariably throws up the most emotions with local connections enjoying a win amongst friends and it was no different here with the Bielby runner, Champions Hill bringing the curtain down for both him and the whole family who announced their retirement from the sport. It is said you should always back the outsider of three in a three horse race and this adage applied here with Champions Hill and Walter Barnett the outsiders. A fast early pace between him and favourite, Canastero, the two were well-matched until Champions Hill just started to assert to complete the fairy-tale ending for the Bielbys. Walter who works for Alan and Lawney Hill said “As soon as we jumped off he was rolling. I thought he was emptying on me but he picked up again around the last bend.” An emotional Debbie Bielby said “We wanted to go out after 30 years of training on a high and he’s also won Best Turned Out! Our daughter Kelsey who used to do Pony Racing with Walter, will do ROR with the horse now while our other horse All Night Parking will go into training elsewhere.”
Hannah Morgan has struck up a good partnership with Caspers Court for her boss Josh Newman and recorded a second win in a week when taking the Novice Riders race although it was marred by the loss of Liberty Rock who was challenging when sustaining a bad injury. This allowed Hannah to coast home by 30 lengths to the delight of the Newman team. Josh said afterwards, “He came out of Flete so well that I thought we should run him again. He will now have an easy week and we will think about Bratton for him while he’s in this form.” Owner Sally Godfrey purchased the horse after it was felt he wasn’t enjoying running under Rules as her son Ben, who goes out with Hannah, had been riding him.
Chris Barber kicked off his treble (and James King’s four timer) with a cosy win in the Maiden. Eileen’s Milan was unusually not sent off favourite despite some placed form for Paul Nicholls. That role went to Dictatorship but he looked a little green and while an errant Suvla Bay raced keenly in the lead, James settled Eileen’s Milan in the rear. Moving upsides the leader with half a circuit to run, although Riskamatriak tried to mount a challenge, the winner had more to give. James said “He learnt a lot on the job and I felt I had loads left.” Brian Blinman owns the majority although Luke Vaughan, known as “Mr 10%” is also involved while Chris Barber explained “We bought him as their other horse, Drumlee Spud had been disappointing but she then ran a super race last weekend so it looks like we are spoilt!”
Chris’s second winner wasn’t so easy with Famous Clermont taking the Mixed Open but not before a crafty Will Biddick and Ninth Wave had given James King a scare to produce the tightest finish of the day. James felt that Famous Clermont was idling a bit and waiting for the other horse so Chris considered whether cheek-pieces may be needed for his next run which was possibly at Stratford. It was a great run by the second who was making his seasonal debut and this could be down to the fact that trainer Teresa Clark had opted to come out of her “schooling retirement” last week to get him spot on!
The Barber treble was completed this time with a change of jockey when Ed Doggrell took a competitive Restricted on Jewel in the Park who is owned by the Always Broke Partnership. Fifty Shadesof Bay took the quartet along with the winner tucked in third most of the way. A good jump over the ditch sent him into the lead and although he slightly fluffed the last, it was an easy 5 length victory. Chris said, “I was in two minds about running as he only turns 5 next week, so is a real baby. It’s nice to give Ed the rides too as he’s such a big part of the team. We will put him away for the season now with the Exeter Intermediate final a long term plan.”
Trainer Luke Price is virtually unstoppable when he unleashes his Welsh team on the West Country and that march continued when his Inchidaly Robin made a quick reappearance after victory at South Hill last Sunday to take the Conditions race and jump to the head of the Leading Horse nationally with a sixth win of the season. With only one opponent, it was more like an easy workout for the ex-Irish pointer and he looks sets to win more this season. Although Luke’s mare Fifty Shadesof Bay was beaten in the next, it was back to normal in the last when another mare, Elle Est Beau took the Intermediate from fellow Welsh trained Ask Dai by an easy 9 lengths. Bought out of Dan Skelton’s yard, she has now won on all four starts for Luke and although Ask Dai tried to mount a challenge, the mare who James King felt was idling in front, had far too much class at the line.
Wessex Area Point to Point, Troakes Farm, Ford, Wiveliscombe, Taunton, Somerset, TA4 2RH
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