Jt Secretary:   John Corsan 

M: 07535 571127

E Mail: point2point@wessexfarms.co.uk

Jt Secretary:     Sue Francis

Address: - Teal Farm Sand Wedmore Somerset BS28 4XD

T: - 01934 710198      

M: 07811 452849

E Mail: - suefrancesp2p@outlook.com

Entries to:   The Point to Point Racing Co Ltd

Entries close:   Thursday 8th May 2025 12.30pm 

Races:   Wessex Area Conditions (Level 2) - CA Members Conditions 7yo+ (Level 1) Nov Rdrs, Ladies Open, Conditions Maiden, Mens Open, Restricted - Maiden 2m4f

First Race:   4.30pm

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

The final meeting of the Wessex Area Point to Point season takes place at Cothelstone on Wednesday when the Weston & Banwell with West Somerset Vale hold their traditional evening meeting.  There are 89 entries and the first race is at 4.30pm. Tickets can be purchased for £15 (under 16s admitted free) via www.pointingwessex.co.uk or on the gate.  The two Pony Races are kindly sponsored by The Lydeard Farm Bush Camp and the House family and they precede the evening racing starting at 3.15pm. 

The Alec Jarrett Ltd sponsored Conditions race includes top rated On Springs, a three time winner this season, all coming last month. A prolific winner when with Ben Pauling, Luca Morgan has him entered in several races here and he would be a worthy favourite in any although here he would carry a penalty. Opposing him is Josh Newman’s Holiday Fund who won twice at Dunsmore (Rocky Creed in 2^nd last time) and Wadebridge but he disappointed last time at South Hill.  Josh also has Honestlyntrufully who won a similar race at Vauterhill.  Scoresby won three last year but has yet to reproduce that this year while Walk in the Wild has won two matches but again has a penalty here. 

There are 14 in the shorter Maiden sponsored by the Westminster Society and this could go Tim Vaughan’s Eile Tara who improved on her run here in March to finish a close second last time at Higham. Hazy Winter has a good second (just ahead of Kate’s Lane) here at the April meeting which also puts her into the picture. Josh Newman has the unraced Sincerely Me and Western Vision who fell at the first last time so both are unknown. Luke Price’s My Kent showed nothing under Rules but is expected to improve while Mark Grant’s Silver Fish came down when challenging two out at Kimblewick and his form looks the strongest. Pebble Rebel makes her debut and is out of a winning pointing mare while Up the Front is a half-brother to 4 time winner Malina Ocarina and both should be noted in the paddock. 

Briarwood Products sponsor the Novice Riders Race totalling 11 entries with leading Novice Rider Rian Corcoran looking to have the choice of two from his boss, Emma Summersby in Jubertilee and Jet Smart as well as Up Killoughey for his dad, Liam. Any of these three would be a worthy favourite under Rian and he has winning form on all of them. Acey Milan ran a good race when second to top class Famous Clermont and he should again go well here. Veteran Kauto Riko won 6 times under Rules and well last time under Eve Hobbs on his pointing debut. Precious Bounty has won his last two under Marina Bielby and is clearly in good form but holds entries elsewhere. 

The Ladies Open is sponsored by the Clifton Club and has attracted 11 entries of which include course winner Ninth Wave who would be making his seasonal debut.  Lakota Warrior dead-heated at Stafford Cross with Quintin’s Man and looks to be the mount of Jo Supple while Champion Lady rider, Izzie Hill has the prolific veteran Back Bar who won this race last year and comes here off a win at Higham.  He could again show his liking for this course. Already mentioned Precious Bounty and Kauto Riko are also entered here while Soldier of Destiny, Eagle of the Glen and Finisher all have placed form around this track.

 The Maxwell Chartered Accountants Men’s Open also has 11 entries including the top class and former Aintree Foxhunter winner Famous Clermont whose last two wins have come here. If he runs, he should confirm his status despite his trainer feeling he is not as good as he was. Dalamoi could pose a threat however having won three Opens this season for Tim and Ed Vaughan before finishing third in a Hunter Chase at Chepstow. Dr Oakley and Ecco met at Chaddesley Corbett in April with the former winning by 11 lengths and they could fill the placings as could Montanna. Jubertilee, Lakota Warrior, Ninth Wave, Walk in the Wild and On Springs mentioned above, are also entered. 

The 17 entries in the Beachcomber Inn Restricted give it a competitive look and include a pair from Luke Price’s yard in Echo of Promise and Scoro who both won on their last starts with ease at Kilworthy and Chilfrome respectively.  Both would be expected to continue their improvement. Others include Impakt St Georges who has won two this year for Josh Newman and Jewel in the Park for Chris Barber, another dual winner this season (including beating Talimar Pearl who re-opposes) and his form may be the strongest on offer.  Chris also has City Silk who won two before disappointing at Chilfrome, while Ask Lileen who won here last time but needs to bounce back from a disappointing run at South Hill. 

Cannington Enterprises Ltd sponsor the finale, a Maiden Conditions race and of those 15 entries, Hogan ran well when second at Howick to Avada Kedavra with the pair well clear while Queen Record posted at fair third at Vauterhill on her debut for the Newman yard.  Well Mushelle was a fair second to the more experienced Kauto Riko and that form is enough to give her a chance here. Others with placed form who should pick up a race like this are Miss Ghillie, Middleton Fox and Lucarne.

N/A

A dry Spring has resulted in many Point to Points struggling to produce satisfactory ground conditions which has impacted on the number of runners.  However, under the expert guidance of Cothelstone Clerk of the Course, Nigel Payne, the final Wessex meeting of the season run under the banner of the Weston and Banwell and West Somerset Vale, was in the enviable position of posting a creditable 37 runners on the evening. A double for jockey/trainer combination of Robbie David and Harry Ryall, another win for National Novice Champion elect, Rian Corcoran and good value for punters with only one outright favourite winning ensured an excellent night’s racing. 

The opening Conditions race was a welcome return to the winner’s enclosure for Bob Butler’s Scoresby who won three times last season for Robbie David and Harry Ryall but had failed to add to that tally this season. With only one opponent, Scoresby really looked to enjoy himself as he made the running and some good jumping meant that Josh Newman on Walk in The Wild had to accept defeat as the winner cruised to an easy 19 length victory. Robbie sheepishly said afterwards, “I hold my hands up and admit that he should have won earlier in the season but I made mistakes, the worst of which came at Badbury Rings when I came off.” 

The second winner for their team came in the following race when Pebble Rebel took the young Maiden in impressive fashion and she looks like a very decent prospect. With 8 sent to post, this looked a good race on looks in the paddock but the winner had 12 lengths to spare over favourite Silver Fish at the line indicating she has a bright future. Owned by Tacky MacGregor since she bought her cheaply as a yearling, she sent her to Harry after finding it hard to train her at home on her own admitting she wasn’t the easiest to deal with. Harry has only had the mare for 8 weeks and is continuing to prove what an able trainer he is while Robbie had been hugely confident that she would win by at least a fence. 

Rian Corcoran should always be followed in Novice Riders races and it was even more apparent here as he judged the race to perfection despite Kauto Riko setting a fierce pace being 20 lengths clear at one point. Sitting quietly in third on Jubertilee, Rian had the leader in his sights and with the favourite Acey Milan jumping right, he bided his time to quicken clear of eventual second Kauto Riko with Acey Milan back in third. Dean Summersby representing wife Emma said, “I think the plan will now be to go under Rules with him as he’s loved this quicker ground and that’s the best he’s ever run.” Owner Mike Bickell was thrilled and said “I hadn’t really expected him to win here but Rian has ridden a great race on him.” Rian and Emma Summersby also took the Men’s Open with Lakota Warrior which was a walkover. 

Mike Felton could be regarded as Pointing Royalty having been Champion Jockey three times with his first winner coming back in 1978 and now training a few, his Boys Will Be Boys supplemented a win on quick ground at Bratton Down last season with an easy win in the Restricted race under Freddie Philipson-Stow.  This was possibly made easier when rival Rocky Creed slipped up on the last bend when looking like having a chance. Mike’s wife Lucy said “He really loves this sunshine and is thriving now we have treated him for ulcers. He’s a bit of a lad so you really have to get into his brain!” Mike thought he could run again possibly returning to Bratton Down but it would depend on some rain there. 

The Ladies Open was run at a fast pace and went to Soldier of Destiny who quickly bounced out and gave a bold front running display for jockey Megan Bevan to win by the run-in after favourite Ninth Wave was another to slip on the bend.  A beaming Megan said “He is just so much fun to ride as he loves his jumping!” Soldier of Destiny is now back with Mark Quinlan who trained him initially to win on his UK pointing debut back in 2021. Mark said, ”We know he’s such a good horse but everything has to go right for him. He went to Jamie Snowden where he won twice under Rules but when Jamie offered him back to me at the end of last season, I knew it made sense. The plan now is to put him away for the season, then bring him back to hopefully qualify for the Aintree Foxhunters as he would love both the fences and ground there.” 

The final race of the night went to favourite Testflight under James Shaw as they took the longer Maiden for trainer Lucy Gardner despite Middleton Fox trying to mount a challenge under Josh Newman. A good jump at the last sealed victory for them and they came away to win by 4 lengths.  A frustrating number of placed efforts when trained under Rules by Lucy’s mother, Sue, it was decided to give him a spell pointing to give him some confidence. Lucy explained “He should have won last time at Vauterhill but parted company with James three out when in front,” while a delighted Sue said, “He’s such a lovely horse who’s not over big so I was worried that he might struggle to carry the weight. He just loves this quicker ground and there’s a possibility he may go to Bratton or we could go back summer jumping under Rules with him.”

N/A