Secretary:   Mrs B Tully

Contact Details    Mob: 07970 781087

 Email:  bridgetjtully@gmail.com

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

Entries close:   Monday 9th March 2026 12.30pm

Races:  Hunt, Open Maiden 2m4f (Mares & Fillies), Mixed Open, Maiden, Restricted, PPORA Members Conditions for 8yrs +(Level 1)

First Race:   12.30 pm

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

The Wessex Area moves west this Saturday when the Quantock host their meeting at Cothelstone to round off a busy week’s racing following the Cheltenham Festival.  This year the meeting has attracted 75 entries with the first race at 12.30pm. Tickets on the gate are £20/person with all children under 16 admitted free. Early bird tickets £15pp available until 18.00 13th March The ground is currently good to soft, soft in places with some rain in the forecast. 

The Members Race sponsored by Williton Pet, Equine and Country Store, has attracted 5 entries. Selection and 12 time winner, Ninth Wave ran a fine race to finish third on seasonal debut last month to Macklin and Famous Clermont at Badbury Rings, delighting connections. Twice a winner here including this race in 2023, he should prove hard to beat.  Just Loose Change has been unlucky to accumulate a few letters by his name after a promising first run at Dunsmore since leaving Nicky Martin. He was a three time winner under Rules for her and it would be no surprise to see him show that form before long. He could be the danger to the selection while Lucy Mager who often excels with her horses around here has Micro Millions and this Irish point winner has shown fair form in two competitive Restricted races this season. 

The Robert’s Waste and Jockey Club sponsored Mares Maiden run over 2 miles 4 furlongs has attracted 17 entries and it often pays to look at the bottom of the weight with 4yos receiving a hefty 14lb weight allowance. These include the unraced Chris Barber trained, Sainte Crystal who is bred to be useful being a half-sister to the decent Irish Saint, a 7 time winner under Rules including two Grade 2 races for Paul Nicholls. Also unraced Rebel Aura for Eamonn O’Donovan too is nicely bred being a half-sister to jumps winner Walk In Clover while Luca Morgan has the unraced Kamna TIgra who’s half-brother Touch Me Not heads the weights in Wednesday’s Grand Annual Chase at Cheltenham.  Of the 5yo and up, Dreamaboutit has shown a little on her last two starts to suggest she could win a similar race. Millyellen has placed second twice for Josh Newman this season both at Wadebridge but now appears from the Jennifer Boucher stable. Josh himself has Seventeenothree (selected here) who showed promised in a maiden at Badbury last month and should improve.  Hannah Marshall’s Here’s Georgie showed up well until tiring in a Larkhill Flat race but this is her first time over obstacles. 

The Evolution Equine Vets Mixed Open is always competitive and is again being run over 3 and a half miles with 10 entries this year with Ninth Wave probably opting for the opener.  Trainer Lily Bradstock has a knack of retaining enthusiasm in her horses and her Myth Buster is no exception winning both his races this season, at Horseheath and Larkhill.  He could be dangerous if he is allowed his own way out in front.  In-form Josh Newman has the consistent Heart’s Corner who just held on to take the Ladies Open at Wadebridge in early December.  Mount Sinai surprised a few when winning a Mixed Open at Dunsmore in November on yard debut. She then went to Chaddesley Corbett where she fell before disappointing over a trip that may have been too far last time at Cocklebarrow and she could resume winning ways here for trainer Chris Barber. Useful Tigerbythetail won 7 times before pursuing a career under Rules for connections. That venture only yielded one win so he has returned to this code with one run back at Badbury on seasonal debut where he finished 4th. He could strip fitter this time.  Minella Jab turned over the odds-on Clondaw Drake at Wadebridge in January before pulling up in a hunter chase on heavy ground. 

The Sworders Restricted race has a competitive entry of 13 including Alan Hill’s Monrocco Moonlight who won easily at Charing (J’Envoievalserenki 3^rd) but he may find this coming too soon after last weekend’s second at Higham. Chris Barber has Eileen’s Milan, winner of both his races last season.  He holds multiple entries elsewhere but he is clearly unexposed and is the selection here. Echo of Promise won at Kilworthy last season for Luke Price.  Now with Tim Vaughan, she should build on her seasonal debut at Horseheath. Bulletofexpression won at Milborne last season and ran well enough on seasonal debut at Badbury Rings. 

The Polaris Stag Environmental PPORA Conditions race has a total of 12 entries including Famous Clermont winner of the Aintree Foxhunters in 2023. He won this race last year (Punches Cross 3^rd) following it up with another course win over Easter and finished with a good win at the Stratford Hunter Chase meeting.  He has been a grand servant to connections and he ran anther good race under Milo Herbert at Badbury Rings last time only getting collared by the highly talented Macklin. Rivals include Important Notice, himself also victim of Macklin’s finish at Buckfastleigh last season. A winner of his maiden here on debut, he looked progressive last season posting a worthy 3^rd behind Crawter at Cheltenham in the Intermediate.  Unlucky to be brought down last time in a hunter chase at Hereford, he is a big danger to Famous Clermont.  Ellie Hatcher has acquired Madaket from Philip Hobbs & Johnson White and he has two hurdle wins to his name.  He is interesting on his debut in this sphere.  Famous Clermont should take this as long as he sees out the race but Important Notice under a wily Josh Newman should not be ignored. 

The meeting concludes with the Antler Construct Maiden race and 18 entries have been received. Josh Newman is once again having a great season and he has Champagne Blue, an ex-Irish pointer the sort which he excels with and he is the selection. Another trainer to have hit form with a five-timer at Badbury Rings is Will Biddick who has an unraced gelding by Bollin Eric out of a prolific winner on the Flat.  Will also has Run Ruby Run again out of a Flat bred mare.  Both should be noted in the paddock.  Of those to have run in the UK, Chris Barber has Stick Season who probably ran a fair race when 3^rd behind Six Two Three (now rumoured to have joined the Skelton yard) and Electric City at Badbury. Myfanwy’s Magic was brought down two out by a wayward Prince in the Park that day.

 Cothelstone is 2 miles NE of Bishops Lydeard off A358 –Postcode TA4 3DT. 

Race 1:            Hunt 

1^st         Pyleigh Lord

2^nd        Micro Millions

3^rd        Ninth Wave 

Runners:          5                      Distances:        nk, 5l                           Time: 6m 48s

Race 2:            Maiden 2m4f 

1^st         Millyellen

2^nd        Dreamerlittledream

3^rd        Granny Smith 

Runners:          8                      Distances:        4l, 30l                          Time: 5m 49s

Race 3:            Mixed Open 3m4f 

1^st         Tigerbythetail

2^nd        One true King

3^rd       

Runners:          4                      Distances:        Deadheat                    Time: 8m 37s

Race 4:            Restricted 2m4f 

1^st         Eileen’s Milan

2^nd        Master McShine

3^rd        My Lucky Star 

Runners:          6                      Distances:        4l, 30l                          Time: 5m 37s

Race 5:            Conditions (Level 1) 

1^st         Famous Clermont

2^nd        Important Notice

3^rd        Whitsand Bay 

Runners:          4                      Distances:        6l, 30l                          Time:6 m56 s

Race 6:            Maiden 

1^st         Bollin Special

2^nd        Myfanwy’s Magic

3^rd        

Runners:          8                      Distances:        hd                                Time: 7m 2s

N/A

After one of the wettest winters in recent memory which has resulted in several abandoned fixtures, the glorious spring sunshine was welcomed by those who attended the Quantock meeting on Saturday kicking off the first of three held at Cothelstone.  Clerk of the Course Nigel Payne and his team had worked hard to get the course in good shape and although the wetter stretch meant that the open ditch was omitted, there were enough runners to make the racing competitive.  Highlights included a dramatic Mixed Open, another win here for course specialist Famous Clermont and a first win for rider, Holly Mitchell on the race outsider. 

Four went to post for the Mixed Open and the jockeys sensibly rode according to the tacky and tiring conditions with the race time much slower than normal.  With Aimee Jones leading a tightly grouped quartet on One True King, Josh Hatton sat quietly in behind on his own Emancipator.  Securing a great jump 3 fences out, he sent his mount into a 10 length lead and looked to be on his way to recording a first winner. However Emancipator chose to run out at the last leaving his two weary pursuers to fight it out. There was nothing in it on the line and the judge awarded a dead heat to the delight of the connections of One True King and Tigerbythetail.  One True King is owned by Sarah Shields and she explained “we bought him from Doncaster to replace another and sometimes it is not easy to place an older horse.” She went on to praise jockey Aimee Jones who rides out for her when the horses go to use the gallops at Max Comley’s where Aimee works. Tigerbythetail had won five on the bounce in 2023 before a disappointing spell under Rules.  This was his second run back now ridden by Molly Legg whose father Sean put together the Jagger Racing Club made up of friends and family, most of whom are Devon and Somerset based. 

The Restricted went to the classy Eileen’s Milan who had won both his races last season. Bought out of Harry Derham’s yard for owners Luke Vaughan and Brian and Carol Blinman, they have been patient with the 7 year old gelding by Milan and he looks to have a big future. Ed Doggrell on board the odds-on favourite sat just behind the leader and only took up the running on the last bend, winning cosily despite a 5lb penalty. He explained, “I wanted to just bring him with the one smooth run rather than mess him about.”  Trainer Chris Barber added, “He has only been back in for 10 weeks so still probably needed this and he will improve a lot for that. He coped with the ground but would appreciate quicker and I imagine he will be out again quite soon.” 

The Conditions race also went to Chris Barber who brought out Famous Clermont to record his 5^th course win (all under different jockeys) under Milo Herbert who will ride him next in the Aintree Foxhunters which he took in 2023 under Will Biddick.  Before the race Chris impressed on Milo to keep hold of the talented gelding as long as possible to prevent him stopping and the jockey executed the plan to perfection with Famous Clermont cantering to an easy 6 length victory over Important Notice.  “That’s all systems go to Aintree now,” said Chris afterwards, adding, “the sticky ground here was stretching his stamina a bit but hopefully this will put him spot on for next time.” 

The first of two maidens, restricted to mares only went to Millyellen, a good looking daughter of Blue Bresil trained by Jennifer Boucher who she had purchased from Josh Newman following two good seconds at Wadebridge earlier in the season. Sent off odds on favourite, she easily brushed away the opposition under Darren Andrews and should progress from this.  Jennifer, who only has 2 horses in her yard, had bought her two months previously from Josh for a group of friends local to her base in Horwood which is near Bideford. Called the Friends of Horwood, the syndicate was put together by Kevin Bachelor to replace another horse they had lost. The mare is only 5 and although she was suited by the ground here, she looks to have a bright future. 

The second maiden went to the Josh Newman/Will Biddick combination who teamed up with the unraced Bollin Special who nosed out Myfanwy’s Magic thereby denying a second dead heat at the meeting.  Bred and owned by Stephen and Brenda Bowditch who used to stand the stallion Bollin Eric at their stud, this was the second year running that they were in the winner’s enclosure here after taking the Restricted with Good Boy Eric last year.  Will said afterwards, “We had the right jockey on board today! Brenda has been very patient with the horse and it is very rewarding to win first time out with him.” While Josh added, “I just crept away thinking what a nice horse I had underneath me, kept him rolling and got a really good jump 2 out. I felt he wasn’t ready to be thrown into the last so I just let him fiddle it or he probably would have won further.”

 There was an unexpected result to the opening race, the Quantock Hunt Members, when Pyleigh Lord, the outsider of the five runners, belied his odds of 16-1 to virtually make all under Holly Mitchell to hold off the late challenge of Micro Millions ridden by Lucy Mager. Unraced since April 2024 the 8 year old Schiaparelli home bred gelding out of the prolific mare Pyleigh Lady was welcomed into the winners enclosure by his owners Robert and Tigger Pudd with the comment that “he had been working well at home and we hoped we had him fit on his return to racing.” Explaining that although he was a Maiden Robert said “we opted for the Hunt race as we thought that this would be a better race to start his season.”  A delighted Holly, 23, was securing her first ever victory on her fifteenth ride.  Based now with Philip Hobbs and Johnson White at Minehead the victory was even sweeter as her mother Juliet Seaton had made the long trip down from Norfolk to see her daughter ride and gave her an early Mother’s Day present.