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 30th March 2026, 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 and is well signed.  Early-bird tickets can be purchased via www.pointingwessex.co.uk or www.gbpointing.co.uk for £15 until 6pm Sunday 5^th April or at the course with cash or card options on the day and entry is £20 per person. All children under 16 are admitted free if accompanied by an adult.  There is also a Best Dressed Lady and Best Dressed Couple competition to win vouchers for The Firehouse, Somerset while a Family dog show is scheduled in the paddock for 11am. The point to point racing starts at 1.30pm 

The first race is the Greenslade Taylor Hunt Members race and 3 entries have been received. Local trainer David Pipe always likes to keep a few for pointing and has Ben Lilly entered. A 9 time winner under Rules split between Flat and jumps, he has yet to win pointing but posted a better effort when second last time at Trebudannon.  He has certainly shown the most ability of these three although it’s always unwise to write off Lucy Mager around this track even though her Weston Bay has yet to break his maiden. The third of the trio, Baskerville won two for Alan King but has yet to fire for Amber Rayner. Ben Lilly is selected. 

The Carter Jonas Maiden Conditions Race has attracted 14 entries including the above mentioned Weston Bay. Dreamerlittledream was second here at the last meeting with Silent Auction back in 4^th.  River Don is trained by Harry Ryall and ran well to finish second at Larkhill in November. Two subsequent runs were on softer ground and he could be of interest back on a quicker surface. Kow Boy Sivola was 3^rd to Shareyourbiscuits at Howick while Freddie Fleetfoot has a couple of placings under Rules and could find a small race for trainer Chrissie Gray. River Don is the selection here. 

The Bathroom Shop (Taunton) Conditions race has 8 entries which include selection Ninth Wave fresh from his easy victory at Cotley and if in the same form as last weekend, he should add to his owners trophy haul.  Will Biddick has Regatta de Blanc entered who has returned to him following a disappointing spell under Rules. She’s had two runs back but has yet to recapture that form that saw her dead heat for the Coronation Cup in 2024.  Better ground should suit her though. Of the others, Histrionic won on yard debut for Sam Loxton and has run well in three defeats since.  All three have entries in the Mixed Open but this looks easier.  Will also has Far Out West in here. She repeated a course success at Ston Easton last time out easily but also won a Restricted on this course last season. She is a young improving horse and should not be underestimated given his trainer’s form. 

The Mixed Open sponsored by Mitchell’s Accountants has attracted 13 entries and they are headed by the super talented Macklin who is trained by Will Biddick. A gutsy winner on seasonal debut at Badbury Rings, he then won a Hunter Chase at Exeter and could be hard to beat here.  A big danger to the selection is Al Gasparo who is three from three for Josh Newman and had a rating of 144 when winning 3 times over hurdles for Gavin Cromwell.  It could be a fascinating match if both appear. A pointing debutant in the shape of Tiny Tetley too could add some flavour to the contest. He won 5 times for Philip Hobbs & Johnson White and is definitely of interest. Course maiden winner, Important Notice was second here to Famous Clermont at the last meeting and won last weekend at Trebudannon. He may return back to that course instead.  Call Simon comes here off the back of a win at Buckfastleigh and may not want the ground drying out.  Veteran Pink Eyed Pedro is a credit to his connections but despite taking the Dunraven Bowl at Chepstow only last year, he may find those with younger legs harder to pass now. 

The 9 entries in the Fennington Fibres Restricted include My Lucky Star is consistent without really building on her maiden win. Selection Dollanstown looked a useful prospect at Badbury Rings when part of the Biddick Five-Timer but has been beaten twice since both by Carillo including a week ago at Maisemore. That could be strong form and if reappearing, is interesting. Lily’s Choice looks very unexposed following two runs, the second of which resulted in a bloodless win last weekend at Parham. Milltown Bridge was second last time to the useful Far Out West at Ston Easton while Pyleigh Lord beat Micro Millions here on testing ground in March. Emberscombe has two wins to her name for Dani Keneally and alternates with rules racing. She would need quick ground to be seen at her best. 

The finale is an all aged Maiden sponsored by Monument Fuels and there are 13 entries including Champagne Blue who was second to Galudon at Buckfastleigh. The winner went in again last weekend and is the selection for the in-form Josh Newman yard.  Ginderella has placed form under Rules for trainer Tim Vaughan and would be more than capable of opening her account here. Tim’s other entry, Mini Yeats was a good second to Shareyourbiscuits at Howick and has a similar profile to his stablemate under Rules.  Kasanova’s Dream makes his pointing debut for Katie Croft having run in February for Gordon Elliott when beaten favourite up at Ayr. He still needs to improve.  Strolling Along should find a race soon following three fair placed runs while Newton Gold would be a popular winner for local owner-breeder, Fiona Walker.  Alderley Billy is unraced but out of a mare who won under Rules for Polly Gundry. 

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

Race 1:            Members 

1^st         Weston Bay

2^nd        Ben Lilly

3^rd        

Runners:          3                      Distances:        10l, l                            Time: 6m 19s

Race 2:            Maiden Conditions 5yrs+

 1^st         Kow Boy Sivola

2^nd        Freddie Fleetfoot

3^rd        Troubleisontheway 

Runners:          7                      Distances:        15l, hd                         Time: 5m 00s

Race 3:            Condition (Level 2) Wessex Area

 1^st         Far Out West

2^nd        Ninth Wave

3^rd        Just Loose Change 

Runners:          5                      Distances:        1/2l, 8l                         Time: 5m 4s

Race 4:            Mixed Open 

1^st         Regatta de Blanc

2^nd        Douglas Longbottom

3^rd        Ilmig 

Runners:          5                      Distances:        4l, Dist                         Time: 6m 6s

Race 5:            Restricted 

1^st         Emberscombe

2^nd        Milton Bridge

3^rd        Micro Millions 

Runners:          4                      Distances:        25l, 5l                          Time: 6m 10s

Race 6:            Maiden 

1^st         River Don

2^nd        Down The Inner

3^rd        Valentinde Maine 

Runners:          5                      Distances:        3l, 3l                            Time: 6m 9s

N/A

A huge crowd enjoyed a great day out in the spring sunshine when they attended the Easter Monday Bank Holiday meeting run by the Taunton Vale.  A treble for jockey Charlie Marshall who is currently riding out of his skin, two of which were for trainer Will Biddick, two maiden winners who relished the quicker ground and a canny ride from Lucy Mager in the first to upset the odds-on favourite, were the highlights for spectators who also enjoyed a family dog show which kicked off the proceedings. 

Local girl Lucy Mager rides Cothelstone particularly well and now has 7 riding wins to her name around here. Undaunted by the fact there was an odds-on David Pipe trained favourite in the opening Members race or by the fact she was on the only horse who had yet to win a race, Lucy dictated matters on Weston Bay and following the departure of Baskerville, never allowed her remaining opponent, Ben Lilly to get a look in. Ten lengths separated them at the line much to the delight of Paul Brace who co-owns the gelding with Lucy. Paul explained afterwards, “Nothing has really gone right for him – we’ve been stuck in traffic, had to take him out as the ground went against us so he really deserves this.” Bought by Lucy as an unraced 3 year old, he should add to this tally now the ground has come in his favour. 

Charlie Marshall was another to employ front running tactics on his winners, the first of which came on Far Out West in the Conditions race who took advantage of a big 12lb weight advantage to hold off crowd favourite, Ninth Wave. Will Biddick trains the mare for the Hot Toddie Partnership headed by a jubilant Andy Pollard. She won a Restricted here last season employing similar tactics and again jumped really well,   despite Ninth Wave trying to mount a challenge, she was still half a length too good at the line.  Will said, “She’s very game and loves this ground plus the big weight advantage has really helped her.” Andy explained, “We love Bratton Down which is the “home of racing” so we will aim for there but I’d like to think she’s up to a Hunter Chase too.” 

Charlie and Will teamed up again in the next, the Mixed Open, and it was good to see the likeable Regatta de Blanc return to winning form.  Sent off at the remarkably generous odds of 5-4, the mare outjumped her rivals to win by 4 lengths from Douglas Longbottom and they were well clear of the only other finisher, Ilmig.  Two seasons ago, Regatta de Blanc had carried all before her winning three points including the Coronation Cup where she dead-heated with Larkhill legend, Grace a Vous Enki. She also won two hunter chases at Taunton and Cheltenham before it was decided to send her under Rules with Paul Nicholls. She may have found that life a little overwhelming and it was decided to send her back to former handler Will and after a run at Chaddesley Corbett and a Newbury hunter chase, she looks to have found the perfect confidence boost and will be one to keep on side of.  Known at home as “Betty”, she was named by Will after he used to sing to her “Whoa, Black Betty” to her whilst breaking her in as a youngster. It is not known whether Will’s singing ability will be fast-tracking him to Britain’s Got Talent soon or whether Ram Jam will be asking for royalties! 

Charlie’s last winner came for Harry Ryall whose River Don delivered on the earlier promise he had shown by taking the final Maiden. Another to benefit from the quicker ground and although Down the Inner and Valentin de Maine tried to mount a challenge around the last bend, River Don was 3 lengths to the good on the line.  Charlie said afterwards, “He’s got a big stride and you just need to let him roll. For a big horse, he really enjoys this quicker ground and he’s jumped brilliantly.”  Harry’s dad, Nick added, “I own him along with David Smeaton, Paul Bloor, Matt Lindsay and John Pettit and although not here, they’ll be delighted.  We have always thought an awful lot of him but he hasn’t had his ground until now.  He may stay pointing or could go under Rules as soon as Harry’s licence is through and we could have a bit of fun that way too.” 

The Restricted race didn’t produce the result expected four out but it still went to a nice horse in Emberscombe much to the delight of owner Kieran Johns and jockey Aimee Jones.  Left clear with two to jump, Aimee and Emberscombe coasted home to win by 25 lengths. Kieran was undecided about plans but wanted to run her at the Warwick Hunter Chase evening meeting in May following it’s transferral from Cheltenham.  He originally bought the mare from friends with the idea to breed from her and is thinking of sending her to German Derby winner, Nutan who stands at Vauterhill Stud.  “I love the stallion and have a few youngsters by him already. Along with 18 or 19 who run under all codes – as long as they win races, I’m happy! And all credit to Dani Kenealy and Joe Tickle who are doing an absolutely fantastic job with them at home.” 

The earlier shorter Maiden race went to Kow Boy Sivola who defied his small stature to run out an easy 15 length winner under Amber Jackson-Fennell with Freddie Fleetfoot in second and Troubleisontheway a head back in third.  A very confident trainer Ed Rees was beaming in the winner’s enclosure, “I just couldn’t see him getting beaten today as the drop back in trip plus quicker ground are what he needed. He’s such a bonny, genuine little horse and a proper pointer.” Ed trains the Noroit gelding for Margaret Robins and James Blakeney who have supported Ed from the start after meeting him at Harry Fry’s.  The intention was to stay pointing with him and take him up through the grades.