Secretary: Mr Tom Eames

Address:  Cotley House Cotley Chard Somerset TA20 3EP

T:  01460 239390 / 07710 379564

E:  thomaseames@aol.com

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

Entries Close:  Monday 23rd March 2026, 12.30

Races:  Restricted - PPORA 8yrs + Conditions (Level 2) -  Maiden Conditions (2m4f) - Mens Open - Ladies Open (2m4f) - Maiden

First Race:  1.00 pm

ENTRY FEES  £50 per entry per race - NB. Online entry fees £50  2nd entry same horse £30

Point to Point racing returns on Sunday to the popular course at Cotley situated a mile from the town of Chard in Somerset when racing starts at 1pm.  There are various trade stands, children’s activities as well as the bar and refreshments tent which will be open all day and where there will be live music after racing.  Well-behaved dogs on a lead are welcome. 

The Restricted race sponsored by Barleymows Farm Shop has 7 entries and Master McShine won his maiden well at Buckfastleigh last year but didn’t really progress after that. He did show a return to form last time however at Cothelstone when second to Eileen’s Milan (My Lucky Star well held in 3^rd)., One Tree Hill won a 3 runner maiden at Flete Park last season and pulled up on his only run this term at Badbury Rings.  Welsh trainer Luke Price enjoys his forays to this course and he has Galudon who opened his account last time when an impressive winner at Buckfastleigh. That puts him right in the mix here whilst his other entry, Shareyourbiscuits was previously with Dan Skelton and opened his account for Luke at Howick which places him firmly in the mix here. Impakt St Georges won on heavy at Wadebridge in December but hasn’t progressed as expected. Dollanstown won a maiden nicely at Badbury Rings before possibly finding a drop in trip on the sharp side when beaten at Charlton Horethorne. Back up to 3 miles should suit.  

The Greenslade Taylor Hunt Men’s Open has 4 entries includes the popular Ninth Wave who was surprisingly beaten last time at Cothelstone. The ground however that day was not to his liking and he should resume winning ways here.  Fighter Allen won two last season when with David Pipe and ridden by Rian Corcoran. Now in the care of Ed Walker, he is the mount of novice rider, James Pyman who only just got touched off at Buckfastleigh and should open his account soon.  Backbyjet won 4 while under Rules for Brian Ellison and ran well for a long way at Didmarton on his pointing debut. He could be an interesting recruit for the Richard Morgan team. Northern Reel won a chase under Rules when with Olly Murphy but has yet to show much in two pointing runs for current connections 

The Maiden Conditions race is sponsored by Bearnes, Hampton and Littlewood with 7 entries and Will Biddick may have found a good opportunity for Winding Lake.  A good second on debut at Badbury Rings behind J’Envoievalserenki, this well bred mare then probably found the softer ground subsequently not to her liking.  Back on a quicker surface she ought to find this easier.  Dangers could appear from Perseo who won a Pointing flat race at Larkhill last season. This is his seasonal debut though and Savant du Mesnil for Josh Newman may be a better option. Josh does well with ex-Irish pointers and although he has pulled up in both starts for them so far, the quicker ground here could see a better run. River Don is another who has shown his best form on good ground when second at Larkhill in November and could be of interest here. Alyson Dalton may opt for the easier last race. 

The Carter Jonas Ladies Open is run over the shorter trip of 2 and a half and the 6 entries include Shang Tang who won 2 Ladies Opens under Aimee Jones in 2024 but hasn’t been in the same form since.  The selection, Casper’s Court won 3 ridden by Hannah Morgan last season but unseated his new pilot early on seasonal debut at Wadebridge.  He could be up to winning this though with a clear round. Edison Kent may opt for a race at more local to home at Howick. Cluain Aodha won 2 under Rules and on that evidence might prefer this quicker ground and could be one for the placings. Madaket too won twice under Rules and has just had one start for Ellie Hatcher so could be of interest while Kansas du Berlais finished first at Charing last time but was disqualified and could give the Casper’s Court most to do. 

The 6 entries in the Kitson and Trotman Conditions race include the high-class former chaser The Big Breakaway who was rated 151 at his peak. Now with Les Jefford, he easily opened his pointing account for the yard under Anna Johnston and he should not be opposed here.  Shang Tang, Ninth Wave, Fighter Allen are mentioned above while Diplomate Sivola won 5 points for Alan Hill. Now with Juliet Thornhill, he’s in the veteran stage but looks to be educating his young rider.  Prolific winner Lavorante won 7 in a row over two seasons including a walkover but although he started the season with a win at Charing, he was then subsequently beaten at Cocklebarrow and Charlton Horethorne when odds on.  There may have been trip or ground issues there though and this trip plus quicker ground should be more to his liking. Best Mate Dave may find a couple too good here. 

There are 8 entries in the Symonds & Sampson sponsored Maiden and this could be an opportunity for Don’t Ask Aiden to open his account.  Third to Mount Gay Run at Didmarton, he brings the best form to the race. Bright Focus ran well last term when second at Flete Park and should find a race before long.  Doeshefitthebill didn’t show much under Rules For Jonjo O’Neill while Alyson Dalton ran well for a long way on her debut at Badbury Rings for Martin Sweetland and may opt for this race instead of the earlier Maiden Conditions race which looks hotter on paper. 

The meeting is at Cotley, Chard, Somerset TA20 3EP and can be found 1 mile south of the A30 and 1.5 miles south west of Chard.  Admission is £15 (under 16s free).   

Race 1:            Restricted 

1^st         Galudon

2^nd        One Tree Hill

3^rd        Impakt St Georges 

Runners:          4          Distances:        nk, 1l                                       Time: 6m 33s

Race 2:            Mens Open 

1^st         Ninth Wave

2^nd        Northern Reel

3^rd        Fighter Allen 

Runners:          3          Distances:        21/2l, 2l                                   Time: 6m 19s

Race 3:            Maiden Conditions 2m4f 

1^st         Savant du Mesnil

2^nd        Alyson Dalton

3^rd        

Runners:                                  Distances:        4l, l                              Time: 5m 40s

Race 4:            Ladies Open 2m4f 

1^st         Shang Tang

2^nd        Kansas du Berlais

3^rd        

Runners:          4                      Distances:        4l, l                              Time: 5m 20s

Race 5:            PPORA Conditions (Level 2) 8 yrs + 

1^st         Lavorante

2^nd        Best Mate Dave

3^rd        

Runners:          2                      Distances:        21/2l, l                         Time: 6m 14s

Race 6:            Maiden 

1^st         Don’t Ask Aiden

2^nd        Buyitdirect

3^rd        Doeshefitthebill 

Runners:          4                      Distances:        nk, 8l                           Time: 6m 54s

N/A

A biting wind did not deter a big crowd who came to support the Cotley Point to Point on Sunday. Having lost the meeting to unseasonably firm ground last year, the ground this time was in excellent shape due to some hard graft by a team led by Fred Eames and they are to be commended. A training double from Luke Price, riding doubles for Huw Edwards and Jack Stenhouse (his first) and a welcome return to the winner’s enclosure for the popular Ninth Wave gave spectators plenty to cheer about and there was much celebrating in the bar afterwards accompanied by local music. 

Ninth Wave has long been the apple of trainer Teresa Clark’s eye and “Trev” as he is known at home, resumed winning ways in the Mixed Open despite his two opponents doing their best to unsettle him.  A good third on seasonal debut behind the top class Macklin and Famous Clermont at Badbury Rings, Ninth Wave had found the ground at Cothelstone last time too tacky. With the ground more to his liking here, he won cosily with jockey Jack Stenhouse saying “there was plenty more in the tank left. I think he’s probably got a little bit cute and is only just doing enough but I was in control the whole way and he could have won by half the track!”  Trained by Teresa for Peter and Kathy Musgrave, he may reappear quickly at Cothelstone next Monday and she added humorously, “Who needs a man when you’ve got Trev in your life!” 

Jack’s second winner was in the last, a Maiden, and it was a few minutes before the judge announced the placings after Don’t Ask Aiden and Buyitdirect had flashed past the post together.  Eventually it was the former who was awarded the race by the narrowest of margins for delighted owners John Dorse and John Pearn for whom this was a first winner in their partnership since Cuzzicombe.  Trained by Ed Walker, they had bought the 8yo gelding very recently from him after another had gone wrong and they wanted a replacement. Ed’s wife Polly was on hand representing the yard and explained that although 8, he was still a big baby and had needed plenty of time.  Jack agreed saying he had been very green in the race and will have learnt a lot.  Polly went on to say that Ed was on duty at Maisemore where their daughter Daisy had just ridden her first winner Pony Racing and although utterly delighted with the news, she thought it would be less stressful being at Cotley. 

Another emotional moment came in the winner’s enclosure when Aimee Jones booted Shang Tang home by 4 lengths in the Ladies Open to beat odds-on favourite Kansas du Berlais.  Jumping well throughout, Aimee got a great jump at the second last giving her the advantage and although the favourite rallied, he was too good on the line in another exciting finish. With Aimee unable to speak through the happy tears, it was left to Max Comley representing his partner Elen Wylie who was leading up, to speak.  “We are delighted with this win especially as he’d been off injured and at one stage it was touch and go if we’d get him back so it’s like a fairy story for Aimee who adores him.  He’s not easy at home either.”  Elen trains the horse for Aimee’s mum Alison who was also present and quick to praise both Elen and Max for their patience.  He may now head north to Hornby Castle in a couple of weeks. 

It’s rare that a Cotley meeting doesn’t go by without a Luke Price winner and he plundered two on this occasion taking the opening Restricted race with Galudon and the later Conditions race with Lavorante.  The Restricted looked a nice race on paper and with four going to post, it played out like that with 3 in a line coming to the last.  However it was Galudon who came out on top by a neck and 1 length, building on his easy win last time at Buckfastleigh for owners Mike and Alison Owen.  Huw Edwards who was on board said afterwards, “he was idling a bit in front and looking around until the others came to him but he has jumped and travelled really well.”  Mike and Alison hail from the New Forest where they run a few ponies out in the forest and first met Luke at Stratford Racecourse after he realised he had forgotten his hay net and they kindly offered some of theirs.  After chatting for a while, they bonded over their Welsh roots and decided to have a horse in training with him.

 The second winner on the day for Luke and Huw came in the Conditions race which went to prolific winner Lavorante who shrugged off two disappointing runs on soft ground. Although only two in the race, Lavorante matched strides for most of the trip with opponent Best Mate Dave, who ran well in defeat, but after injecting some pace at the second last the winner found plenty and kept on to the line. He took an age to come back to the winner’s enclosure afterwards proving hard to pull up and Luke explained afterwards, “He is much happier on this quicker ground as he just keeps galloping.”  He then went on to say how much he enjoyed coming to the track at Cotley as it was a proper traditional point to point track “with a decent hill, like we have in Wales!”  He thought he could well return with the horse for the next meeting here on 19^th April. 

Josh Newman is another who is regularly in the winner’s enclosure here and although he was elsewhere with runners, Kayley Woollacott was on hand to welcome their Maiden Conditions winner, Savant du Mesnil who won by a cosy 4 lengths from Alyson Dalton (who ran well and should win soon) under Ed Vaughan for the Kayley Woollacott Racing Club.  Bought from Ireland he had pulled up in both starts for the yard but they quickly identified a wind issue and after getting his soft palate fired, it brought about the necessary improvement.  Ed was suitably impressed afterwards saying “he travelled and jumped really well and was pricking his ears so I knew there was plenty left.”  Kayley said,”it’s really nice to give him a confidence boost here. The ground plus the wind op have definitely helped and now Step 1 is done, he could go back under Rules to give the owners a bit more fun.”