Secretary: Marilyn Bracher

Address:  Jollity Farm Hgher Halstock Leigh Yeovil Somerset BA22 9QY

T:  01935 891974   M: 07778 750743

E Mail: marilynbracher@gmail.com

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

Entries Close:  Monday 13th April 2026, 12.30 pm

Races:  Restricted – Conditions (Novice Riders) (Level 2) - Maiden – Maiden Conditions (2m4f) - Mixed Open  – Maiden - Hunt Race (Seavington & Cotley)

 ENTRY FEES  £50 per entry per race, 2nd entry same horse £30 Hunt race £15

Racing returns to Cotley when the Seavington, with an entry of 51, host the second of two meetings there this Sunday with the first race at 2pm. This is preceded by a Family Dog Show which starts at 12 noon in the lower car park while there will also be trade stands, bar, refreshments and bookmakers and a bouncy castle to keep children entertained.  Early bird tickets are £13.50 until Friday 17^th then £15 via www.gbpointing.co.uk or www.pointingwessex.co.uk. Entry on the gate is preferred as cash due to poor card coverage while accompanied under 16’s are free. Gates open at 10.30am. 

The Berensens Solicitors LLP Maiden Conditions race has 7 entries including Chris Barber’s Stick Season who was beaten at odds-on last weekend by What A Pleasure at Chilfrome but he showed enough in an earlier race at Badbury Rings in decent company to suggest he can win a race of this nature. Freddie Fleetfoot and Troubleisotheway finished in the placings behind Kow Boy Sivola at Cothelstone last time and they too should find a race before long as should Dreamaboutit, 2^nd last time at Dingley.  Fran Poste has Laudable in here and he has a couple of decent seconds to his name from his last two starts and would be the choice if choosing to come here. 

The £1,000 Mixed Open is sponsored by Everys Solicitors with a generous £650 to the winner, and it has attracted a field of 10 including several coming here in good form. Will Biddick has a soft spot for Regatta de Blanc and it was pleasing to see her return to winning form on Easter Monday since re-joining his yard after a spell under Rules. Opposing her are Beacon Edge who has won 2 of his 4 starts for Josh Newman but failed to peg back Hidden Heroics when giving the winner 5lbs last time at Kilworthy (Camino Rocio back in 4^th). Ninth Wave too found the weight telling at Cothelstone when Far Out West took advantage of a 12lb advantage. He had won the previous week on this course (as did Shang Tang in the Ladies Open) and it would be no surprise to see him run well again here.  Mount Sinai has won her last two at Howick for trainer Chis Barber. She opened her account at Dunsmore in December before falling early at Chaddesley Corbett and then failing to stay at Cocklebarrow. She shouldn’t be underestimated. Likewise Emailandy comes from Paul Nicholls’ yard and while he may be well down the pecking order in the yard, does have two hurdle wins at Plumpton to suggest he should not be ruled out in this drop in grade.  The Philip Hobbs trained Tiny Tetley has won 5 under Rules but unseated very early on pointing debut. 

The A J Wakely & Sons Maiden with 6 entries and Buyitdirect was unlucky to not win here last time after just failing to catch Don’t Ask Aiden (with Bright Focus back in 4^th). He should make amends. Teresa Clark has Granny Smith entered here and she ran a nice race to finish second to Winding Lake last weekend at Dunsmore and if she were to reappear quickly, she is also of interest.  Camps Bay showed a little on pointing debut at Larkhill for Heidi McCreesh and may enjoy quicker spring ground.

 The Restricted race sponsored by Symonds and Sampson has an entry of 15 of which many hold very good chances.  Dollanstown regained winning ways last time at Cherrybrook in convincing fashion to add to an earlier win at Badbury Rings. Dani Kenealy’s Slide Rule too won easily on the Cherrybrook card and is open to improvement. Trainer Chris Barber has three entered. Farm Assured who won her only start at Kilworthy; Skeeter Rock who won a maiden at Larkhill at the end of last month and the ex-Dan Skelton trained Jack Black who won his maiden easily at Maisemore on yard debut and may prove the best of his trio.  Don’t Ask Aiden and Savant du Mesnil took the maidens here at the last meeting and clearly handle the course well, while the Luke Price-trained Galudon beat the re-opposing One Tree Hill in the Restricted that day before unseating last time at Penshurst.  Kow Boy Sivola routed his opposition on Easter Monday at Cothelstone and too brings an interesting profile. Jack Black is the selection. 

The 9 entries in the Novice Riders Conditions race sponsored by Saffery Accountants include Ninth Wave and Emailandy who are mentioned above and either of them would be of interest if opting for this instead as it looks weaker than the Open.  Others include Ben Lilly who was sent off favourite at Cothelstone. He could be of interest if the first two don’t run. Finisher won on seasonal debut for Lilian Bartlett at Badbury Rings and would be the best of the rest.  If Ninth Wave is re-routed here, then he should take this for a second course win. 

The finale is a combined Seavington and Cotley Members Race and of the 4 entries, River Don looks the better of Harry Ryall’s two following his win at Cothelstone on Easter Monday. After showing promise in his earlier races, he finally benefitted from the quicker ground to win well from Down the Inner and Valentin du Maine. Harry’s other entry is Reiver’s Court who would be a popular winner for the meeting organisers, Bob and Marilyn Bracher. Harry’s pair is matched by Josh Newman who has Talimar Pearl a winner last time at Trebudannon beating a useful one in Jeu Gagnant, and Champagne Blue who also broke his maiden at the same meeting. Talimar Pearl is the selection.  

The course is 1m south of the A30, 1.5m from Chard – TA20 3EP.

What Three Words: amps.joke.flush 

Race 1:            Maiden Conditions 2m4f 

1^st         Laudable

2^nd        Freddie Fleetfoot

3^rd        

Runners:          2                      Distances:        10l, l                            Time: 5m 29s

Race 2:            Mixed Open 

1^st         Tiny Tetley

2^nd        Shang Tang

3^rd        Beacon Edge 

Runners:          3                      Distances:        7l, 2l                            Time: 6m 5s

Race 3:            Maiden 

1^st         Buyitdirect

2^nd        Granny Smith

3^rd        Silent Auction 

Runners:          4                      Distances:        12l, 8l                          Time: 6m 23s

Race 4:            Restricted 

1^st         Dollanstown

2^nd        Skeeter Rock

3^rd        

Runners:          5                      Distances:        7l, l                              Time: 6m 8s

Race 5:            Conditions (Level 2) Novice Riders 

1^st         Ninth Wave

2^nd        Jay Bee Whiskey

3^rd        Investment Manager 

Runners:          4                      Distances:        2l, 12l                          Time: 6m 20s

Race 6:            Members (Cotley & Seavington)

 1^st         Talimar Pearly

2^nd        Reiver’s Court

3^rd        

Runners:          2                      Distances:        10l, l                            Time: 7m 1s

N/A

A pleasant day weather-wise plus some good racing on offer ensured that spectators enjoyed a second visit this season to the course at Cotley on Sunday. Highlights on the day included a first time win for 16 year old Stanley Dixon on the Philip Hobbs trained Tiny Tetley, a classy win for Will Biddick’s Dollanstown, a riding double for Josh Newman and a third course win for crowd favourite, Ninth Wave. 

Young Stanley Dixon hails from a family steeped in racing and pointing, his father Ben having ridden this course for the legendary John Dufosee so it was fitting that all were present to see him record his first ever winner on Tiny Tetley for his boss, Philip Hobbs in the Mixed Open.  Sent off the outsider of three, the combination had got no further than the first on their previous start when an exuberant Tiny Tetley took off too soon and parted company with his young pilot.  Sensibly settling his mount in third position, Stanley bided his time in rear and despite occasionally looking outpaced, he didn’t panic and produced him with a perfectly timed run to win going away by 7 lengths from Shang Tang and Beacon Edge.  A thrilled Sarah and Philip Hobbs, fresh from their Scottish Grand National triumph, greeted the pair as they returned to the winner’s enclosure.  Stanley has worked full-time for the yard since the beginning of the season and was given the opportunity to ride Tiny Tetley when Philip felt the horse needed a confidence boost after making a serious mistake in a chase at Ludlow.  Philip when asked about the Cothelstone mishap laughed and said, “One of those things but at least he’s done better than me here today! I rode a horse that my Dad bought for £200 and not only did it try to not start but when I rounded the bend to go up the hill, the horse slammed his brakes on and refused to go!” 

A horse that has the opposite opinion of Cotley is Teresa Clark’s pride and joy, Ninth Wave who she admitted actually smiles when he arrives at the course.  Owned by Peter and Kathy Musgrave, he was a winner of the Men’s Open at the last meeting, and “Trev” as he is known at home, was in his element bossing the Novice rider’s race under Jack Stenhouse who has struck up a good partnership with the horse.  Always in the front rank, Ninth Wave won a shade cosier than the bare result of 2 lengths and led Jack to say afterwards, “That’s the best he has ever felt! He’s an absolute legend and so easy to ride. I had so much left in the tank and the quicker the ground, the better he is.” Teresa added, “He just loves this course and seems to be thriving this year. I have moved yards and now have access to turnout which he loves but only when he is with the right horse – in this case he’s keen on Granny Smith who ran earlier. He actually got a bit stressy when she went off to run and we had to keep walking him near others for company until she came back!” 

The Restricted looked a nice race on paper but Will Biddick’s Dollanstown stood out in the paddock and he cruised home to a comfortable 7 length victory under Josh Newman from market rival, Skeeter Rock who made plenty of jumping errors.  The shape of the race changed when Slide Rule fell bringing down early leader One Tree Hill and although Ed Doggrell chased the eventual winner, Dollanstown there was only going to be one result.  Will was unsure where he would go next but added, “He’s had a fairly long season but is very versatile ground wise so I will have a think after I have chatted to owner, Jeremy Hill” (who was absent). Deputising in that role was Len Vickery who made sure that the post-race celebrations were up to standard with plenty of vocal encouragement! 

The opening Maiden race saw 2 go to post with Fran Poste’s Laudable sent off the favourite.  They went a decent gallop and although his opponent Freddie Fleetfoot did his best to get on terms, Laudable was able to assert easily to win by 10 lengths. Connections were absent but the gelding comes from a decent French family and now he has broken his maiden following two good seconds at Kingston Blount and Siddington, he should progress onto better things especially with the drying conditions clearly helping. The second maiden was won by Buyitdirect in good fashion cementing the promise he had shown at the previous meeting when just failing to get up on the line.  Winning jockey, Walter Barnett said “He felt like the winner the whole way round. Jumped and travelled really well and so when I gave him a squeeze, it was easy.”  Richard Denning who owns the gelding with Nigel Mackenzie, had only arrived back from New Zealand on Thursday having previously jointly owned others such as Steel Express and Lawsons Thorns in the yard.  Trainer Mike Vanstone said, “They are my most loyal owners! I bought the horse at Doncaster Sales and although he had run in Ireland, he’s still growing and needed some time. I will add that Walter gave him a brilliant ride here and we might head to Holnicote next.”

 The finale was another two horse race, and the admirable grey Talimar Pearl provided Josh Newman with his second winner of the day after he proved too good for his other opponent, Reiver’s Court who looked a picture in the paddock.  Josh made virtually all the running on David Churches’ gelding and although Reivers Court moved upsides after one circuit, he found the tight turn difficult to negotiate and Josh seized the opportunity quickly putting the race to bed after injecting some pace.  He clearly enjoyed his outing here and looks certain to win again before the season is finished.