Secretary: Mrs Linda Pugsley

M: 07890 662817

E:  lindapugsley@live.co.uk 

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

Entries Close:  Monday 27th April 2026 12.30 pm

Races:  Conditions (Level 3) - Restricted - Conditions (Level 2) 8yo+  – Conditions (Level 1) Nov Rdrs - Maiden - Mixed Open

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

The Devon & Somerset meeting returns to South Hill next Sunday with Early bird tickets at £12.50 from www.pointingwessex.co.uk until this Friday at 6pm or tickets are £15 per person (under 16s are admitted free if accompanied by an adult) on the gate. The first race is at 2pm with a bar and refreshments available and trade stands on site.  The course is situated 2 miles north of Dulverton off the B3223 at TA22 9PT. Cars can access the course off this road but lorries must NOT go through Dulverton and instead are directed via Winsford. 

The Devon & Somerset Staghounds Challenge sponsored by Sir Stephen Waley- Cohen and Robert Waley-Cohen sees 5 entries which include Skilful Lord who won this race last year as part of a 4-timer and could prove a worthy pick. He’s had one run this season and that should put him spot on for a repeat win.  The former Joe Tizzard trained Investment Manager has yet to find form for Dani Kenealy but he may appreciate this spring ground,.  Just Loose Change also hasn’t clicked pointing yet but judging by his form under Rules which saw him win 3 times for Nicky Martin, may find the quicker surface more to his liking. The final two entries are for Heidi McCreesh, both purchased from Stuart Williams where they won on the Flat and they are still learning about life over jumps. 

The Tom Malone Bloodstock Maiden race has attracted 11 entries including Devon Rouge who ran a nice race on debut for Rebecca Vanstone when 3^rd at Lower Machen while Jack Oddsocks ran well to take 4^th at Badbury Rings for trainer Les Jefford and should win a race. Emma Summersby has her horses in great form and Monderra could build on a good second at Cherrybrook when he led for much of the way. Others with placed form to consider are Stick Season, Troubleisontheway, Balinoulart and Silent Auction. 

The PFG Fabrication sponsored Mixed Open looks to be a competitive affair with 10 entries and Josh Newman having 3 of them, all of which look to have a chance. A winner at Wadebridge and Didmarton this season, Beacon Edge was sent off favourite at Cotley but made a costly error three out.  Clondaw Drake was the benefactor after Ask Dai was demoted at Lower Machen having been hampered by him while Josh’s third entry, Hearts Corner, has won all three starts this season and would clearly come here in the best form. Crawter shrugged off a disappointing run at Exeter behind Macklin to win an extended Open at Larkhill and his Intermediate win at Cheltenham last May puts him right up there. Jewel in the Park has progressed well this season taking an Intermediate from Talimar Pearl at Dunsmore followed by a Conditions race at Chilfrome by an easy 12 lengths (Punches Cross also a winner on that card). His appearance at Axe Vale for a walkover last Sunday supplies the next 1 against his name but he could be progressive enough to take this race. Histrionic has probably run better than his form figures suggest. He won nicely on pointing debut at Larkhill under Lucas Murphy and possibly should have won again under him at Ston Easton when making a mistake at the last.  Recently purchased by David Martin for grandson, Will Higgs to ride, the good ground here may be more in his favour too. Teescomponentsfly took the Novice Riders here last season while Tigerbythetail, a dual winner this season may run elsewhere. 

The Novice Rider’s Conditions race is sponsored by Stag Environmental with 13 entries and it too looks competitive with several also entered in the Open. Others include the Newman pair, Casper’s Court who won three last season but he may head to Flete instead. Josh’s other entry is Holiday Fund who won at Cherrybrook last time. He was beaten at odds-on here last season though which could be a concern. Jockey Aimee Jones is flying at the moment and is currently leading Lady rider within Wessex. She has the choice of two mounts, One True King who dead-heated in an extended Open at Cothelstone with Tigerbythetail and Au Fleuron who was second last time at Ston Easton. Call Simon has won 2 races for Aran McManus but his wins have come with plenty of cut in the ground. Wick Green was awarded the race at Flete Park last time under Alice Frampton and could opt to return there.

 The Conditions race for horses 8 years and over is sponsored by the Martin family in memory of Vanessa Martin and 13 entries have been received with several already mentioned. Luke Price has a couple in; Galudon who has won 3 of his 4 starts this season including last weekend at Parham and Inchidaly Robin who was 2^nd on the same card. He’d have to shoulder a 10lb penalty here, but did win this race last year so enjoys the course.  Talimar Pearl supplemented his win over the useful Jeu Gagnant at Cherrybrook with an easy triumph in a match at Cotley. Conor’s Gift has won 2 for trainer Les Jefford and looks like she has a preference for quicker ground.  Ben Lilly hasn’t opened his pointing account for David Pipe yet but handled quicker conditions when winning both on the Flat and over hurdles so it would be no surprise to see him go well here. 

There are 9 entries in the finale, the Wedgewood Groundworks-sponsored Restricted with some progressive types including Buyitdirect who won in good style when beating Granny Smith at Cotley by 12 lengths and proved hard to pull up.  Dangers could be Kow Boy Sivola if he reappears quickly after finishing second at Axe Vale to Follow My Order last Sunday while Luke Price has 3 entered; Rhythm of Life who won at Higham in early April as well as ex-Irish No Hard Feelings who finished alone at Chilfrome in his sole start for the yard. But the best could prove to be Eco Pete who won a bumper in Ireland and was also placed 5 times over hurdles. That could be good enough here. Will Biddick introduces All Rise Malone who won a point in Ireland and could be of interest.  Chris Barber has Walkingtheline who won a maiden on soft at Howick but she then pulled up at Larkhill on quicker ground

Race 1:            Conditions (Level 3) 

1^st         Just Loose Change

2^nd        Skilful Lord

3^rd        

Runners:          3                      Distances:        20l, l                            Time: 6m 21s

Race 2:            Maiden 

1^st         Stick Season

2^nd        Ballinoulart

3^rd        Jack Oddsocks 

Runners:          8                      Distances:        8l, 4l                            Time: 6m 25s

Race 3:            Mixed Open (Void) 

1^st        

2^nd       

3^rd        

Runners:                                  Distances:        l, l                                Time: m s

Race 4:            Conditions (Level 1) Novice Riders 

1^st         Histrionic

2^nd        Holiday Fund

3^rd        Teescomponentsfly 

Runners:          6                      Distances:        4l, 12l                          Time: 6m 17s

Race 5:            Conditions (Level 2) 8yrs + 

1^st         Inchidaly Robin

2^nd        Conor’s Gift

3^rd        Ben Lilly 

Runners:          5                      Distances:        6l, 5l                            Time: 6m 36s

Race 6:            Restricted 

1^st         All Rise Malone

2^nd        Buyitdirect

3^rd        Rhythm of Life 

Runners:          5                      Distances:        1l, 3/4l                         Time: 6m 21s

N/A

A short sharp shower sent spectators scurrying for cover during one race at South Hill on Sunday but otherwise the racing went off with no mishaps and the added moisture in the ground ensured there were enough runners in all bar the Mixed Open which was declared void due to none sadly declared at the time of closure. Highlights included a first riding victory for Will Higgs on his grandfather’s Histrionic, a double for jockey Ed Doggrell, a second course win for Inchidaly Robin and a victorious return to the saddle for jockey Emma Freeman. 

Jockey Will Higgs was full of gratitude to his grandfather, David Martin after the Novice Riders race when partnering his Histrionic to a first riding success beating the favourite Holiday Fund who for a second year running didn’t look to hugely enjoy the course.  Always sitting in a handy position, Will bided his time before sending Histrionic into a 3 length lead four fences out and despite Holiday Fund trying to bridge the gap, he held on to his advantage to win nicely at the finish.  A beaming Will said “the horse did everything for me really, I just sat there! I am indebted to my grandfather though for buying him for me to ride.”  Purchased recently from Paul Nicholls by David (his previous horses owned included the prolific Asktheweatherman) and kept with the same trainer in Sam Loxton, Histrionic had ironically won on his pointing debut for Lucas Murphy who was on the runner-up. 

A second rider who was all smiles when returning to the winner’s enclosure was Emma Freeman on her own All Rise Malone after they held off a late challenge in the Restricted race from Buy it Direct under Walter Barnett with favourite Rhythm of Life close up in third.  Making all the running, this was Emma’s first ride in two years and her second winner having won previously on Perpignan at Fakenham whilst based with Suffolk trainer, James Owen.  Now based further south, Emma rides out for Will Biddick combining that with her day job of customer service for an EV Charging company. Emma asked Will to find her a horse to ride in races and he bought the good-looking son of Kingston Hill at the Goff’s Horses in Training Sale in December. The winner of a novice race in Ireland, he took a while to recover from the journey over and so it was decided to give him plenty of time.  With Emma choked by emotion, it was left for Will to explain, “He was fit, stays and can really jump so I thought he could run well here and Emma’s given him a perfect ride.” 

The first race, the Staghounds Challenge Conditions race went to Just Loose Change under a confident ride from Ed Doggrell who sent the grey gelding into an early lead and never really allowed his two opponents any slack.  Last year’s winner, Skilful Lord was hard ridden to get near him but Ed had Just Loose Change bouncing off the quicker ground and he ran home an easy 20 length winner.  Trainer Darren McAlinden said afterwards, “He’s much happier today than on the slow ground at Cothelstone where I probably shouldn’t have run him. I would think he will have a busy end of season now the ground has come right for him” Ed too said, “He was just a different horse today from the moment I got on him in the paddock. He loved being out in front dictating.”  Owned by the Pointing and Port syndicate who are made up of local friends and family, the large bronze stag trophy would most likely end up on display at their local watering hole, the Royal Oak at Withypool which is run by landlady, Gail Loxton, one of the syndicate members. 

Ed’s second winner came in the Maiden when Chris Barber’s Stick Season outpointed his 7 opponents to stroll home an easy 8 length winner.  Ballinoulart again had to settle for second following a similar place a week ago at Axe Vale and he should hopefully find a race before the season is finished.  Stick Season is jointly owned by Ben Comer and Harry Hollowell (who was absent) and a delighted Ben, who farms at Wedmore said, “I met Chris and said I was interested in buying a horse and he suggested Stick Season.” Chris added, “He disappointed for us at Chilfrome last time but I’m delighted for the guys as I hoped he could be a bit of fun for them. We might sell him on now but hopefully this is the first of many winners for them.” 

Luke Price has done well at this course since it opened and his Inchidaly Robin defied a 10 lb penalty in the Conditions race under James King to repel a staying on Conor’s Gift to record a 6 length victory.  Looking a picture in the paddock, Inchidaly Robin clearly thrives in the Spring and James said, “he’s had a few disappointing runs this season for us, but feels like he’s just turned a corner today. He really enjoyed himself out there and it was a good performance with the penalty too.”