Secretary:  M Wear Esq

T:  01984 641781

M:  07745 957595

E:   mwear@btinternet.com

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

Entries Close:  Monday 4th May 2026 12.30 pm 

Races:   Restricted 2m4f- Conditions (Level 2) 8yo+ - Mixed Open – Intermediate – PPORA Conditions (Level 2) Nov Rdrs - Maiden

ENTRY FEES  £50 per entry per race, 2nd entry same horse £25 Hunt race £30

The Minehead and West Somerset point to point at picturesque Holnicote on Saturday has attracted an entry of 63. The first race is at 2.35pm and the course is signed from the A39 between Minehead and Porlock – TA24 8TE.  Early bird ticket prices are £12.50 via www.pointingwessex.co.uk (accompanied under 16s are admitted free) until 6pm Wednesday 6^th May then afterwards at £15 online or on the gate.  A family dog show in the upper carpark from 2.30pm while the racing is preceded at 1.30pm by the Oliver Price charity race run in memory of him in support of the Air Ambulance UK, Exmoor Search & Rescue and Minehead Middle School. 

The first race, a Maiden race is sponsored by East Lynch Stud and Josh Newman has 2 of the 10 entries, both making their debuts for the stable having been purchased in Ireland. He does well with these ex-Irish pointers and both are of interest having run with credit over there. Diamonds and Denim finished a fair second on his third start and is out of a prolific winner under Rules in Alpine Breeze while 4 year old Crystal de France has only had one run finishing 4^th. He comes from the family of Ballyadam and both could make significant improvement. Ballinoulart has been busy recently posting two seconds within a week while Down the Inner and Granny Smith also come here with two seconds in their last two starts and both should find a race soon. The best domestic form was probably by Thief of the Night who only just got beaten by Dreamaboutit at Flete and could go one better here. 

The PPORA Molland Ridge Stud and Rehabilitation Novice Riders Conditions race has 9 entries including highest rated, Ninth Wave who has struck up a good partnership with Jack Stenhouse and that is often a good indicator in these races. He resumed winning ways at Cotley last time and may be good enough here to defy a 10lb penalty.  Another recent winner set to shoulder a penalty is Galileo Silver who won at Woodford last month while Joly Maker and Pirates Tale both won their Members’ races last time out at Stafford Cross and Flete respectively.  Hannah Morgan won this last year on Casper’s Court for Josh Newman and may well team up again with Getaway Drumlee on whom she just held on to win at Didmarton in March before possibly not enjoying the ground next time at Trebudannon. Oliver Chamings won this race two years ago on Wireless Operator and he clearly enjoys the track. 

A competitive Mixed Open race is sponsored by Philip Hobbs and Johnson White Racing and of the 9 entries, Josh Newman has Hearts Corner and Important Notice entered in his bid to secure a National Trainers title.  The former is unbeaten in four runs this season including last time at Flete Park while his other entry, Important Notice, a nephew of the late, great Denman, unseated at in a hunter chase at Stratford following two wins at Trebudannon. Luke Price also has two entered; Inchidaly Robin who comes here fresh from a bloodless victory at South Hill and Lavorante who is 10 from 19 for the yard including 4 this season. Chris Barber has been frustrated for Jewel in the Park recently having accepted a walkover at Stafford Cross last time only to find the same looked like happening at South Hill causing him to withdraw. A winner at Dunsmore and Chilfrome this term he won a Restricted at this meeting last season and that could give him the edge here. Tigerbythetail holds entries elsewhere and may opt for those. 

An entry of 10 in the Conditions race sponsored South West Farrier Ltd sees both Getaway Drumlee and Joly Maker double entered but of the others not mentioned, Galudon resumed winning ways at Parham following an  unseat at Penshurst, adding to his wins at Cotley and Buckfastleigh. He seems to handle all going and could add to his tally here. Trainer Darren McAlinden has acquired a useful sort in Castle Robin who racked up 6 wins under Rules for Charlie Longsdon and so long as he’s over the cause of his extended break which only saw him reappear in March of this year, his class could be enough to take this. 

The Harold Scott Memorial Restricted has 16 entries and Luke Price has a couple entered. Eco Pete won a bumper in Ireland and was placed 5 times over hurdles while his other entry, Mr Bezi won 2 races for the yard in 2024 but has possibly been fragile only appearing twice since, falling on both occasions. Riskamatriark beat Suvla Bay at Dunsmore and the second, who re-opposes here, then went on to win at Stafford Cross next time. Dreamaboutit also faces Thief of the Night who she beat at Flete last time while Josh Newman’s trio, Diamonds and Denim (also in the maiden), Dance Ifyoucan and Ghost Jury should be considered. The latter won easily at Flete Park last weekend while Dance Ifyoucan won very comfortably on yard debut at Kilworthy in March. Kings Affinity also won on his yard debut this time for Chris Barber and looks progressive while Laudable won well at Cotley for Fran Poste and Kow Boy Sivola looked a horse to follow when wining at Cothelstone but was well beaten at Stafford Cross last time. 

The Porlock Bay Oysters Intermediate has 9 entries and concludes the racing with some progressive types. Those include Dollanstown who hacked up in a Restricted at Cotley following wins at Cherrybrook and Badbury Rings earlier in the season for trainer Will Biddick.  Will also has Far Out West who downed Ninth Wave at Cothelstone before getting overturned herself at Stafford Cross by Clonagoose. Chris Barber’s Eileen’s Milan won a maiden here last season and opened his account with a win at Cothelstone in March before two placings in Wales.  Chris’ other entry is Jack Black who is two from two for the yard and looks the stronger of the pair.  Make Idaho Great is owned by John and Sonia Gardener who currently head the National Leading Owner title and he has won all three races for them this season. 

Race 1:            Maiden 

1^st         Diamonds And Denim

2^nd        Granny Smith

3^rd        Thief of The Night 

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

Race 2:            PPORA Condition (Level 2) for Novice Riders 

1^st         Emailandy

2^nd        Pirates Tale

3^rd        Galileo Silver 

Runners:          5                      Distances:        11/2l, 5l                       Time: 6m 18s

Race 3:            Mixed Open 

1^st         Jewel in the Park

2^nd        Lavorante

3^rd        Nonth Wave 

Runners:          4                      Distances:        5l, 3l                            Time: 6m 13s

Race 4:            Conditions (Level 2) 8yrs + 

1^st         Galudon

2^nd        Getaway Drumlee

3^rd        Micro Millions 

Runners:          7                      Distances:        3l, 30l                          Time: 6m 21s

Race 5:            Restricted 2m4f 

1^st         King’s Affinity

2^nd        Ghost Jury

3^rd        Eco Pete 

Runners:          8                      Distances:        8l, 12l                          Time: 4m 59s

Race 6:            Intermediate 

1^st         Dollanstown

2^nd        Far Out West

3^rd        Emberscombe 

Runners:          3                      Distances:        5l, 14l                          Time: 6m 8s

N/A

Holnicote point to point course situated at the base of Dunkery Beacon is possibly one of the most idyllic places to spend an afternoon and with some superb racing on offer, spectators were treated to a great day out in the spring sunshine at the Minehead and West Somerset meeting. The ground staff headed by Clerk of the Course Mike Harding and assisted by local trainers Johnson White and Jeremy Scott had produced some beautiful ground and trainers Chris Barber and Paul Nicholls were fulsome in their praise for the condition of the course.  Highlights from the day were a brilliant ride from 16 year old Lucas Murphy, a training and riding double for the formidable Chris Barber/Ed Doggrell team and a riding double for Josh Newman. 

Lucas Murphy is the son of Grand National winning jockey, Timmy Murphy and has long been catching the eye from the days when he rode in Shetland Pony Grand Nationals. Often in Novice Riders races it pays to side with the rider and in this case Lucas gave a clear indicator of why he is one to watch even causing trainer Paul Nicholls to eulogise on his ability and he was also awarded the Lalors Ride of the Day kindly sponsored by Steph Jones. Galileo Silver set a steady early pace with Emailandy settled by Lucas in fourth for much of the way.  With three fences to jump, Lucas squeezed Emailandy up the inside of the leader closely pursued by Barnaby Treneer on Pirates Tale who appeared to be going the better. Barnaby then tried to kick clear but underestimated his opponent and although they came over the last together, Lucas was able to galvanise Emailandy to win by 1.5 lengths.  Afterwards, Lucas admitted, “I think we were always going to get there, he was just a bit lazy but his jumping was great all the way round.” Paul quickly added, “He is now for sale and is an ideal schoolmaster for any young jockey out there.” 

At the opposite end of the riding spectrum sit the remaining winning jockeys from today, James King, Josh Newman and Ed Doggrell who are 1,2,3 in the National title race and it was the latter two who posted doubles to add to their pressure on James King the current leader.  Ed in particular has struck up a great partnership with trainer Chris Barber and their first winner of the day came in the Mixed Open when the highly progressive 6 year old Jewel in the Park finally got to run after several frustrating weekends.  The 4 runners were closely matched on paper but it was the younger horse who repaid his trainer’s faith in him running home a 5 length winner from early leader Lavorante and a gallant Ninth Wave not far behind in third. Owned by the Always Broke partnership, a syndicate made up of friends and family of Ed’s, Chris said “he’s an absolute belter of a horse. We had a few niggles early in the season but he’s thriving at the moment so we will probably keep going with him. He is just loving his racing.” 

Ed and Chris’ second win came in the Restricted race when the very good looking King’s Affinity shrugged off the opposition to win impressively from Ghost Jury and Eco Pete.  Ed was beaming when he returned saying, “He’s a very, very nice horse, jumped beautifully and loved being out in front.” Chris then added “I think he’s probably the nicest youngster I have had in the yard since Famous Clermont. We had an offer on the table before this run so I am hoping that is going to cement it. He has a big future ahead of him I think.” 

Another progressive winner on show came in the first when Diamonds and Denim won the maiden having virtually just stepped off the boat from Ireland. Josh Newman has a good team behind him sourcing these types and he ran out a ready winner from Granny Smith and Thief of the Night. Ian Thompson who also owns El Capitaine in the yard bought him to sell on and he certainly looks a nice prospect despite Josh feeling he still had a bit to learn.  He would either go to Doncaster Sales or be put on the open market. With a fair second in Ireland also on his CV, he has obvious potential and could prove a good buy. 

Josh teamed up in the last with trainer Will Biddick who sent out the first and second in the Intermediate in Dollanstown and Far Out West. For a while it looked like the market had got it wrong and Far Out West did her best to stretch her odds-on stablemate but although they were level over the last, Dollanstown proved the classier and recorded his 4th win of the season for owner Jeremy Hill.  This win means he is 17 points clear in both the Wincanton Novice horse title as well as the Brian Armstrong/Pete Mansell Award for Champion Novice within Wessex and West Mercia, a fitting tribute as Holnicote was the late Brian Armstrong’s favourite point to point course. 

Barely a Wessex meeting goes by in spring without a Luke Price winner and he duly obliged with Galudon who followed up a win at Cotley to take the Conditions race. James King sent Galudon on at the open ditch and although Getaway Drumlee threw down a serious challenge over the last, Galudon ground out a gritty win and was 3 lengths to the good at the line. A thrilled owner, Mike Owen said, “He’s tough as nails and just doesn’t like getting passed. He’s the same at home up the gallops too.” 

The day had started with a charity race which was held in the memory of young Oliver Price and over £3,000 was raised by the four participants which would be split between the Air Ambulance, Exmoor Search & Rescue and Minehead Middle School.  With 4 going to post, only one rider had race riding experience but it looked like Maddie Stevens on Love Whisper could make every post a winning one when the mare took a fierce hold from the start. However the pack closed and reeled her in with three furlongs to run and it was 16 year old Imogen Manning (who studies Equine Management at Cannington College) who emerged victorious riding Keith Baylis’ Captain’s Pick who was formerly with Christian Williams. Special mention must go to the evergreen Bathwick Scanno who relished his return to racing under trainer Teresa Clark and they finished a creditable second.