Jt Secretary:   John Corsan 

M: 07535 571127

E Mail: point2point@wessexfarms.co.uk

Jt Secretary:     Sue Francis

Address: - Teal Farm Sand Wedmore Somerset BS28 4XD     

M: 07811 452849

E Mail: - suefrancesp2p@outlook.com

Entries to:   The Point to Point Racing Co Ltd

Entries close:   Thursday 7th May 2026 12.30pm 

Races:   Wessex Area Conditions (Level 2) - CA Members Conditions 7yo+ (Level 1) Nov Rdrs, Ladies Open, Conditions Maiden, Restricted - Maiden 2m4f

First Race:   4.30pm

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

The final meeting of the Wessex Area Point to Point season takes place at Cothelstone on Wednesday when the Vale of Taunton & Banwell Harriers hold their traditional evening meeting.  Gates open at 2pm and there are 84 entries with the first race at 4.30pm. Tickets can be purchased for £15 (under 16s admitted free) via www.pointingwessex.co.uk until Saturday 9^th May 6pm or for £20 thereafter including on the gate.  

The Alec Jarrett sponsored Conditions race has some progressive horses entered including Chris Barber’s Jewel in the Park. He is three from three this season and is well thought of by connections.  Dangers to him are Will Biddick’s pair, Dollanstown and Far Out West.  The former looked useful when winning at Badbury Rings and then won again at Cherrybrook and last time at Cotley and he’d be an obvious danger. Far Out West took a notable scalp in Ninth Wave here on Easter Monday but was then beaten at Axe Vale by Clonagoose who jointly leads the National standings for most wins this season so that is no disgrace. Just Loose Change relished his front running role and a change of ground when winning at South Hill and he should also be considered while the genuine Talimar Pearl always runs his race and only got beaten close home at Flete Park last time. He’s one for an each way choice. 

There are 19 in the shorter Maiden sponsored by the Westminster Society and Chris Barber could introduce the ex-Irish Connemara Joe in this or the later maiden. His form in Ireland looks ordinary but Chris regularly improves these types and he should be considered.  Josh Newman too has the ex-Irish Crystal de France and Diamonds and Denim and again they are interesting.  Of those to have run over here, Son of Saratoga made a nice debut for Will Biddick at Eyton when 3^rd while Fran Poste has a couple in Guseakie and Plantaroma with fair placed form and they are not without a chance and the Emma Summersby yard has two debutants in Champagne Dude and Telexpress who could be of interest too. Fortunate Bernie finished third behind What A Pleasure and Stick Season at Chilfrome with the second having won since making the form look stronger. 

Briarwood Supplies sponsor the Novice Riders race and it often pays to look at the jockey first. Young Lucas Murphy has really made an impact winning 12 races this season and he could partner Emailandy for trainer Paul Nicholls here. He’s only had the one start so far and was third of three but that was against Duc de Bourbon and Walkin Out and he came to the last with every chance. That puts him well into the picture here. Histrionic gave Will Higgs his first winner at South Hill comfortably beating the re-opposing Josh Newman’s Holiday Fund and that could give the pair confidence to confirm that form.  Josh has also entered Clondaw Drake, a winner last time at Lower Machen and Getaway Drumlee who won at Didmarton before not enjoying heavy ground at Trebudannon.  High Game Royal was third to Stumps or Slips and Macklin at Exeter and could have place chances. Recent Eyton winner Ringsend John will enjoy the quicker ground. 

The Ladies Open is sponsored by Maxwell Chartered Accountants and has attracted 12 entries of which highest rated Macklin is surely the standout. Surprisingly beaten at Exeter last time, the quick ground and an unexposed former chaser in Sticks or Stumps were given as excuses. He faces some fair opposition notably Duc de Bourbon who has won 2 this year before just missing out in a close finish to the talented Walkin Out at Axe Vale.  Lavorante has three wins to his name this term and is one who enjoys a quick surface while Myth Buster hasn’t run since January when he notched a second win of the season but is held on course form by Macklin. Important Notice was in good form on softer earlier winning twice at Trebudannon but he unseated at Stratford last time. Tigerbythetail has appreciated being dropped back into pointing including winning here in March while Ninth Wave has easier options elsewhere as he hasn’t always found this his luckiest track.  

The 18 entries in the Beachcomber Inn Restricted give it a competitive look with several trainers having multiple entries. Josh Newman has Ghost Jury who won at Flete Park and Dance Ifyoucan who won as he liked at Kilworthy in March on his first start for the yard and he could prove the better of the two. Luke Price has the ex-Irish Eco Pete, yet to race for him and Mr Bezi who has looked fragile but did win twice for him two seasons ago.  Chris Barber has two mares, Citizen Jane a winner at Woodford and Walkingtheline who won well at Howick but didn’t build on that last time.  Prince in the Park probably has the best obvious form on view with two wins at Kingston Blount and Tabley following a good third to the useful Dollanstown at Badbury Rings. He’d be the choice but he may opt for Kingston Blount again. Slide Rule won well at Cherrybrook while All Rise Malone was given a good ride by owner/rider Emma Freeman at South Hill and relished the quicker ground there. 

Cannington Enterprises Ltd sponsor the finale, a Maiden Conditions race and of those 11 entries not already mentioned, Priceforlove, Roxhill, and Down the Inner have all shown ability in their maiden races to date. Granny Smith would be a popular winner for Teresa Clark and she will enjoy the firmer surface plus she ran well enough at Cotley to suggest she could win a race, as would Monderra, placed twice this season.

Race 1:            Wessex Area Conditions (Level 2) 

1^st         Far Out West

2^nd        Punches Cross

3^rd        

Runners:          2                      Distances:        6l, l                              Time: 6m 19s

Race 2:            Maiden 2m4f 

1^st         Doctor Glide

2^nd        Son of Satatoga

3^rd        Roxhill 

Runners:          7                      Distances:        3/4l, 43/4l                   Time:5 m 2s

Race 3:            Conditions (Level 1) Novice Riders 

1^st         Clondaw Drake

2^nd        On Springs

2^nd       Histrionic 

Runners:          5                      Distances:        3/4l, DH                       Time: 6m 8s

Race 4:            Ladies Open

 1^st         Ninth Wave

2^nd        Duc de Bourbon

3^rd        

Runners:          3                      Distances:        30l, l                            Time: 6m 2s

Race 5:            Restricted 

1^st         Walkingtheline

2^nd        Tony Tipple

3^rd       

Runners:          2                      Distances:        6l, l                              Time: 6m 27s

Race 6:            Maiden Conditions 

1^st         Beannaigh Do

2^nd        Down the Inner

3^rd        Granny Smith 

Runners:          4                      Distances:        nk, 12l                         Time:6m 15s

N/A

Wessex Area drew to a close for the season on Wednesday night at Cothelstone and racegoers braved a strong wind and one sharp shower which sent them running for cover. Although not the strongest finish to what has been a successful season, there was some good racing including an exciting finish to the Novice Riders race plus two trainers nervously counting points to see if they had emerged as overall winners in their categories for the Area Awards. The highlight though came in the very last race when jockey Edd Kenney-Herbert proved that age or absence is no hindrance to draw the biggest cheers of the evening. 

Not many jockeys would think about returning to race-riding at the age of 42 but for Edd Kenney-Herbert, age was never a consideration – but the thrill of “galloping over jumps” was.  Having last race-ridden 13 years ago, Edd decided to buy another hunter, and with the help of Lucy Mager and support of Kim Tripp sourced one from Sheila Lewis in the form of Beannaigh Do who had yet to win a race. Combining hunting with team-chasing on the horse, Edd then felt a crack at running him in a point to point could be an idea and approached Lucy to train the horse. Making his pointing debut in the Maiden Conditions race, Beannaigh Do was unconsidered in the betting for this rather surprising team but Edd was not deterred and set out to make the running. With the favourite, Granny Smith possibly feeling the effects of running back quickly, Down the Inner looked like he only had to jump the last to relieve Edd of the lead. But Beannaigh Do stuck his head down in a determined fashion and held on for a popular victory.  A beaming Edd returned to the winner’s enclosure to much applause and said “that was amazing! Massive thanks to Lucy, Kim and also Kate Jupp who has been helping me. I last rode a winner back in 2011 (two on Duxy Hill Lady) and this horse just does everything.” 

Another jockey who doesn’t let age define them is 16 year old Lucas Murphy who showed in the Novice Riders race why he is the future when producing Clondaw Drake perfectly to win by a cosy half-length to give John and Sonia Gardener yet another winner on what has been an incredible season and could see them crowned National Champion owners as well as National Champion Horse, currently involved with both Clonagoose and Woodstock Octo who both sit at the top of the leaderboard.  Trainer Josh Newman too is leading his category in the trainer’s title and Kayley Woollacott said afterwards, “I just can’t believe how well it’s gone again this year. Last year was special but we couldn’t do it without such amazing owners like John and Sonia. They have supported us for such a long time and we are massively grateful to them for believing in us.”

 Will Biddick may not be challenging for top honours yet nationally but he had his eyes firmly on the Wessex Larger trainer’s title and following a win with Far Out West plus a second with Son of Saratoga, he looks to have snatched it away from Chris Barber in what has been a very exciting climax to the season.  Far Out West looked none the worse for her outing only last Saturday at Holnicote when she gallantly lost out to stable companion Dollanstown. Gleaming in the intermittent sunshine, she bounced around the paddock, clearly pleased to be back at the sports.  With only one opponent in Punches Cross, she merely had to stroll around to win the Conditions race causing owner Andy Pollard to remark, “That will set her up nicely for the second Bratton in ten days’ time.” 

Will looked to have another good chance in the Maiden with Son of Saratoga but reckoned without Ed Vaughan on his father’s Doctor Glide who again made the running and although Son of Saratoga did head him at one stage and looked the likely winner, Doctor Glide used his experience to go back in front to win by ¾ lengths. Afterwards Ed remarked, “He’s got loads of ability and it’s just a matter of catching him right. He is an older horse so that probably helped up against a four year old. I’d say he has a few quirks but he has battled well today and the other horse heading him probably gave him something to think about.” 

Teresa Clark was another keeping tabs on the Wessex Trainers scores, herself a contender in the Smaller Trainer’s title. Again she brought out Ninth Wave who had run creditably against a strong Open race at Holnicote to finish third and he too loved the quick return to racing. Ridden for the first time by the “Queen of Cothelstone” Lucy Mager in the Ladies Open, he dictated matters from rival Duc de Bourbon and easily saw him off for an emotional win for connections. This win puts him clear for the Greenslade Taylor Hunt trophy and although results have yet to be verified, it looks like the award will be heading to “Trev” as he is known at home.

 Chris Barber too has had a great season and his mare Walkingtheline was far superior to her only rival to take the Restricted race by a fair margin under Ed Doggrell. Coming back into the winner’s enclosure, Ed said, “She just idles a bit in front and can make it harder for herself so a bit of company for longer would have helped.” Chris explained,” She is frustrating as she has lots of ability but it has taken a while to figure her out. We now train her from the field as we did with Drumlee Spud last year and it has definitely helped her.” He thanked owners Phil Fry and John Irish who had been such loyal supporters and he always enjoyed training a winner for them.