Secretary: Mrs S. Wills.
Tel & Fax: 01404 831744,
mobile: 07870 737209.

The Annex, Sutton Barton, Wilmington, Honiton, Devon EX14 9SH

Cotley Hunt Point to Point

5 May 08

Cotley Hunt Point to Point - Monday 5 May 2008
Cotley, Chard, Somerset TA20 3EP

First Race: 1.30pm
Six race card: Members, Maiden 4-7yo (2-2.5 miles), Mixed Open, 10 yo and over Countryside Alliance Members, Restricted, Open Maiden, Pony Races.

P J HOBBS
Sandhill Racing Stables
Set in 500 acres of top quality farmland, there are 100 stables, 1.5mile grass gallop, a 5 furlong 'woodchip' gallop, a 3 furlong 'polytrack' schooling ground, horse walkers and an equine pool. Philip Hobbs trains 100 horses; has sent out over 1000 winners and has finished in the country's top four National Hunt trainers since 1999.

CLICK HERE FOR FULL DETAILS

Tel 01984 640366
Fax 01984 641124
Mobile 07860 729795
Philip and Sarah Hobbs
email pjhobbs@pjhobbs.com
www.pjhobbs.com

Sandhill Racing Stables, Bilbrook, Minehead, Somerset TA24 6HA

PREVIEW for Sat 15 March 2008 - The WESTERN Point to Point

THE Western point-to-point gets under way at 12.30pm on Saturday (15th March) on the Royal Cornwall Showground. Innocent Rebel is unbeaten this season and heads the entries for the Ladies’ Open. Champion jockey Claire Allen teams up again with the useful 7 year old who already has two course wins to his credit this season. He also beat subsequent winner Goblet of Fire at Buckfastleigh last month and will take some stopping here. Dr Cerullo and Sea Snipe would be his main rivals. Sea Snipe is also entered for the Men’s Open. It would be good to see the mare return to her best form, and she may be opposed here by Nditlir and The Quarry Man, who filled the placings behind Southwestern at Ottery recently. Nditlir is coming back to her best, and also has an entry in the Confined. Holly Walk and King Georges may provide the main dangers. Ballybrown won his Restricted impressively at Wadebridge last month and came up against two smart performers in Off Broadway and Slaezy in the East Devon Intermediate. He looks a decent bet in a similar race this Saturday. Gordon Chambers sent out Ansa The Question to win at Buckfastleigh last Sunday and has two interesting prospects on the Wadebridge card with On Your Toes in the Restricted and Stillhertoes in the Open Maiden. The Royal Cornwall Showground is located 1 mile west of Wadebridge on the A39. Entrance for cars costs £11 per car and driver (to include £1 donation to the Countryside Alliance) with £5 for each additional passenger.

Point to Point report
Dartmoor at Flete, South Devon, Saturday April 19  RICHARD Woollacott booted home another double at Flete Park on Saturday, taking his tally to 18 and a step closer to a first ever national title. The crowds kept away from the rain drenched course, but racing was probably as good as has been seen at the track.Come What Augustus was confined to six weeks box rest in January with an injury, but he won the 13-runner restricted in good style. Emely Thompson, who trains the gelding for Bill Westaott, said: “We bought him through Robert Stronge. He’s a bit of a monkey but he’s a lovely horse and seems to act on any ground.”The Quarry Man was the easy winner of the confined for Woollacott who said: “He’s quite a tough horse as he only ran six days ago. We were uncertain whether to run him but it looked a relatively easy race so we decided to and it has paid off.”Woollacott missed out on a treble with favourite The Kings Fling who found Sara Monica a length too good in the men’ four mile open. Jackie Elliot’s mare, who continued trainer Gordon Chambers’ good run of form, was ridden by Will White. “She jumped really well and seemed to enjoy that,” said the winning jockey who is getting married in October to Milly Rowe.Nikki Frost saddled a double initiated by Dad Says Heazle in the intermediate, the day’s most impressive winner, with Darren Edwards on board.Chris Brake, husband of owner Jane, said the Exeter Racecourse Intermediate Final on May 14 was the target and he admitted having a little bet on the favourite.16-year-old Jamie Thomas scored his first ever success on only his second ride on the yard’s other winning favourite Iamwhatiam who took the first division of the maiden. Thomas, who works for Jimmy Frost, had his first ever ride at Great Trethew last month where he finished third on the home owned and bred six-year-old who is by the family’s stallion Morpeth.Thomas joined the Frosts for two and half years ago when he was put on a supervised school training scheme. Mrs Frost said: “He lives in Newton Abbot and he used to go the races instead of school so he came to us and a teacher would come every month to monitor his progress. While other boys were pinning up pictures of Beckham, he’d be pinning up pictures of Tony McCoy. He was thrown right in at the deep end today and we are amazed at how well he has done but he carried out our instructions really well.” Jackie Du Plessis’ home bred Kingsmill Lake took her tally to five, the same as her dam Kingsmill Imp, after holding off the favourite Quick by a length in the ladies’ open. Jockey Emily Nozskay, who works for Du Plessis, said: “She jumped brilliantly and gave me a lovely ride.”Ollie Jackson had doubts whether Ryeman would stay the trip in the second maiden, but Denis Williams’ home bred six-year-old but up a good performance  to win by six lengths in the hands of Danny Cook who had just the one ride.Five went to post in the members with odds on favourite Bucket Awl landing his fourth success of the season ridden by Jenny Carr.RESULTSMembers: Bucket Awl (ire) (Miss C Carr) 1; Four of a Kind (T. Chanin) 2; No Small Talk (B. Robarts) 3.Time: 6mins 57.0s; Distances: 4l, runin

Restricted: Come What Augustus (R Woollacott) 1; Howdy Cloud (Miss L Gardner) 2; Ansa The Question (Mr W White) 3. 6mins 47.0s , 5l, 4l

Men’s Open 4m: Sara Monica (Mr W White) 1; The King’s Fling (Mr R Woollacott) 2; Thirtytwored (Mr G Weatherly) 3. 8mins 22.0s; 1½l, neckLadies Open: Kingsmill Lake (Miss E Noszkay) 1; Quick (Miss P Gundry) 2; Let’s Fly (Miss J Carr) 3. 6mins 49.0s; 2l, ¾l

Confined: The Quarry Man (R Woollacott) 1;  Gunners Mistake (Mr D Edwards) 2; The Kew Tour (Mr W White) 3. 6mins 53.0s ; 12l, 3lIntermediate: Dad Says Heazle (D. Edwards) 1; Riteway Round (Miss A Mills) 2; Menarow (Miss L Gardner) 3.  6mins 57.0s; 20l, 3l

Confined Maiden div 1: Iamwhatiam (Jamie Thomas); Benarina (Miss P Gundry) 2; Final Deal M Griffiths) 3. 7mins 11.0s ; ¾l, 30lConfined Maiden div 2: Ryeman (D Cook) 1; Vixen Tour (Mr R Woollacott) 2; Abbey Shadow (B Robarts) 3.  7mins 15.0s ; 8l, runin

PREVIEWS - DEVON & CORNWALL MEETINGS
Granville Taylor POINT-TO-POINT  enthusiasts can look forward to two good meetings this weekend in the Devon & Cornwall area. The Four Burrow takes place at Trebudannon on Saturday (April 26^th) and the Axe Vale race at Stafford Cross on Sunday (April 27^th). The Four Burrow has attracted 145 entries for their six races starting at 2.0pm on Saturday with a two and a half miles maiden on their excellent viewing course. Tres Bien, Jubilee Jack and the hitherto unlucky Will Scarlet are amongst the 28 nominations for this event. The 24 entries for the Mixed Open include course specialist Let’s Fly, who already has eight wins to his credit on his local track. He seems to be returning to his best form, but faces strong opposition from Slaezy, Lisheen Storm and Stone Valley. Recent Eggesford winners Braeroy and Whizzaar are improving types and will be stepping up in class. Foolish Myth won impressively at Cherrybrook and will take some beating in the Intermediate where Pitchfork and What A Moose also figure amongst the 20 entries. The 26 entries for the Restricted include Charm Lord and Winning Connection who filled the places behind Yufo in this grade at Cothelstone recently. Heathfield Flyer won his maiden the same day and Iamwhatiam also took a Flete Park maiden in good style last week and looks sure to progress. It might be the turn of The Buddle in the Open Maiden (27 entries). He ran well at Upcott Cross, finishing ahead of subsequent winner Ryeman. Keep Him Keen and Major Matt are others to consider. The Open Mares maiden looks ready made for Royal Gemstone judged on her promising second at Great Trethew. Present of Flame is also being brought along steadily and can provide the main threat out of the 20 entries. Trbudannon is 5 miles east of Newquay, near the A39, close to St Columb Major. Entrance costs £10 per car and driver, with £5 for each additional passenger.   This Sunday’s Axe Vale fixture at Stafford Cross is preceded by two pony races to be run at 12 o’clock and 12.30. The Hunt race starts the point-to-point card at 1.30 where eight races are needed to accommodate the 169 entries. Polly Gundry is looking to maintain her lead over Rachael Green for the Ladies’ title and has good chances with Dr Cerullo in the Hunt race and Jean’s Joy in the Restricted, where Rachael Green will be in opposition on Royal Rapture. Diana Hobbs is hoping to partner Croix de Guerre in the Mixed Open. He won his fourth race this season at the Cotswold, and heads the 22 entries for this event alongside Jalons Star, Goblet of Fire, Highway Oak and the vastly improved El Troubadour. Spuddler’s Dream and Massimo are top rated amongst the 21 entries for the Confined, and Drybrook Bedouin stands out for the Intermediate. Rye Brook is an interesting nomination from Richard Barber’s yard for the Novice Riders’ event where Sam Matthews will be hoping to follow up his Cothelstone win on Harbridge. The Maiden has been divided and each section has a very open look.  

The Stafford Cross track is 3 miles west of Seaton near the A3052 (Exit 30 M5