THE Wessex Area moves west this Saturday, March 14, when the Quantock Staghounds host their point to point meeting at Cothelstone to round off a busy week’s racing following the Cheltenham Festival.

This year the meeting has attracted 75 entries with the first race at 12.30pm. Tickets on the gate are £15/person with all children under 16 admitted free. The ground is currently good to soft, soft in places with some rain in the forecast.

The Members Race sponsored by Williton Pet, Equine and Country Store, has attracted five entries. Selection and 12 time winner Ninth Wave ran a fine race to finish third on seasonal debut last month to Macklin and Famous Clermont at Badbury Rings, delighting connections. Twice a winner here including this race in 2023, he should prove hard to beat.

Just Loose Change has been unlucky to accumulate a few letters by his name after a promising first run at Dunsmore since leaving Nicky Martin. He was a three time winner under Rules for her and it would be no surprise to see him show that form before long. He could be the danger to the selection while Lucy Mager who often excels with her horses around here has Micro Millions and this Irish point winner has shown fair form in two competitive Restricted races this season.

The Robert’s Waste and Jockey Club sponsored Mares Maiden run over 2 miles 4 furlongs has attracted 17 entries and it often pays to look at the bottom of the weight with 4yos receiving a hefty 14lb weight allowance. These include the unraced Chris Barber trained, Sainte Crystal who is bred to be useful being a half-sister to the decent Irish Saint, a 7 time winner under Rules including two Grade 2 races for Paul Nicholls. Also unraced Rebel Aura for Eamonn O’Donovan too is nicely bred being a half-sister to jumps winner Walk In Clover while Luca Morgan has the unraced Kamna TIgra who’s half-brother Touch Me Not heads the weights in Wednesday’s Grand Annual Chase at Cheltenham.

Of the 5yo and up, Dreamaboutit has shown a little on her last two starts to suggest she could win a similar race. Millyellen has placed second twice for Josh Newman this season, both at Wadebridge but now appears from the Jennifer Boucher stable. Josh himself has Seventeenothree who showed promise in a maiden at Badbury last month and should improve. Hannah Marshall’s Here’s Georgie showed up well until tiring in a Larkhill Flat race but this is her first time over obstacles.

The Evolution Equine Vets Mixed Open is always competitive and is again being run over 3 and a half miles with 10 entries this year with Ninth Wave probably opting for the opener. Trainer Lily Bradstock has a knack of retaining enthusiasm in her horses and her Myth Buster is no exception, winning both his races this season, at Horseheath and Larkhill. He could be dangerous if he is allowed his own way out in front.

In-form Josh Newman has the consistent Heart’s Corner who just held on to take the Ladies Open at Wadebridge in early December. Mount Sinai surprised a few when winning a Mixed Open at Dunsmore in November on yard debut. She then went to Chaddesley Corbett where she fell before disappointing over a trip that may have been too far last time at Cocklebarrow and she could resume winning ways here for trainer Chris Barber.

Useful Tigerbythetail won 7 times before pursuing a career under Rules for connections. That venture only yielded one win so he has returned to this code with one run back at Badbury on seasonal debut where he finished 4th. He could strip fitter this time. Minella Jab turned over the odds-on Clondaw Drake at Wadebridge in January before pulling up in a hunter chase on heavy ground.

The Sworders Restricted race has a competitive entry of 13 including Alan Hill’s Monrocco Moonlight who won easily at Charing (J’Envoievalserenki 3rd) but he may find this coming too soon after last weekend’s second at Higham. Chris Barber has Eileen’s Milan, winner of both his races last season. He holds multiple entries elsewhere but he is clearly unexposed and is the selection here. Echo of Promise won at Kilworthy last season for Luke Price. Now with Tim Vaughan, she should build on her seasonal debut at Horseheath. Bulletofexpression won at Milborne last season and ran well enough on seasonal debut at Badbury Rings.

The Polaris Stag Environmental PPORA Conditions race has a total of 12 entries including Famous Clermont, winner of the Aintree Foxhunters in 2023. He won this race last year (Punches Cross 3rd) following it up with another course win over Easter and finished with a good win at the Stratford Hunter Chase meeting. He has been a grand servant to connections and he ran anther good race under Milo Herbert at Badbury Rings last time only getting collared by the highly talented Macklin.

Rivals include Important Notice, himself also victim of Macklin’s finish at Buckfastleigh last season. A winner of his maiden here on debut, he looked progressive last season posting a worthy 3rd behind Crawter at Cheltenham in the Intermediate. Unlucky to be brought down last time in a hunter chase at Hereford, he is a big danger to Famous Clermont. Ellie Hatcher has acquired Madaket from Philip Hobbs & Johnson White and he has two hurdle wins to his name. He is interesting on his debut in this sphere. Famous Clermont should take this as long as he sees out the race but Important Notice under a wily Josh Newman should not be ignored.

The meeting concludes with the Antler Construct Maiden race and 18 entries have been received. Josh Newman is once again having a great season and he has Champagne Blue, an ex-Irish pointer the sort which he excels with and he is the selection. Another trainer to have hit form with a five-timer at Badbury Rings is Will Biddick who has an unraced gelding by Bollin Eric out of a prolific winner on the Flat.

Will also has Run Ruby Run again out of a Flat bred mare. Both should be noted in the paddock. Of those to have run in the UK, Chris Barber has Stick Season who probably ran a fair race when 3rd behind Six Two Three (now rumoured to have joined the Skelton yard) and Electric City at Badbury. Myfanwy’s Magic was brought down two out by a wayward Prince in the Park that day.

Cothelstone is two miles NE of Bishops Lydeard off A358 –Postcode TA4 3DT.

Bob Bracher