PREVIEW: TAUNTON VALE FOXHOUNDS (MONDAY 6TH APRIL)

A total of 60 entries have been received for the traditional Taunton Vale Point to Point to be held on Easter Monday at Cothelstone. It is a short distance from Bishops Lydeard and is well signed.  Early-bird tickets can be purchased via www.pointingwessex.co.uk or www.gbpointing.co.uk for £15 until 6pm Sunday 5^th April or at the course with cash or card options on the day and entry is £20 per person. All children under 16 are admitted free if accompanied by an adult.  There is also a Best Dressed Lady and Best Dressed Couple competition to win vouchers for The Firehouse, Somerset while a Family dog show is scheduled in the paddock for 11am. The point to point racing starts at 1.30pm 

The first race is the Greenslade Taylor Hunt Members race and 3 entries have been received. Local trainer David Pipe always likes to keep a few for pointing and has Ben Lilly entered. A 9 time winner under Rules split between Flat and jumps, he has yet to win pointing but posted a better effort when second last time at Trebudannon.  He has certainly shown the most ability of these three although it’s always unwise to write off Lucy Mager around this track even though her Weston Bay has yet to break his maiden. The third of the trio, Baskerville won two for Alan King but has yet to fire for Amber Rayner. Ben Lilly is selected. 

The Carter Jonas Maiden Conditions Race has attracted 14 entries including the above mentioned Weston Bay. Dreamerlittledream was second here at the last meeting with Silent Auction back in 4^th.  River Don is trained by Harry Ryall and ran well to finish second at Larkhill in November. Two subsequent runs were on softer ground and he could be of interest back on a quicker surface. Kow Boy Sivola was 3^rd to Shareyourbiscuits at Howick while Freddie Fleetfoot has a couple of placings under Rules and could find a small race for trainer Chrissie Gray. River Don is the selection here. 

The Bathroom Shop (Taunton) Conditions race has 8 entries which include selection Ninth Wave fresh from his easy victory at Cotley and if in the same form as last weekend, he should add to his owners trophy haul.  Will Biddick has Regatta de Blanc entered who has returned to him following a disappointing spell under Rules. She’s had two runs back but has yet to recapture that form that saw her dead heat for the Coronation Cup in 2024.  Better ground should suit her though. Of the others, Histrionic won on yard debut for Sam Loxton and has run well in three defeats since.  All three have entries in the Mixed Open but this looks easier.  Will also has Far Out West in here. She repeated a course success at Ston Easton last time out easily but also won a Restricted on this course last season. She is a young improving horse and should not be underestimated given his trainer’s form. 

The Mixed Open sponsored by Mitchell’s Accountants has attracted 13 entries and they are headed by the super talented Macklin who is trained by Will Biddick. A gutsy winner on seasonal debut at Badbury Rings, he then won a Hunter Chase at Exeter and could be hard to beat here.  A big danger to the selection is Al Gasparo who is three from three for Josh Newman and had a rating of 144 when winning 3 times over hurdles for Gavin Cromwell.  It could be a fascinating match if both appear. A pointing debutant in the shape of Tiny Tetley too could add some flavour to the contest. He won 5 times for Philip Hobbs & Johnson White and is definitely of interest. Course maiden winner, Important Notice was second here to Famous Clermont at the last meeting and won last weekend at Trebudannon. He may return back to that course instead.  Call Simon comes here off the back of a win at Buckfastleigh and may not want the ground drying out.  Veteran Pink Eyed Pedro is a credit to his connections but despite taking the Dunraven Bowl at Chepstow only last year, he may find those with younger legs harder to pass now.  

The 9 entries in the Fennington Fibres Restricted include My Lucky Star is consistent without really building on her maiden win. Selection Dollanstown looked a useful prospect at Badbury Rings when part of the Biddick Five-Timer but has been beaten twice since both by Carillo including a week ago at Maisemore. That could be strong form and if reappearing, is interesting. Lily’s Choice looks very unexposed following two runs, the second of which resulted in a bloodless win last weekend at Parham. Milltown Bridge was second last time to the useful Far Out West at Ston Easton while Pyleigh Lord beat Micro Millions here on testing ground in March. Emberscombe has two wins to her name for Dani Keneally and alternates with rules racing. She would need quick ground to be seen at her best. 

The finale is an all aged Maiden sponsored by Monument Fuels and there are 13 entries including Champagne Blue who was second to Galudon at Buckfastleigh. The winner went in again last weekend and is the selection for the in-form Josh Newman yard.  Ginderella has placed form under Rules for trainer Tim Vaughan and would be more than capable of opening her account here. Tim’s other entry, Mini Yeats was a good second to Shareyourbiscuits at Howick and has a similar profile to his stablemate under Rules.  Kasanova’s Dream makes his pointing debut for Katie Croft having run in February for Gordon Elliott when beaten favourite up at Ayr. He still needs to improve.  Strolling Along should find a race soon following three fair placed runs while Newton Gold would be a popular winner for local owner-breeder, Fiona Walker.  Alderley Billy is unraced but out of a mare who won under Rules for Polly Gundry. 

Cothelstone is 2 miles NE of Bishops Lydeard off A358 –Postcode TA4 3DT. What Three Words: leafing.probable.cookbooks