The Devon & Somerset meeting returns to South Hill next Sunday with Early bird tickets at £12.50 from www.pointingwessex.co.uk until this Friday at 6pm or tickets are £15 per person to include a race card (under 16s are admitted free if accompanied by an adult) on the gate. The first race is at 2pm with a bar and refreshments available and trade stands on site. The course is situated 2 miles north of Dulverton off the B3223 at TA22 9PT. Cars can access the course off this road but lorries must NOT go through Dulverton and instead are directed via Winsford.
The Devon & Somerset Staghounds Challenge sponsored by Sir Stephen Waley- Cohen and Robert Waley-Cohen sees Holiday Fund top the 4 entries. A progressive 6 year old, he’s won twice this season at Dunsmore, and third time at Wadebridge and could have more to come. His opponents include veteran Steel Express who knows his way around this course having won here last year. Sizing Cusimano would be a popular winner and ran well at Trebudannon last time when third to Quintin’s Man while Skilful Lord won a Grass Roots race at Dunsmore.
The Tom Malone Bloodstock Maiden race has attracted 8 entries with Blazing Litten top on ratings. He finished 2nd to What’s Up Harry at Flete Park and may enjoy this return to 3 miles. River Story too is going the right way judged on her second at Kilworthy. People Pleaser had three runs in Ireland before moving to Stuart Sampson. He fell on debut at Howick when going well so could figure here. My Kent has joined the Luke Price yard and despite not being sighted on his only racecourse start under Rules, could well improve.
The PFG Fabrication sponsored Mixed Open looks to be a competitive affair and the season’s Champion Novice Rider Elect, Rian Corcoran has the choice of 4 of the 12 entries. Two of those are trained by his father Liam, Itacare who may have found it tough giving weight to Quintin’s Man last time, and Duc de Beauchene who stylishly took the Cornish National from the same horse last time at Trebudannon. Rian’s other potential mounts are Young Buck and Jubertilee, for his boss, Emma Summersby. Young Buck has yet to recapture the form that saw him win at Kilworthy and Newton Abbot last season but Jubertilee took a Grass Roots race comfortably under Rian last time at Flete Park and looks in good form. Sam Loxton has the pair Switch Hitter a three time winner this season and Drop Flight who looked like he didn’t stay the 4 miles last time while Mr Glass won well at Wincanton only to disappoint next time at Leicester, both Hunter Chases. Walk in the Wild has won his last two which were matches and may not have been as competitive as this. The veteran The King’s Writ is in great form this term winning two and was only just denied giving weight to talented mare, Walkin Out, at Trebudannon.
The Novice Rider’s Conditions race is sponsored by Stag Environmental with 9 entries and another riding choice for Rian Corcoran. Jubertilee is joined by stablemate Dorrell's Pierji who was second in this last year to Walkin Out. He then won his next four races relishing the quicker ground and has two good seconds so far this season. He should go one better here. Josh Newman’s Honestlyntruthfully won a similar race at Cherrybrook under Jack Stenhouse but Jack may rely on his own Teescomponentsfly on whom he won the Mixed Open that day. Raddon Top was a third winner that day to be entered here and he is also of interest. David Pipe’s Sidi Ismael dead-heated under Rian at Chipley Park but that was back in January.
The Amhurst & Shapland Conditions race for horses 8 years and over, has two significant entries from Luke Price who likes his forays into the West Country. Inchidaly Robin has won his last four all coming this season, and looks very progressive while Lavorante too has won his last four outings with one coming this season. Either looks to be worthy favourite in this contest. Itacare also has an entry here but would have to shoulder a hefty penalty. First Preference won a match at Larkhill for new connections but didn’t fire on this course for Luke Price last season when odds-on. St Patricks Bridge won at Sandon last time over a shorter trip while Whitsand Bay and Young Wolf both have fair placed form.
There are 14 entries in the finale, the Wedgewood Groundworks-sponsored Restricted with the highest rated, Ask Lileen coming here after a confidence-boosting win at Cothelstone when she finished alone. That shouldn’t be underestimated as she had a good point form in Ireland in her early days and she could follow up here today. Luke Price has three entered, the most obvious of which looks to be Callaghy who easily won a maiden at Chilfrome last month. His others are Colden’s Dream who romped home in a maiden at Cotley last season and All Thumbs Up, an ex-Tom Lacey inmate who won as he liked at Lystep but that was back in April ‘23. An absence from one in this yard would not be a hindrance and both are of interest. Another Welsh trained horse, Myfanwy impressed when beating City Silk at Cotley last season. She fell on her reappearance this season but she’s an eye-catching entry. Sureamsassy won at Howick but could opt for a meeting closer to home.