A biting wind did not deter a big crowd who came to support the Cotley Point to Point on Sunday. Having lost the meeting to unseasonably firm ground last year, the ground this time was in excellent shape due to some hard graft by a team led by Fred Eames and they are to be commended. A training double from Luke Price, riding doubles for Huw Edwards and Jack Stenhouse (his first) and a welcome return to the winner’s enclosure for the popular Ninth Wave gave spectators plenty to cheer about and there was much celebrating in the bar afterwards accompanied by local music.

Ninth Wave has long been the apple of trainer Teresa Clark’s eye and “Trev” as he is known at home, resumed winning ways in the Mixed Open despite his two opponents doing their best to unsettle him. A good third on seasonal debut behind the top class Macklin and Famous Clermont at Badbury Rings, Ninth Wave had found the ground at Cothelstone last time too tacky. With the ground more to his liking here, he won cosily with jockey Jack Stenhouse saying “there was plenty more in the tank left. I think he’s probably got a little bit cute and is only just doing enough but I was in control the whole way and he could have won by half the track!” Trained by Teresa for Peter and Kathy Musgrave, he may reappear quickly at Cothelstone next Monday and she added humorously, “Who needs a man when you’ve got Trev in your life!”

Jack’s second winner was in the last, a Maiden, and it was a few minutes before the judge announced the placings after Don’t Ask Aiden and Buyitdirect had flashed past the post together. Eventually it was the former who was awarded the race by the narrowest of margins for delighted owners John Dorse and John Pearn for whom this was a first winner in their partnership since Cuzzicombe. Trained by Ed Walker, they had bought the 8yo gelding very recently from him after another had gone wrong and they wanted a replacement. Ed’s wife Polly was on hand representing the yard and explained that although 8, he was still a big baby and had needed plenty of time. Jack agreed saying he had been very green in the race and will have learnt a lot. Polly went on to say that Ed was on duty at Maisemore where their daughter Daisy had just ridden her first winner Pony Racing and although utterly delighted with the news, she thought it would be less stressful being at Cotley.

Another emotional moment came in the winner’s enclosure when Aimee Jones booted Shang Tang home by 4 lengths in the Ladies Open to beat odds-on favourite Kansas du Berlais. Jumping well throughout, Aimee got a great jump at the second last giving her the advantage and although the favourite rallied, he was too good on the line in another exciting finish. With Aimee unable to speak through the happy tears, it was left to Max Comley representing his partner Elen Wylie who was leading up, to speak. “We are delighted with this win especially as he’d been off injured and at one stage it was touch and go if we’d get him back so it’s like a fairy story for Aimee who adores him. He’s not easy at home either.” Elen trains the horse for Aimee’s mum Alison who was also present and quick to praise both Elen and Max for their patience. He may now head north to Hornby Castle in a couple of weeks.

It’s rare that a Cotley meeting doesn’t go by without a Luke Price winner and he plundered two on this occasion taking the opening Restricted race with Galudon and the later Conditions race with Lavorante. The Restricted looked a nice race on paper and with four going to post, it played out like that with 3 in a line coming to the last. However it was Galudon who came out on top by a neck and 1 length, building on his easy win last time at Buckfastleigh for owners Mike and Alison Owen. Huw Edwards who was on board said afterwards, “he was idling a bit in front and looking around until the others came to him but he has jumped and travelled really well.” Mike and Alison hail from the New Forest where they run a few ponies out in the forest and first met Luke at Stratford Racecourse after he realised he had forgotten his hay net and they kindly offered some of theirs. After chatting for a while, they bonded over their Welsh roots and decided to have a horse in training with him.

The second winner on the day for Luke and Huw came in the Conditions race which went to prolific winner Lavorante who shrugged off two disappointing runs on soft ground. Although only two in the race, Lavorante matched strides for most of the trip with opponent Best Mate Dave, who ran well in defeat, but after injecting some pace at the second last the winner found plenty and kept on to the line. He took an age to come back to the winner’s enclosure afterwards proving hard to pull up and Luke explained afterwards, “He is much happier on this quicker ground as he just keeps galloping.” He then went on to say how much he enjoyed coming to the track at Cotley as it was a proper traditional point to point track “with a decent hill, like we have in Wales!” He thought he could well return with the horse for the next meeting here on 19th April.

Josh Newman is another who is regularly in the winner’s enclosure here and although he was elsewhere with runners, Kayley Woollacott was on hand to welcome their Maiden Conditions winner, Savant du Mesnil who won by a cosy 4 lengths from Alyson Dalton (who ran well and should win soon) under Ed Vaughan for the Kayley Woollacott Racing Club. Bought from Ireland he had pulled up in both starts for the yard but they quickly identified a wind issue and after getting his soft palate fired, it brought about the necessary improvement. Ed was suitably impressed afterwards saying “he travelled and jumped really well and was pricking his ears so I knew there was plenty left.” Kayley said,”it’s really nice to give him a confidence boost here. The ground plus the wind op have definitely helped and now Step 1 is done, he could go back under Rules to give the owners a bit more fun.”