THE Quantock meeting this Saturday at Cothelstone is always popular with participants and public alike and this year has attracted 88 entries.

Entries for the The Hunt Race sponsored by Williton Pet, Equine and Country Store, include Footloose, third in this race last year. He subsequently won at Ston Easton but has yet to fire this season. One place ahead of Footloose last year was Ninth Wave who then went on to win four times. Connections will be hoping for the ground to dry out as his better form is on a quicker surface.

The Robert’s Waste and Jockey Club sponsored Mares Maiden series, is increasing in popularity and sees an increase to 21 entries. Fifty Shades of Bay finished one place in front of Bollin Twinkle in a similar race at Chipley when third to Dunaden Island in January. Tom Ellis has the nicely bred Crackerjack Queen who is out of multiple winning mare, Desert Queen. Josh Newman’s Did Ja Ever ran a nice race on her UK debut at Wadebridge and could improve while Imperial Pride had placed form under Rules and on her two outings pointing has shown enough to suggest she could win a race.

The Evolution Farm Vets Mixed Open is always competitive and is again being run over three and a half miles with 10 entries this year. Dr Rhythm ensured his owner, Tina Dunsford was Wessex Leading Owner last season and he showed his current well-being when winning the Men’s Open at Badbury Rings last month. He won at this meeting last year and should again follow up. The Kings Writ was third to Dr Rhythm at Badbury Rings and could chase him home.

The Brean Splash & Play Restricted race has an entry of 19 and includes the Tom Ellis trained Artiste d’Ainay who won well at Horseheath before falling at the 5th at Larkhill. He would be of interest if coming here. The Sumba Island won here comfortably last May. Although that was only a three runner race, she had earlier dead-heated at Cotley and is progressive.

The Sworders PPORA Conditions race has a total of 15 entries including a couple also entered in the Open. Veteran Doc Caver repeated his 2023 win in the Novice Riders at Chipley Park this season showing he still retains his enthusiasm. Keep Rolling won four times when with the Philip Hobbs/Johnson White yard and ran promisingly at Badbury Rings last month before pulling up.

The meeting concludes with the Hawkins Agri Maiden race and 19 entries have been received.

The first race is at 12.30pm. Tickets on the gate are £15/person with all children under 16 admitted free. The ground is currently soft, heavy in places with drier weather forecast this week.