A windswept area, East of England near the University town of
Cottenham Racecourse just off the M11 hosted the Cambridge University united hunts club meeting to a good enthusiastic crowd, quality fields, and an expectation that the ongoing saga of the Victoria Pendleton swapping saddles campaign would blow onto the Cambridgshire course. This made it a Sunday afternoon to brave the elements and watch some entertaining amateur sport.
Alas the Olympic star decided that the West of the country suited her chances better ( pulling up two from home)
But it did not deter from what was a quality days racing, offering the meetings six race card.
The ground classed as good to soft, good in places made for some testing contests
Eight Runners started the season off in a members conditions race over a sharp two mile four furlongs.
Top amateur Sam Waley-Cohen took Storm Lantern to post favourite,but it was eight year old Lough Inch who beat the favourite by three lengths in a blistering pace of a race taking all of 5m.53 secs to complete the two mile four furlong trip. Jockey Sam Davies-Thomas, who was set to have a successful opening meeting rode a perfectly timed race, ' from the second last i could see Sam's (Waley-Cohen) horse possibly would not go on, so i asked a bit more from him and he responded well' Asked if the ground helped his horse Sam mentioned ' It's good out there but i should reckon it will find a few out in later races' Jockey Mr Davies-Thomas, who is an apprentice saddler by day but rides out for the likes of top up and coming rules trainer Dan Skelton before work. ' it's good riding out for him, and it;s good to get off to a good start for the season.
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| Lough Inch |
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| Jockey Mr Davies-Thomas |
As mentioned previous, the hoped inaugural ride from an Olympic star over the bigger obstacles was not to be for Cottenham.But it was the Hill family who have been charged with training the stars swap of sports, not to be out done on the day. Consigliere travelled the near 200 mile round trip to take the Men's open by ten length's from Executive Benefit.
Another fast time for this time a three mile event, saw the twelve year old chestnut gelding win the race easily. Top novice rider Joe Hill taking the ride, looking round for dangers as he came round the home turn with one fence to go. 'He's a nice horse,the pace suited my fella and he jumped well, which made us come here with confidence. He really makes life easy for you.' Asked about the time being a fast one 5min 53 secs to complete the three miles, Joe said' Yeah, we went a good pace, and it wasn't too far out the track record'
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| Consigliere |
Joe must be looking forward to his 2015-16 campaign, saying his dad has some very nice horses in at present, Harbour Court being one the jockey is looking forward to getting on, and one to look out for would be Man of steel.
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| Joe Hill |
The next race, and another first for the season. The baileys ladies open race saw five runners to post, again over the three miles and for the first time of the meeting, the race taking over the six Min's to complete.
Sagalyrique, a eleven year old gelding gave Mrs Angela Rucker a very nice ride around the Cambridgeshire track, winning the race for her for the fourth time in a row. Coming round the bend the leaders picked up a furious pace which sorted the wheat from the chaff. ' All the horses jumped well, and i though Hannah ( Watson on second placed Penmore Hill) might get to me, but my horse picked up well and went on' Asked if the excitement of a possible star in the ladies changing room made a difference to the day, ' it's good to see new faces, fair play to her for giving it a go' any advice toe Olympic cyclist.'Find a nice horse.'
Angela who spends her off season with her family. 'Children into eventing takes up allot of my time.'
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| Sagalyrique |
Incidentally, if you were a dual forecast backer a whopping £42.50 was paid out on the Tote if you predicted the first and second, well worth the punt.
Cottenham was also happy to present a cheque donation of £1000 to the East Anglia Air ambulance, with proceeds made from the day. Something we are always happy that they are there.
The Subaru Restricted open, a new initiative for the new campaign throughout the country saw Severn runners go to post. Sam Davies-Thomas,who had success in the first race, dually bought home Tulsa in front of top lady rider Gina Andrews on Sin Bin.
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| Tulsa |
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| Sam Davies-Thomas |
A brace of winners for the afternoon for the young apprentice saddler was a good afternoon out.
Coming to the third last, the front runners went on well from the rest of the field.' We went a good pace, and i though Gina's horse wouldn't find too much up the final straight,' what next for five year old gelding by Scorpion. ' He'll probably come back here for the meeting after Christmas, but he is a nice horse and one that will come on well.'
The ground now becoming tacky, as promised by Sam in the first was finding out the early unfit horses. Only the fit and brave would survive.
The penultimate race of the afternoon, a open maiden race saw twelve runners go to post, and also showed punters had done their homework. Rails bookmakers were set upon as the Miss Justine Davis-King;s Lilbitluso ridden by Mr G Crow sustained a bit of a gamble. ' He did that easy, the plan was to take it from the front, as he is a bit keen at home,' and from these front running tactics the Severn year old bay gelding managed to keep away from the thrills and spills happening behind, ' I just kept my eye forward and not behind me' Crow said, when asked if any of the fallers and almost gone's had hampered him. And were next for this son of Luso, well possibly another maiden or one of the Subaru races in the future, then possible onto a hunter chase But only time will tell with this one.
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| Lilbitluso |
The only other runner for the trainer Joesph O'Shea, was Cottage oak in the Men's Open. The hunter chaser who runs off the mark of 108, would possibly be aimed for Aintree in the spring, but again time will tell.
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| Lilbitluso |
The last race of the afternoon, turned out to be the closest finish of the whole meeting, making sure the stewards of the meeting had not fallen asleep, huddled away in there small green box on the finish line.
The fastest race of the afternoon 4 min 38sec for a 4,5,6year old maiden saw two horses sprint clear of the fifteen runner field. Suzie Russell's Daidaidai and local horse Rupert Wells, took to the last fence and line neck and neck, but it was experienced sprint race track specialist Daidaidai who took the race. The five year old by Lando, who can be seen occasionally running out of rules trainer Gary Moore's yard, will possibly go to novice chasing, Cottenham seemed a course he favoured as he can be seen on other fast flat tracks such as Kempton Park.
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| Suzie Russell's Daidaidai |
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| Suzie Russell's Daidaidai and Rupert Wells |
All point to point meeting in the East Anglia area and some others will be covered with images and report blogs throughout the 2015-16 season.
These blogs and others can be seen at
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