Seven races billed
at Cottenham, with the addition of an eighth, courtesy of the Open Maiden race
being split into two divisions.
The first being a
Members conditions race. Severn runners went to post, as the expected deluge of
rain held off for the enthusiastic pointing crowd in attendance. The Hill
family, well known with entering quality in any race sent favorite Broken
Eagle to post, top rider Joe hill in the saddle. Tulsa ridden by Sam
Davies-Thomas, already a winner last time out in November at the same course
could not keep up with the impressive front running and jumping of the Hill’s
eight year old gelding. Joe mentioned ‘ he has to work on his own at home as he
can take a bit of a hold, but there are plenty of options for this horse,
either a conditions race at Higham at the end of the month, or some Hunter
chasing at Fakenham, but I’ll leave it to Dad’ (Alan Hill)
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| Broken Eagle |
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The second race, a restricted, saw the father and son team of the Henderson’s take the spoils with some good aggressive front running. The race on paper looked a strong event with a few runners already having a few outings already in 2015 early season. Sin Bin who had been placed over the past few weeks, the first time being at Cottenham looked very much beaten three out. This left Dream Mistress well clear to take the race by fifteen lengths from Dido. An impressive victory by the seven year old mare by Doyen on her first outing of the new season.  
Dream Mistress
Another quality race
in the Men’s open saw ten runners take to the start, again Alan and Joe Hill
declaring the impressive ten length winner here last meeting Consigliere. But
it was the improving Now Ben ridden by Alex Edwards for Phillip Rowley who took
the race Alex mentioned ‘ he is such an improving sort and has come on leaps
and bounds throughout the summer, we came here and thought if we got beat by
Consigliere we still would of been happy, but it was a bonus to pick up this
one.’ The ex Nicky Henderson trained horse seems to have settled from his
earlier days of racing, and having qualified for the restricted at Cheltenham
at the end of the season seems to have a long season well planned out ‘ we’ll
probably give him a breather, then enter him in some Hunter chases Before
Cheltenham, but see how it goes.’ But an impressive horse in an impressive race
and sure one to take note of.
Now Ben
The Countryside Alliance
club members race for novice riders, saw all horses well strung out from early
on, Mr J Maxwell-Smith’s Buck Magic winning the event from Last Time D’Albain. ‘it
was quite a messy race from the start’ said the owner/Trainer-Jockey. ‘All I concentrated on really was Last Time D’Albain;’ and coming to the last both horses were neck
and neck, but it was the ten year old on the line beat his competition by a
neck. ‘I’ve been riding out every day for trainers nearby were I'm at University in Reading, but while I’ve been
home I managed to get every day riding this fella which helped.’ Under rules the
horse was trained by Neil Mulholland and ridden by Mark Quinlan, and it has
been Mark who lives near the home of the horse who has been putting him through
his pre race prep. Cockebarrow at the end of the month will be the horses’
possible next outing before having a mid season rest.
Buck Magic
The Ladies Open, and
possible before declaration the strongest race of the day, saw eight runners
go to post. One of them being the talented hurdler Khyber Kim ridden by the ex
trainers daughter Camellia Henderson. The fourteen year old, off the mark of
only 100 showed he still had the will to win. Sitting out the back for most
the race, Henderson let the horse down three out, and this strapping Mujahid
gelding gulped up the horses in front to take up the running two out. Asked if
this was planned Camellia said’ the plan really was to just get round as this
was my first ride of the season, but he felt so well which was s surprise in
the ground (classed at good to soft) and he jumped the last two really good
that it was nice to bring him home.’
  
Khyber Kim
Bound for Glory and
Can Mestret, two fancied runners were behind in second and third but could show
no match to this horse who is undecided were he would go next.
Two divisions of the
Open maiden saw 25 runner split between the two races.
Division one Saw
James Ferguson on Tommy O’Dwyer take the race from Ypsilanti, Just as the
deluge from the heavens opened up to make the going even more testing. This
strung the field well out and recorded the slowest time of the day at 6m 28sec.
The seven year old with his first run over the larger obstacles coped really
well with only the first three horses completing the course.
Tommy O’Dwyer
Division two, saw top
lady jockey Gina Andrews ride her first point to point winner of the season ‘ I can ride a double at Fakenham, but it
takes forever to get a point to point winner’ said the mud splattered jockey.
Sea Current was the ride she was on for Tom Ellis’s yard. The ex Dan Skelton
trained eight year old by Pilsudski, has already won Novice chasing and was the
type just to take these sort of events, and surly is one now to be placed to
take on stronger events as the season progresses, ‘ he can go on most goings
and has won over two and half miles so has plenty of pace. Today was the plan
for him, so we’ll have to go have a think were t aim him for’
Sea Current
The last race of the
day, and over a shorter distance was the open maiden for four, five and six
year olds, over 2m 4 f. Nine runners to post and the afternoon very dull and
dank.
Placed horse at Barbury
at the beginning of December Galros Lady took the race by two lengths from
Gustav Mahler. Jockey R Collinson said ‘she learnt a lot from her run at
Barbury, we were a bit worried about the ground and I though this would not be her
day,’ but the six year old mare seemed
to battle it out and let down on the ground nicely to take the race. ‘She’ll possibly
have a rest know but see how she is tomorrow, but would possibly want ground
no worse than today’
Possibly one to watch
at winter turns to spring at the back end of the season.
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