Cottenham racecourse holds three point to points per season,
and should be rewarded for splendid facilities, ground and racing.
Not far from the famous spires of the Ely Cathedral, this
flat but fair track offer trainers to get their early preparations on a track
in a safe environment. Superb viewing for racegoers and only one of few point to point venues that offers it’s attendees a friendly welcome, and a free race card.
Some superb racing has been on offer, starting at the end of
November, no one has left the racecourse cheated.
And that goes to say of this days racing also.
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| Rob Collinson |
Seven races scheduled, eight ran with the open maiden being
split into two divisions.
The first race, a hunt members race seeing eight of the
twelve entered, declared at the start.
Andrew Pennock trained Play the Ace having won Intermediates, the horse being allowed to run in slightly easier contests to get back to winning ways. This duly paid off the gamble
beating Picaroon by five lengths.
The Mrs Tyler ridden Picaroon off the rating of
76 looking the entire winner three out taking the field on a good pace.
Play the ace ridden by Rob Collinson,
and of the mark of 89 soon swallowed up the lead to take the race on and stretch
the field.
One to watch where running next time out, as this seven year old has
found the step up just one notch too many in some cases.
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| Play The Ace
Eight runners to the start of the Intermediate. Lilbitluso, a horse a lot of trainers
have tried to avoid this season taking the tapes, Jockey John Mathias taking
the spare mount from Gerald Crow injured at present. And what a ride to get on.
Lilbitluso
This very nice looking eight year old by Luso, and trained
by the experienced hands of Joseph O’Shea, won the race by a distance in a time
three seconds faster than that ran in the first race of the day.
Stoleaway in
second and the recently winning Burtredgipandgump in third.
Jockey John Mathias said ‘I was very much in the dark with
this horse, but you can see with his previous runs why people have been ducking
out of the way of the fella.’ The horse
out on his own at the second last made a bit of a hash of it, causing favourite backers to have a worried moment.’ That was completely my fault,’ mentioned the
jockey.’ I asked him to come up, but he knew better, but I felt never in danger
through it. I’ve taking the race on to be fair, if I get on him next time out,
I might ride him differently, but it would depend on what I have to take on.’
Asked if he would like the ride next time. ‘Listen, he’s someone else’s ride
really but If asked I’d travel to the moon and back to get on this one.’
Growing testimony indeed, and a horse that has a very good future in front of
him on the pointing field.
Lilbitluso
Open races throughout the season, both Men’s and Ladies have
been quality affairs, whatever course has graced them. And both today were no
exception.
The Men’s open saw seven to post, Brackloon High,
a winner at Higham and few weeks back. Consigliere who won at the November
meeting at Cottenham, and Now Ben who beat Consigliere when receiving 7 lbs ,
again at Cottenham in January.
The fastest timed race of the day at 6 min 8 secs saw the
Barlow family owned, trained and ridden Brackloon
High come on from his Higham success to beat Consigliere back in third, and the
improving Francesca Moller trained
Dandan in second. ‘We have been beaten a few times by Consigliere last season,
and the plan today was to see how the race panned out and if we were there at
the end, we knew he had plenty of pace.’ Mentioned the eleven year old horses jockey
Andrew Barlow. The pace was a fast one which Barlow mentioned didn’t really
suit Brackloon High ‘We hit the
front to be fair a little too soon, but he was jumping well, and didn’t idle as
much as he can do In front and went on at the last to take the race.’
Brackloon High
The plan now? 'last season we aimed at Cheltenham. This
season, the plan is to take each race as it comes and have some fun, so we
will have to look on to see where we go next.
He can go on most tracks and
ground, but we will see how he comes out of this race as he can be a bit of a
nervous horse at home. More so than on the track, but if he’s enjoying racing
he’ll keep putting out performances.’
Brackloon High
The ladies open had eleven declared.
Victoria Pendleton
paying her first visit to Cottenham riding According to Sarah. And the Camellia
Henderson ridden Khyber Kim, an easy winner here at the turn of the new year.
In all, just fewer than half the field had a rating of 100 or over.
One of
those was the Carey Williamson ridden It
was Me, who won the race beating Drom by eight lengths. Khyber Kim falling
at the fourth left the race well open for the eleven year old, which’s run into
second behind Start Royal at Higham in January backed up his five wins the
season Before.
Mr Wright who trains the
gelding mention the jockey had given the horse a beautiful ride, and it was
nice to see a horse from the area take on and beat the horses travelling from
all corners to take the race.
The jockey Carey Williamson, who has stuck up a
good relationship with the horse, mentioned ‘I wasn’t too bothered about
having to make up a bit of ground on him, I don’t think I have ever been so
fast on him, he is such an easy horse to ride, it was nice to pick up this type
of race with him.’
Is this eleven year old by Bolin back to his earlier form?
possibly so, and one to take note of next time out.
 
It was Me ridden by Miss Carey Williamson
|
The Subaru Restricted race saw the little known Nightscape pick up a ticket for the
series final at Stratford in May. Trained by Rob Cundy and ridden by Charlie
Buckle, the eight year old by Luso beat the promising Hill of Gold, well out of
sight ridden by in form jockey Sam Davies-Thomas.
NightScape
Dropping his whip just before the line, Buckle can be
forgiven as he didn’t really have to get serious with him. ‘This is only the
second time I’ve ridden this one.’ Mentioned the young jockey ‘We pulled up
here in January and its all credit to the trainer in getting him here fit
today. This is the first time he has finished in the frame with a male jockey,
so we are all a bit surprised really.’ Charlie’s daytime job is working out of
the Lloyd's building in the City must have been happy with the start of his
weekend, but did say ‘With all these corporate lunches keeping the weight down
is a task and a half I can tell you.’
Well, it gives something to talk about
Monday morning in the Monday morning de brief.
Hightscape, ridden by Charlie Buckle
The open Maiden, split into two divisions saw twenty one
horses declared between the two races.
Ten going to the first division, where the improving Martin
Weston trained Ypsilanti beat the
Alan Hill trained Velvet Cognac by five lengths. The seven year old chestnut
gelding second at Cottenham in early January to the handy horse Tommy O’Dwyer,
looked beaten two out, but gamely took on the bridle again over the last.
Jockey Liam Mahon mentioned ‘he’s a nice horse, nothing to get too excited
about, but certainly a progressive future for him if we can get the good
ground.’
Ypsilanti
Eleven horses went to post for division two of the Open
maiden. Stuart Morris training the winner Bingo
Star to beat the in form Gina Andrews and Tom Ellis partnership with Celtic
Silver by a neck at the finish.
The five year old ex Irish pointer was left in front with
Celtic Silver after a whole bunch of front runners at the second last making
mistakes. A slower time by four seconds from that of division one saw Johnny
Bailey get his youngster home, making this horse one for the note books at
present.
Bingo Star leads Ugano Du Chatelet
The last race of the afternoon, a 2m 4 f event saw the front
running Nandini go off as bookies favourite.
Also Phillip Rowley sending his
Namako to post travelling the across country distance from the West midlands.
But it was the Fred Hutsby trained, Heather Watson ridden Superior Fire who came home in front, beating Namako by eight
lengths.
Superior Fire
The six year old by Arcadio, with some form under rules when
trained by Charlie Longsdon came a little under the radar in pointing with a
rating of 78, but showed his form and experience.
’ The trainer has been hunting him a lot with the
Warwickshire to speed him up.’ Mentioned the jockey. ‘The aim was to let him
enjoy himself today, but I have always liked him, that’s why I have travelled
just for the one ride.This is the fourth time we have been to the races, three
times before we have stayed in the horsebox, due to the ground. But with better
ground he will come on a lot from this, he certainly jumps well enough.’
Hackwood Park in a few weeks could possibly be the next destination for this
young hopeful, a course much the same as Cottenham, and with good ground he
could be a fancied runner.
Superior Fire
Last weekend saw a double at Horseheath for the talented Sam
Davies-Thomas. This week, though no trip to the winner’s enclosure he was
presented as the leading rider at Cottenham in 2015-16.
Cottenham. Started with a fantastic opening day meet of the
new point to point season, and finished in the same light.
Roll on for next season.
