REVIEW FITZWILLIAM COTTENHAM SUNDAY 9 MARCH 2003 by Richard Hall |
The Cambridgeshire crowds gathered but the rain clouds kept
away and, for the first time this season, out came the picnic tables and
glasses of chilled white wine. A bumper crowd, a liberal smattering of
sunshine, perfect going, decent sized fields; what more could a racing fan
ask for to while away a Sunday afternoon? A winner or two perhaps? Ah yes,
but not everything in life falls so easily into place. The highlight of the day, from a spectator’s point of view,
came, for a change, in the Ladies Open. The East Anglian stalwart, Thurles
Pickpocket, positively ridden by Sam Hodge, had made a bold bid to pull
away from the field since joining the leaders at the start of the second
circuit. The combination came around the final bend with a diminishing
three length lead from Mai Point. Two lengths further back the long time
leader, Gigi Beach, was threatening a revival with O’Fiaich’s Hope and
the veteran Hoodwinker staying on from the out of pack a further eight
lengths behind. As they jumped the last all five had a realistic chance on
victory, with a maximum of four lengths covering them all. Gigi Beach’s
chance was the first to go; the horse stumbled on landing throwing jockey
Hetta Steele out of the saddle. Supporters of Mai Point were the next to
have their hopes extinguished. Obviously short of peak fitness, he could
only crawl over the final fence and was allowed to idle home.
O’Fiaich’s Hope did not have the gears in his engine to catch the
other two but he stayed on well, suggesting there might be a race to be
had with him on a more testing course later in the season. This left
Thurles Pickpocket with only Hoodwinker to repel. He could not do it. Jane
Williams, riding her own horse, produced him late with a storming run that
bellied his fourteen years, to snatch the lead half way up the run and
record the partnership’s third success of the season. The enthusiasm
with which it was achieved suggests that the old boy is refusing to grow
old gracefully, and he intends to play a part in plenty more races yet!
Disappointment of the race was the favourite, Paradisio, who, in running
wide at the bends, failed to build on the promise of his High Easter
debut. He should perhaps be given another chance on a less tight course. The Mens Open was won by a horse who, as a two year old at
the tail end of the 1995 Flat season, had his first race in public for the
John Gosden stable. He finished eleventh of twenty three; less than
fifteen lengths behind the next year’s Derby winner, Shaamit. Things
have not all been on an upward curve for Sawa-Id since then, but he
certainly reminded us pointing enthusiasts that, when his mood is right,
the speed is still there. He cruised clear in a matter of a few strides
between the third and second last fences to record a long awaited East
Anglian victory for jockey Rowan Cope and trainer Caroline Bailey. Master
Pilgrim, who had been made to look very flat footed when the winner kicked
on, failed to last home and was overtaken by Step In Line for second. The
latter had been given a sympathetic ride by Andrew Braithwaite, and was
hunted around at the rear of the field for almost two miles before being
asked to improve. This change in tactics (he is usually pushed up with the
pace for as long as he can be) obviously reaped an immediate benefit as
well as hinting at better to come. The winner, however, was in a different
class and, providing he is kept in Pointing or Hunter Chase company, he
will be a formidable force wherever he goes. The days two Maiden races provided few finishers from the
seventeen horses that contested each division, but each produced thrilling
finishes! Division One saw only four make it across the line. Yodeller
Bill refused to race, Court Award was pulled up after the first where
rider Andrew Ayers lost his irons, Golden Thyne fell whilst leading at the
sixth … and so the catalogue of misfortune continued until Cousin
George, who was looking all over the winner, fell three from home. This
left Bush Hill Bandit (a gallant second to Little Farmer and again to Run
Monty earlier in the season where, on both occasions, the third horse was
a long way adrift) four lengths clear of the nearest pursuer. That came in
the shape of The Small Farmer, who, after a poor day’s punting, I had
invested on at 20/1 to reverse the day’s fortunes. I was cheering loudly
as they jumped the last and realised that my hours in front of a computer
screen were about to be rewarded. The Small Farmer had not only made up
the four lengths, he had a length advantage when they hit the ground. Come
on my son! Bush Hill Bandit and Harry Fowler, however, did not feel I had
had enough excitement. They dug deep and came back at “my” charge. As
they passed me (halfway up the run in) they were only a neck down. James
Diment then started to work for my recovery. I had no idea who had won,
staring at a two pairs of backsides giving their all. It took a long three
minutes for the judge to confirm that Bush Hill Bandit had got up by half
a length! A long way back in third came Budle Bay, who had raced
prominently before fading three quarters of a mile from home. He confirmed
my pre-race assessment of not staying the three mile trip. A similar fate awaited a companion of mine in Division Two.
He had been impressed with Sounds Promising at Market Rasen who, he said,
had run well for a long way until getting very tired and pulling up.
Figuring that Cottenham would suit him better he took full advantage of
the 33/1 on offer. The Small Farmer had knocked the stuffing out of me
and, as it was the final race of the day with terrible overrounds, I chose
not to chase my losses and content myself with a few small Tote forecasts.
Sometimes you just have to accept that it is not your day! Sounds Promising set off as if he had a train to catch. Even
the front running Nelsun could not get within eight lengths of him on the
first circuit. Pretty soon the field was strung out and, from the eighth
fence onwards, horses at the rear began pulling up with alarming
frequency. On the second circuit the crowd expected Sounds Promising to
come back to his field. He didn’t. Matt Mackley knew exactly what he had
in his locker and was judging the pace to perfection. Only Nelsun remained
as a potential danger. He had gradually closed but was still five lengths
down as they jumped the second last. The Caroline Bailey / Rowan Cope
revival was continuing, however, and the gallant grey (like Bush Hill
Bandit, a gutsy second on both his previous outings this year) would not
give up. I had a position in the stand this time and felt the pain of my
companion as Nelsun closed on the run in and thrust his neck in front on
the line. Again, as with Bush Hill Bandit, the true fan could not begrudge
him the victory. He is nothing if not game, and he received the loudest
cheer of the day as he was led into the paddock. Richard Burton paid a rare visit to East Anglia to ride his
own horse, Oh So Droll (a lightly raced Teenoso nine year old), in the
Restricted. Bookies took the hint and, despite twelve opponents, he was
never on offer at anything better than 6/4. Those skinny odds looked
exceptionally generous when the horse was put into the race proper just
before the third last. As with Sawa-Id, he dispelled any thoughts of
defeat in a few strides. He came well clear. The Caroline Bailey trained
Surprisedly Gifted had led for a few fences until the Burton runner got
serious, and completed for only the second time since winning a Higham
maiden by a wide margin over twelve months ago. He was caught for second
on the run in by Alex Embiricos’ owner ridden Filou Du Bois, who
continued the improvement shown with his recent High Easter maiden win.
Whilst the second and third may find races before the season ends, there
is no doubt whatsoever that the winner will win again. He had a
progressive profile last year and, making his seasonal debut, can only
come on still further for the run. In my report from Horseheath last week I suggested that
Gallent Glen was a rather fortunate winner of the Mens Open, and would
probably have been second had Endeavour not fell at the last. He lined up
for the Confined today in order to “gain further experience before
having a shot at the Aintree Foxhunters”. I did not expect him to win
and, as he was trading at evens, backed two horses to beat him. One of
those was Breezy Betsy who attracted market support from 14’s to 8’s.
She set off at a lightening pace and was a spent force after two miles. At
this point Stuart Morris confidently sent Gallent Glen on to take the
lead. The Red Boy covered the move and, suspecting Gallent Glen to want
company, I fully expected him to draw alongside. He could not close,
however. The chink I had suspected in the favourite’s armour was not
there. He galloped on resolutely for a comfortable victory. No question
marks about his attitude now! The Red Boy tired badly on the run in, where
he was eventually overtaken by Springlea Tower who had been unable to live
with Gallent Glen’s mid race injection of pace. The day had begun with the Hunt members. It attracted just
four runners, but only two with any aspirations of winning – the others
were just there to give their riders a bit of experience. Round The Bend
at three to one on, proved far too strong for the High Easter Maiden
winner, Lucrative Perk, pulling away handsomely on the second circuit to
win in the proverbial canter. A good day’s racing, bright sunshine, the opportunity to
unwind from the working week, and the chance of some good, clean, fresh
air. As I stepped into the car to drive home, all this faded into the
background. The attitude of the Fitzwilliam Hunt in the way it organised
the retreat from the car park wound me up to the point where I shall give
serious consideration as to whether I will come to their meeting next
year. Most courses and hunts open up all exits to allow the public
to leave as freely and as quickly as possible. In common with all the
other courses, Cottenham has at least two exit points (there may be more).
The Fitzwilliam chose to block one of these exits so that the general
public could not access it from the main car park. It was left exclusively
for the use of horseboxes and a few special hunt guests!! Meanwhile the
other two or three thousand cars were all left to queue for nearly a mile
on a barriered single track road, fighting off the other frustrated
motorists who tried to push in at various interjecting points. At the end
of this road people stood with buckets slowing down the exodus still
further as they knocked on windows soliciting for loose change. It took me
over an hour to get out. I had a two hour journey to get home after that.
I then had to write this report, plus another one for my “proper” work
ready for the morning, as well as prepare for a Parish Council meeting
early on the Monday evening. It experience was simply not funny, and
totally unnecessary! No report would be complete without a mention of the bookies overrounds. They were, in chronological order; 109%, 121%, 144%, 128%,148%, 170%, and a staggering 196%!! Further proof, if it were needed, that Maiden races with more than six to eight runners are only for those punters with money to burn! |