Cambridge University
Draghounds
Cottenham
Sunday 9th December
2007
by Simon McInnes
Having driven northwards in various
types of rain, from blanket to heavy, it was very encouraging to
find the last ten miles or so to be rain free. Of course, by the
time I had walked from the car to the parade ring, the weather had
caught up, and kept wet all afternoon. A couple of times it nearly
stopped, but on each occasion the commentator made an optimistic
comment, with inevitable results. The upside was a golden
opportunity to see the multifarious ways in which the great British
public interpret the need to be waterproof. Clothing aside, you
might expect more to have adopted the 'in the bar with a mulled
wine and jacket spud' approach. Then again, it was not the biggest
crowd that the course has entertained, so perhaps the percentage
was high?
Going: Good (Good to Firm places), changed to
Good to Soft for race 7
Race 1: Dick White Referrals Intermediate
1: Brightwell 2: Anshanjack 3: Lightningconductor
Winner owned: Under The Hammer Partnership, trained: Penny Lownds,
ridden: Mark Holdforth
It looked as if Lightningconductor had a fitness edge on his three
rivals, but he was not able to run as explosively as he looked, and
was left for dead by the first two. With two fences left, it seemed
a bit of a set too was on the cards, which proved to be a false
impression. Entering the straight, Anshanjack came to the end of
his tether, leaving things relatively simple for Brightwell.
Despite being beaten when unseating five out, long time leader
Firion King did not pull as hard as has been reported in the past,
and if this is a permanent infusion of common sense it could help
improve him.
Race 2: James Craven & Sons Ltd Mens'
Open
1: Tom's Prize 2: Moscow Court 3: Royal Atalza
Winner owned: Mrs P Joynes, trained: Scott Joynes, ridden: Adrian
Wintle
Twelve of the sixteen entries turned out to race, five of them
being new to pointing. The field was well spread out as early as
the fifth, and Tom's Prize was amongst the pace setters all the
way. Three from home, he only had Turnstile as a danger, but when
that rival tied up rapidly, the race was won. The oft placed Moscow
Court kept on well enough for second, but bear in mind his strike
rate (now 2 from 14) is not quite tsar or star quality. Before some
time off, Royal Atalza won chasing, hurdling and on the flat, and
this sort of track should suit his pace - if it remains - in
future. Farlington, an open winner last season and a visitor from
Scotland, was struggling before he had gone a mile, and was too bad
to be true or have obvious reason.
Race 3: Baileys Horse Feeds Ladies' Open
1: Fullards 2: Abbey Days 3: High Rank
Winner owned and trained: Mrs PM Sly, ridden: Lousie Allan
Another good numerical turnout, and with some more prolific winners
than in the Men's race. The race was also a touch more competitive
at the business end, where five were still in with a chance three
from the finish. Fullards had been a decent staying hurdler under
Rules only to never get to grips with fences. The pace appeared
quick, and there were several lead changes along the way, but when
they turned for home, Fullards was the most spritely one still up
with the leaders, proving a bit of a revelation. Abbey Days, who
has a decent winning record, was just hanging on for second from
Christy Beamish when that horse fell at the last.
Race 4: Equip Restricted
1: Mr Tee Pee 2: Ballybough Billy 3: Merry Vic
Winner owned: The Teepee Club, trained: Alan Hill, ridden: James
Tudor
With this being a typical restricted, chock full of letters in the
runners' form, interspersed with the odd 1 and 2, and a few more 3
and 4s. It also confused the bookies, who priced up very late and
mostly opened with 250% margins, without even including serious
contender Merry Vic. Predictably, activity in the ring was limited
for all but a few minutes. The winner, Mr Tee Pee, sweetly laid
down the Wigwam Bam in the straight, winning with a bit up his
sleeve. He had gone pointing after appearing to give away a couple
of novice handicap chases, but there was no sign of misbehaviour
here. The rain was probably against Ballybough Billy, just not
enough to prevent him outstaying Merry Vic for second. This trio
were well clear of greater than expected number of other
finishers.
Willow Grange 8 year olds an up Open
Maiden
1: Irishtown Leader 2: Another Gale 3: Alexander Musical
Winner owned & trained: Mrs M Barr, ridden: Fraser Barr
Only five runners, and between them there was little history to
produce enthusiasm for even such a weak race. The lightly raced
ones would at least have cause to claim that there was room to
improve, but Irishtown Leader was at the opposite end of the scale,
boasting seventeen previous futile adventures. It has to be assumed
that the rider's delight was based on achieving what must have
seemed the impossible dream rather than thoughts of Cheltenham or
Aintree glory.
Race 6: John Bull & Co Ltd 4-7 year olds
Open Maiden, Div I (2m 4f)
1: Silver Dollars 2: Always Right 3: Stroom Bank
Winner owned: Mr AR Parrish, trained & ridden: Philip York
This could have been an OK maiden, but I missed the official time
due to wringing the rain out of my hat. Silver Dollars had shown
bits and bobs of talent over hurdles, as had Stroom Bank, to a
lesser degree, and the newcomer from John Wade's yard in second,
Always Right, looked a nice sort of horse. In fact, he did threaten
to win, having come from way off of the pace to challenge at the
last. At this point Silver Dollars pulled out a bit extra and
Always Right flattened out. Encouragingly, they gave the other
thirteen a real drubbing
Race 7: John Bull & Co Ltd 4-7 year olds
Open Maiden, Div II (2m 4f)
1: Sir Harry Cool 2: Ryhope Chief 3: Parkbridge Lad
Winner owned: Ian Moss, trained: Kate Buckett, ridden: Richard
Bandey
Despite this being, on face value at least, the lesser division,
there was something fairly taking about the manner in which Sir
Harry Cool landed this. He had a couple of adequate bumper runs to
his name, and he was getting seven pounds allowance for being a
four year old, but there was plenty of enthusiasm about the way he
forged clear late in the race. Ryhope Chief is also at the bottom
of the age range, but his experience under Rules, despite some
seconds, was in the bottom drawer and had begun to tail off as
well. He did at least repel three runners that were breathing down
his neck, including Parkbridge Lad (third in Ireland on his only
run), Pertinax (placed in two from three) and For Your Benefit
(rather less impressive numbers by her name, but quite prominent in
the betting).
Plus Points
Anshanjack (race 1): Readily seen off in the end, but he ought to
come on for the race.
Fauntleroy (race 3): Won four out of five last season, and ought to
pick up the thread soon, having blown away the cobwebs with an
untaxing midfield poodle round.
Esplendidos (race 4): If any runner emerges from the gloom of
distant defeat in restricted, he at least shaped as if there could
be better to come.
Always Right (race 6): A pretty decent debut Maglinn River (race
6): Had a fourth and a fifth in Ireland, and was granted a gentle
sighter of UK pointing today.
Sir Harry Cool (race 7): Ordinary opponents but a nice style about
his win
Down Arrows
Turnstile (race 2): A two and a half miler under Rules, he looked
fit enough but short of stamina today.
New Entic (race 2): Ambled round at the back and ran on when it was
all too late. He looked like a non-trier, but could just as easily
have not been in the mood - he has a history of inconsistency and
is also not a certain stayer.
Christy Beamish (race 3): He had only run twice since being second
in the Aintree Foxhunters, completing neither time. On this
occasion he was so far back that it looked as if a gentle warm up
was on the cards. Having made rapid ground to get in the frame, he
would have been second at best when falling. Beware a short price
next time, especially if similar riding tactics are employed.
Merry Vic (race 4): Looked plenty fit enough in the preliminaries,
so his late fade has discouraging stamina hints.