CAMBRIDGESHIRE HARRIERS HUNT CLUB, COTTENHAM, SUNDAY DECEMBER 30TH 2018 – Report by Matt Colemen & Mike Ashby
Gina Andrews was the headline act at Cottenham’s second meeting of the season just as she was at the first fixture. Enjoying her best ever start to a point-to-point season, the national ladies champion has already ridden eight winners following a double which began with victory aboard the day’s most impressive winner Hawkhurst in the opening Club Members Conditions Race.
Talented but quirky under rules when owned by JP McManus, Hawkhurst has been revitalised by the move to the Alan Hill yard winning seven of his nine starts to date. Part owner Keith Loads said after the race “the plan is to try a win the award for the leading horse with the most number of wins in the season so he will compete in similar races throughout the season”.
Gina and trainer Alan Hill completed her double aboard course specialist Sharp Suit in the Ladies Open who was winning at the track for the sixth time and the second time this season. Sharp Suit was under pressure but closing down the free-going leader Red Spinner when he unseated Louise Bannister at the second last fence leaving Sharp Suit to coast home.
In the Mens Open contest, there was a potential serious incident resulting from the first fence fall of Brave Encounter which left young jockey Luke Scott injured on the landing side of the fence. The course medical officials were quickly on the scene and deemed the attendance of the air ambulance was required immediately. Anxious racegoers soon witnessed the arrival of Magpas, the locally based emergency medical team, within an astonishing ten minutes of the incident. Racing was understandably delayed and when news broke later that Luke had walked into the vehicle ambulance, the crowd broke into spontaneous applause in total relief.
An immediate request was put out to the racegoers for a blanket collection for Magpas and this raised in excess of £500 which was utterly deserved as this was a prime example of the work they undertake. Early reports are that Luke had sustained facial injuries to his cheekbone and nose which necessitated several stitches but everyone is tremendously thankful for the swift attention he received from the course medical team and the attendance of Magpas, in what could have been a nasty incident.
In the race, Gina’s younger brother Jack Andrews was on the scoresheet also with a well-judged ride aboard Just Cause for trainer James Owen. Produced late on in a driving finish to collar the long-time leader Mr Mix, Just Cause, who won at this fixture last year, deserved this victory having run so well in defeat behind Now Ben in the Mens Open at the first Cottenham fixture.
Another classy under rules performer to be reignited back to form is Zeroshadesofgrey who won at his first attempt in point-to-points for Charlie Buckle and trainer Rob Cundy in the Novice Riders contest. Zeroshadesofgrey had recorded seven victories under rules for the Buckle Family when trained by Neil King but had lost his way last season. Enjoying himself out in front and jumping boldly, Zeroshadesofgrey galloped on too strongly for the two market leaders Vivaldi Collonges and Local Show to give Charlie Buckle a fifth career win.
More patient tactics from jockey Jamie Brace were rewarded in the Restricted race as he produced the lightly raced Tricky Silence to get to the front half way up the run-in. Tricky Silence only managed two starts last season when second in the Maiden at this fixture followed by a victory in a Higham Maiden in February but was produced fit and well by trainer Jamie Goss to register a cosy success on this seasonal return.
Worthapunt and Tom Chatfield-Roberts prevailed in a bunch finish for the Open Maiden, while only five runners contested the concluding 2m4f Maiden which was won by Mano Cornuto and Charlie Marshall after they were left clear when the strong travelling leader Josh The Plod had unseated double-seeking Charlie Buckle at the second last fence.
Club Members Conditions Race
1st Hawkhurst Gina Andrews 1/2f
2nd Gallox Bridge James Martin 20/1
3rd Weather Warning Charlie Buckle 33/1
Time 5-55 Dists: 4L 4L
10 ran
also Dandan 7th Karinga Dancer 4th Legend To Be 9th Lords Park Star 5th Margot Fontane 6th Popelys Gull 8th Torran Na Dtonn F
Restricted 1st Tricky Silence Jamie Brace 7/1
2nd Captiva Island Jack Andrews 4/5f
3rd Drakes Well Sam Lee 2/1
Time 6-02 Dists: 3/4L 2L
8 ran
also Blackwood Rover 4th Dulwich Hill PU Fox Valley PU Ka Maresco 5th Stingthebookies PU
Mens Open
1st Just Cause Jack Andrews 2/1
2nd Mr Mix Stuart Robinson 8/1
3rd Broken Eagle James King 2/1
Time 5-51* Dists: Hd 8L
6 ran
also Bears Affair 7/4f PU Brave Encounter F Mr Snoozy 4th
* 2 jumps omitted Injured rider
CA Club Members Novice Riders
1st Zeroeshadesofgrey Charlie Buckle 7/2
2nd Vivaldi Collonges Ben Bromley 2/1f
3rd Local Show William Humphrey 9/4
Time 5-56 Dists:3/4L 1L
10 ran
also Ballybough Gorta 6th Don’t Budge Me UR Fever Pitch 5th Owen Na View 4th Royalraise 9th U Name It 7th We Never Give Up 8th
Ladies Open 1st Sharp Suit Gina Andrews 4/5f
2nd Western Diva Claire Hardwick 6/4
3rd Frampton Izzy Marshall 33/1
Time 5-58 Dists: 5L Dist
8 ran
also Bellenos PU Curragh Hall 4th Moscow Me PU Red Spinner UR Sand Blast UR
Open Maiden
1st Worthapunt Tom Chatfield Roberts 3/1
2nd Bishopstone Girl Gina Andrews 8/1
3rd Raleagh Mountain Rory Bevin 6/1
Time 6-05* Dists: 3L 4L
10 ran
also Bob The Beetle PU Dublin Indemnity UR Farran Dancer 7/4f PU Gunner Be Sweet 4th Joe Strawberries UR Magic Bullet PU Sandygate PU
* 2 jumps omitted Damaged fence
4,5 & 6 Year Olds Maiden 2 miles 4 Furlongs
1st Mano Cornuto Charlie Marshall 10/1
2nd Hot To Trot Gina Andrews 7/4f
3rd Linkenholt Alex Chadwick 10/1
Time 4-45 Dists: 2 1/2L 3L
5 ran also Celtic Symphony 4th Josh The Plod UR
